Moving to New York Guide

Moving to New York

Are you moving to New York, or maybe just thinking about it? There is no shortage of good reasons to move to here. But mixed in with the good are many reason why this city is not the right choice for everyone.

Top Reasons to Move to NYC

It’s the cultural capital of the United States
There are ample social opportunities and you will meet great people
There is never a shortage of exciting things to do
Great career opportunities in a variety of industries
It is an adventure that at times can feel like staring in your own movie

Reasons you should think twice before coming to New York City

It is extremely expensive, not only the rent, but food and entertainment (welcome to the land of the $20 cocktail)
The city can be dirty and gross at times
Its noisy and hectic
The weather is terrible for most of the year
You will be a small fish in a big pond

Steps to Moving to New York

#1 Make a Pre-Move Visit- Before you come here, you should visit at least once. There is no better way to decide if living here will be right for you than paying a visit. While some of us may have financial constraints that make visiting difficult, visiting is a worthwhile investment as you will have a much better idea of whether or not the city is right for you.

Click here to read more about planning your pre-move trip to NYC.

#2 Make a Plan – Once you have visited and you know that New York is for you, it is time to make a plan. Depending who you know in the city, you may need to save money for hotel or hostel accommodation while you look for an apartment, find a job, etc. Your financial situation, and the amount of contacts that you have in the city already will play a role in dictating what time frame you can expect to make your move.

Find out how to make your NYC moving plan here.

# 3 Find an Apartment - Finding an apartment in New York city can be extremely challenging and, at times, frustrating. When looking for an apartment it is important to have realistic expectations about the kind of place that you can afford. There are a lot of people that want to live in New York, many of whom are quite wealthy. You will have to compete with them, and everyone else to live in the most desirable apartments and neighborhoods.

To learn more about how to find an apartment in NYC, click here.

#4 Find a Job – For most people, finding a job in New York City will be the most challenging and uncertain part of their move; which is why it is ideal if you are able to find a job before moving to the city. If you keep an open mind, and are flexible about what kind of jobs you are willing to take, you will almost certainly be able to find something that you can do to support yourself. However, if you desire to work in a specific industry your search may be more challenging.

Click here to Learn more about how to find employment in NYC

#4 Establish yourself in the city – Living in NYC, you will be presented with many opportunities, but you will also be challenged in ways that you never expected. You will need to make sure that you have established necessary support groups and local services that you can rely on when times get tough.

To learn more about establishing yourself in New York City, click here.

#5 Make the most of your time here If you are like most people, than your time in New York will be limited. Most people move here in their twenties or early thirties and have moved out by the time they reach 40 so they can raise a family in a more affordable location. Your time in the city is finite, so make sure that you learn how to make the most of it.