Things to Know Before Moving to New York City

You’ll pay more for almost everything.

It’s no secret that the city is an expensive place, but until you’ve lived in New York for a year or two, you can’t comprehend how short a distance your money goes. Groceries, personal items, veterinary care, clothing, housing, etc. will cost more, quickly depleting your bank account because you probably haven’t budgeted enough. Add 30 percent to what you assume something will cost, and then you might be on target. One of the important things to know before moving to New York, you must accept that everything will cost more, and don’t beat yourself up about spending so much to live here.

Moving to New York City? You’ll likely live with less.

Depending on where you’re moving from, you’ll probably have to downsize to live here. Unless, of course, you move from another expensive city such as San Francisco or London. Editing your lifestyle isn’t always bad, however. In fact, ridding yourself of those belongings you don’t need can be somewhat liberating. But living with less probably won’t be temporary as long as you stay in the city. You’ll have to adjust to living smaller and with fewer personal items, unless you become financially stable enough to secure a sprawling apartment or own a vacation home outside the city.

You’ll endure harsh winters and humid summers.

January and February are brutal months in New York City. Humidity tends to soar in July and August, making for sticky and smelly streets. I understand you might be from Minneapolis. Where it snows seven or eight months each year, or you went to college for four years in South Florida where the average daily temperature is 84 degrees. But, living in NYC is different, and here’s why….

In New York, you’ll be exposed to the elements. Walking sometimes miles.  Going underground to catch the subway (point #1) when it’s 90-plus outside and 100-plus on the platform. Waiting for a bus in the midst of a polar vortex. Climbing stairs. Carrying packages. Schlepping through ice and snow. Now you can thoroughly understand where that New Yorker toughness everyone talks about comes from.

You’ll encounter dirt and grime (and rats) on a daily basis.

The city is much cleaner than it was 30 or 40 years ago. However, you’ll still see trash on the streets and in the subways. Even the “new” New York is far from pristine. To feel at home in NYC, you have to look past the dirt, garbage, urine, and vermin, and appreciate the atypical allure of this town. I believe that beauty can be found in the ugly with a bit of imagination, but I wish the streets of New York were cleaner.