Honestly and without embellishment: the pros and cons of living in New York

There is no adequate way to describe what it is like to live in New York. Your experience will be entirely up to you. But there's no denying that living in New York is an extraordinary feat, no matter how you slice it. The city seduces people with treasures, and millions of residents are willing to ignore the inevitable downsides of living in New York because the upsides are too hard to resist, reports New York Simply.

Pros of living in New York

No. 1. New York is a land of opportunity

New York is where dreamers go to make their dreams come true. This is true in two respects:

• If you are an entrepreneur, there is no better place than New York to try and make it big. The opportunities and connections you can create while living in New York are hard to beat.
• In terms of career, New York is home to the biggest names in technology, marketing, clothing, journalism, sports. So if you can't follow your dream (yet), there is definitely a job for you.

When it comes to finding a job in New York, you need to be very clear about how to find a job that fits well with your lifestyle. Because one thing you learn quickly after moving to New York is that you will need to work hard, which means long hours in the office.

With a population of 8,4 million, competition is fierce. Finding and keeping a job will take more effort than in smaller cities, which is why New Yorkers are often considered workaholics.

But in the end, one thing is for sure: if you really want to move to New York, chances are you will find a way to make money one way or another.

No. 2. New York is a safe place to live

You will be surprised to learn that life in New York is not as unsafe as most people think. It's hard to blame anyone for thinking that life in New York can be dangerous. With a population of 8,4 million, New York is America's most populous city, and something is bound to happen here.

However, compared to its size, New York is considered one of the 5 safest major cities in America.

There are so many people wandering around the city at any time that you are rarely alone. You just need to know which main streets to stick to and which areas to avoid.

We do not recommend walking around Central Park after dark.

Instead, stick to the main streets where eager tourists and locals roam, returning home from late night meals or. And be sure to carefully study the area in which you plan to move.

No. 3. Introduction to art and history

New York is often referred to as the cultural capital of the world. It is home to 83 museums, including the fifth largest museum in the world, the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

New York is also home to the New York Public Library, which is the third largest library in the world.

If history is your thing, why not visit the birthplace of Theodore Roosevelt, drink at the bar where George Washington said an emotional goodbye to his troops, or visit the final resting place of Alexander Hamilton?

The fact is that you will be hard pressed to find a more culturally interesting city than New York.

No. 4. New York is diverse

With over 200 languages ​​spoken daily, it's probably not surprising that habits, food, and clothing reflect the vibrant diversity of New York City life. In fact, New York is the most diverse city in the country.

As a result, no matter what you do, you will always fit in. In many ways, living in New York, there seems to be no judgment here. Here you can be who you want to be.

If you need a fresh start in life, moving to New York is a great place to start.

No. 5. Networking and social scene

One of the biggest perks of living in New York is that you are right in the middle of everything. This is the city where trends are born and million-dollar ideas take root.

In fact, more billionaires lived in New York than anywhere else in the world before it was overtaken not so long ago by Beijing.

And as everyone goes out of their way to get their piece of the pie, you'll make some serious connections while living in New York.

If you're open to meeting new people, you'll find there's never a shortage of new people to dine or drink with.

No. 6. There is always something to do here

When you live in New York, it's hard to justify staying at home because there is ALWAYS something going on.

Whether it's a new exhibition at a museum, a famous musician playing Blue Note, sunset yoga in Central Park, or a five-course dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant. You will never have a reason to be bored while living in New York.

Even casual outings sometimes end on a magical note.

For example, my husband and I took a morning stroll through Central Park and stumbled upon the Bethesda Fountain Film Studios where we were watching Sarah Jessica Parker film a scene for the Sex and the City reboot.

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No. 7. The food in New York is incredible.

We can't talk about the pros of moving to New York without talking about the food. With 69 restaurants, New York has the 5th largest number of Michelin-starred restaurants in the world. And of course, you'll need a trust fund to try them all, but you know what's most interesting?

You don't have to eat at these trendy places to enjoy an unforgettable meal, because New York City's culinary prowess is diverse and you can find great cheap meals.

New York City is a melting pot of cultures, so you'll be introduced to the best of the best in all kinds of cuisines.

No. 8. New York has great public parks.

The number of public parks scattered throughout the city is a huge advantage of living in New York.

Clearly taking the top spot, Central Park is a gem larger than the country of Monaco and is the most popular filming location in the world.

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And it's true, Central Park is beautiful, but don't make the mistake of ignoring the other 1700 parks in New York.

In fact, 22% of the city's land area is designated specifically for public parks, and 99% of New Yorkers are only 10 minutes' walk from a park. Having access to green spaces makes life easier in New York because when the city feels overwhelming, you can find a little piece of greenery to escape.

No. 9. Street fashion

For the most part, New Yorkers dress very well, especially when compared to other US cities. Living in New York means you're constantly exposed to new trends and you can't help but benefit from it.

There is something exciting about living in a city where people take pride in how they dress, and that also makes you want to show your best side.

There is no pressure to dress a certain way, so you can wear whatever you want.

No. 10. Efficient public transport

I know most people love to hate their city's public transit, but NYC's public transit is pretty damn efficient.

