the city of new york aerial image

Things to know before moving to New York

New York City is made up of five boroughs. The boroughs are conveniently connected via bridges, tunnels and ferries. Manhattan is about 13.4 miles long and about 2.3 miles wide. Fifth Avenue splits the island into east and west part. If you are considering moving to New York for work or to go on an exciting, new adventure, we have advice on how to adapt to the Big Apple and the lifestyle of the city that never sleeps. Before you hire your trusted Noho movers, you should know that silence is perhaps the most desired commodity for its residents. The city’s relentless noise can easily cause sensory overload. So whenever you miss the sound leaves dancing in the wind, put on a nice pair of noise-canceling headphones. But after you adjust to that, there is little you can’t overcome in the most exciting city in the world.  

Moving to New York means endless traffic jams and occupied taxis like the ones in this picture
The loudness of millions of car horns, storekeepers shouting, jackhammers destroying the pavement blast away twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

Moving to New York is going to be really expensive

A lot of New Yorkers have roommates because the cost of living there is insanely high. The groceries, entertainment, alcohol, housing, clothing,  even pet food is more expensive in NYC. If you want to hire pet moving services NYC and start planning your move to Manhattan, then saving money ahead of time is the smart way to go. The average rent price is currently at 3400 USD per month. Don’t be scared, though, there are cheaper apartments as well. This is just an average of the most expensive and the cheapest rentals together.

Beware of the fierce competition on the NYC rental market

In order to lease an apartment in NYC, you will have to pay a “broker’s fee”. That is 10% – 15% of your annual rent in advance. There are also apartments without the mandatory fee out there, but competition for these is tremendous. Boost your moving budget like a pro with the help of our advice. You can try to skip the broker’s fees by using a website for finding roommates. While moving in with a stranger might sound odd to you, it is perfectly normal in New York City.

Washington bridge in NYC
No matter what you want, there is a great chance you don’t have to leave your apartment for it. Any kind of food, beer, groceries, cleaning services, UBER, moving services, massage, NYC can offer it all and bring it to your doorstep.

Prepare for some of the highest taxes in the US if moving to New York

There are three income taxes to pay if you reside in New York City: the federal income tax, the state income tax and the city income tax. Depending on how much you earn, your tax can be higher than 50%. Note that the sales tax in NYC is really high too and it is at 8.9%. On the other hand, if you own a property, New York property tax rates are fairly reasonable.

Short term leases are practical

Apart from all the expenses and the real estate being so exclusive, NYC’s best trait is you can find every kind of living arrangements to accommodate your needs. You can opt for a short-term lease, or sublet, before deciding on a permanent home. It’s a great opportunity to meet new people and ‘try on’ neighborhoods before you commit to the city. You can use Craigslist or one of the many social media group pages to do that.

Cigarettes are banned everywhere

Smoking is prohibited in public places. Every bar, restaurant, public transportation vehicle, park and beach has tossed this nasty habit. You can only at cigar bars. Also, only adults over 21 years of age can buy cigarettes and other tobacco products or even electronic cigarettes. For now, marijuana is still illegal in the City.

Safety

If you are moving to New York, know that it is actually America’s safest large city, although people assume its crime rates are through the roof. Either way, you should always use common sense to protect yourself and your property. Be cautious and always use licensed, reputable companies for any services you need. I don’t know how to recognize legitimate businesses, the nycgo.com is a good website to start investigating any businesses you’d like to hire. You can also check the Better Business Bureau for more information and reviews on these companies.

Finding a healthy routine after moving to New York

There is so much to do in such a vast and busy city. You have a vast array of places to eat and find entertainment, and you will never, ever know the feeling of boredom. 

  • Not only you are not going to get bored after moving to New York, but there’s a great chance you’ll actually feel overwhelmed. After living fast for a while, eventually, you may feel the need to spend your weekend in front of a favorite show and your phone turned off.
  • Burning out in NYC is easy to do. So when you’ve had enough of neon lights and nights out, turn to long walks or bike rides through Central Park or enjoy the beautiful architecture.
  • You’ll love the more quiet side of the city. At the end of the day, our advice is that you should admire your surroundings because chances are that the ten block radius around your home or work will be the Big Apple you experience most of the time.
  • However, wherever you live in the city, you’ll be living in a neighborhood with diverse and rich cultural traditions. You are bound to live next door to some amazing ethnic restaurant and colorful demographic.
Seagull at a pear with binoculars next to it
The best way to stay in love with NYC is to get away from it every once in a while. It’s amazing how fast you can be upstate in the mountains or on the water.

Connect with your community

New York has all nationalities living in it but it will feel like the loneliest place in the world if you don’t find connections in your community. Connect with your community. Plant roots. For example, you can help out at a local community garden. Offer your professional assistance to a charity. Meet people, go to a bar, make it your favourite and learn your bartender’s name. New Yorkers find it easy to forget a face because they live in such a jammed city with people coming and going. So make your face one to remember.