We decided to move to New York without a car and are glad we made the decision because you definitely don't need a car to get around.

To be honest, I can't imagine the headache of owning a car while living in New York. We don't pay for gas and regular car maintenance, not to mention the savings on car insurance.

A monthly subway pass will set you back $133, but it's worth it if you ride the subway more than twice a day. Or you can opt for $33 weekly passes that give you unlimited rides for 7 consecutive days.

In my opinion, NYC's public transportation is efficient and affordable. It is not difficult to use it, and we are not afraid of it, which says a lot.

We arrive on time 80-90% of the time and can get where we need to in a reasonable amount of time, even to the airport. But don't just take my word for it, over 10 million people ride the subway every day.

All of this is to say that if you're moving to New York, leave your car here because you won't need it here.

No. 11. The city never sleeps

You may not realize how great a privilege this is until you move from New York. But just wait until you move somewhere else and find yourself craving cookies at 2am. There is always something lively going on in the city, so you can find something to do after work, even if you go out closer to 9 pm.

Great bars, amazing jazz clubs, romantic restaurants - and it's at your fingertips until the evening.

Yes, this advantage of living in New York cannot be overestimated, because (for both foodies and party people) it is a lifeline.

Cons of life in New York

No. 1. Honestly, the rent is too damn high.

Let's be honest, living in New York City is unrealistic for many people due to the astronomical cost of living in the city.

The high cost of housing is why so many people live with roommates or far from the center (and then they have to commute more than 45 minutes each way).

If it helps, our current rent for a 56-square-foot apartment on the Upper West Side is $2800. She is adorable but TINY!

The bathroom door doesn't open all the way because of the small trash can, which is hilarious and sad at the same time. But as most New Yorkers will tell you, you pay for access, not space.

No. 2. Summer humidity and winter cold

After moving to New York, you will quickly learn to enjoy the blissful spring and fall seasons. The temperature is perfect, and the spring blossoms and autumn leaves decorate the city with breathtaking colors.

Summer is an absolute nightmare! It's hot, stuffy and often stinks. The average summer temperature fluctuates around 29-32°, and the humidity is no joke.

Garbage bags are thrown onto the sidewalk to be picked up by sanitation workers. All smells intensify due to the summer heat, brace yourself.

Winter weather is on the other end of the coin. Brutal, bone-chilling cold awaits you from November to March, and you'd better make sure your tiny closet is full of good coats and woolen socks.

No. 3. Life in New York is expensive

New York is the 7th most expensive city in the world.

Everyday things like haircuts, groceries, and entertainment will be much more expensive while you live in New York.

For example, an average cocktail in New York City will set you back $18-$22 with advance tips. And since daily life in New York is much more social than in other cities, you can expect your friends to suggest meeting at bars more often.

When people first move to New York, they feel like they're on vacation. All these new restaurants, museums, attractions - it's all so exciting! So it takes some time to adjust to the more disciplined way of everyday life in New York.

Besides, living in New York makes people more materialistic.

No. 4. Crowds of people will become part of your daily life

Do you like standing in line? Fine!

Jokes aside, expect crowds and long lines wherever you go.

When you expect it as a tourist, it's still normal. But being a local, wasting time in lines is very annoying.

Not only will you be queuing for the most popular restaurants, but the streets are always crowded.

No. 5. New Yorkers are straightforward

New Yorkers don't embellish. They are straightforward because they don't like to waste time. You can tell by how fast they walk...everywhere.

New Yorkers weren't raised by Southern mothers—forget manners, use brevity. They have places to go and people to see.

It's just the way things are here. I can try to explain it, but why bother? It is what it is, just don't take it personally.

No. 6. Moving to New York? Apartment hunting is a bear hunt

The big problem with living in New York is trying to rent an apartment.

The competition is very high and you will need a broker to get an apartment, which greatly increases the overall costs. Most broker commissions are the equivalent of one month's rent or 10-15% of your total annual rent.

This is crazy and adds extra cost to moving to New York.

Of course, some things have changed due to COVID and brokerage fees have been put on hold for a while because landlords have had a hard time finding tenants.

But either way, expect to update apartment websites hourly and visit multiple locations before you move to New York.

No. 7. If you live in New York, get ready to be considered a workaholic

There is no way around this. New York is a hardworking city. 40 hour work week? Sounds like a distant dream.

Life in New York is not for the faint of heart, most people come here to make a name for themselves and it shows. Expect to work long hours. It's not uncommon to find people answering emails on weekends or checking their phones while on vacation.

Sometimes it seems that anxiety is the second language of New York, and we all speak it well. Some people work 150 hours a week, others have 2-3 jobs.

Whatever you do, get a job before you move to New York.

No. 8. New York is a dirty city

I know some people like to call New York "dirty" because it sounds cheeky, but let's be honest: the city is really dirty. In 2018, New York was named America's dirtiest city.

No. 9. homelessness

In recent years, homelessness in New York has reached its highest level since the Great Depression.

Homelessness is a real problem in this city and will become a part of your daily life if you move to New York.