Moving to New York City

2019 Moving to New York City Relocation Guide

Welcome to 2019 Ultimate Moving to New York City Relocation Guide! Before this big step, find out all important information about New York City.

  • Basic information about New York City zip and area codes, average yearly temperature and spoken languages.
  • Read about New York City neighborhoods and learn some fun facts about the city.
  • Check out the list of Pros and Cons of living in New York City before deciding to actually move.
  • Most importantly, find out all about New York Citymoving and living costs!

    Take a look at the list of basic daily expenses, transportation costs, basic leisure, and recreation costs and housing and utilities cost in New York City.

  • Read all about moving and shipping costs.
  • Learn about flight costs from NYC.

    Every information regarding costs and pricing is compared with average US pricing.

  • You will also find very detailed information about the average yearly salary in NYC, as well as the information about schools and education.
  • We prepared lists of moving to New York City tips.

For moving tips in general check out our Moving Checklist and Paperwork page.


New York City

New York, the Big Apple. City of spectacle, the city that never sleeps. One of the most attractive urban centers in the world, and probably the most diverse one. First of all, New York is a place of opportunity, synonym to possibility. For the past two centuries, New York has been the largest and wealthiest American city, the leader in the trade and culture, trend seter for the rest of the world. New York is situated on one of the world's largest natural harbors and half of the goods or the people that are coming to the United States are coming through this port. New York City consists of five boroughs, each of which reflects an important part of the city identity. Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, The Bronx, and Staten Island.


New York is also the city with the largest foreign-born population in the world. More than 800 languages are spoken in this metropolis. Still, somehow, if you come to this city to stay, You will want to be transformed, and you will become a New Yorker. In the city this big and this diverse there is a place for almost everyone, and there is no place for stereotypes regarding its citizens. Still, You need to believe in one thing everybody is saying, New York, is the most expensive city to live in. Despite that, people are constantly coming, and every single one of them has a unique experience, and so will you, as soon as you enter this ever-changing city.

Moving to New York City Pros & Cons


Living in the most iconic city in the world, we have all received the romanticized image of the Big Apple. Life in New York comes with lots of prons, but cons definitely outweigh them. A great number of people come to live in New York every year, but living in this city is a great challenge. Take a look at the list of the pros and cons of living in New York and get prepared for this step. One thing is sure, you won't be a stranger in New York, no one is. As mentioned before, living in this metropolis is hard, which can only mean that amazing people live there, the ones who can do it all, and the ones who can do it all.


Moving to New York City Pros


1. Career Opportunities

New York City owns one of the most diverse career markets. You can thrive in almost any field. Currently, the most progressive industries are marketing, PR, advertising, technology, finance and of course, fashion and modeling. Apart from those professions, there are endless possibilities for any career path. These opportunities are in fact, the single most important thing that makes New York one of the most desirable places to live in 2019.

2. Public Transportation System

New York subway system is one of the largest rapid systems in the world. It covers four boroughs of the city, and it can take you almost anywhere. Apart from the size, it is also very cost-efficient. One of the biggest pros of living in New York is hat you don't have to drive anywhere if the subway is not efficient enough for you, you can always get a cab or Uber, or even a bus. Not owning a car may not be the pro for everyone, but in New York City parking can cost you as much as rent in other cities.

3. Art and Culture

Go out and explore art! Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), Whitney and Guggenheim are the museums you can start with. You will always be surrounded by performance art in New York from amateur free events to most prestigious performance centers like Broadway, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, New York State Theater or Carnegie Hall.

4. Crime Rate

New York is surprisingly safe, now that the dark days of the 1980s and ’90s are gone. There are a lot of homeless people but according to New Yorkers, they are harmless.

5. Level of Walkability

New York City is extremely walkable! Especially Manhattan, but in all five boroughs there are many areas with wide sidewalks and crossing signals. Train stations in New York City are strategically placed to make the NY one of the most pedestrian-friendly cities in the world. High level of walkability is a great pro for any city, there is no better way of getting to know the city!

6. Making Connections

There are 9 million people in NYC and you never know who will be the next person you will meet. This level of diversity is really eye-opening, you will get to know so many different cultures and characters. Most importantly, New Yorkers are driven, they always aspire for more, and by meeting new people and making new groups you can thrive.

7. Convenience

New York life is fast, you always have the drive to do as many things as possible in one day, so the city itself is built on efficiency. There is a mobile app for almost anything. Many things in this city are time-consuming, but on the other hand, there is a lot of stuff that you will do so much more faster here than anywhere else in the world. Apart from that, no matter where you are, and no matter what time it is, you have everything at your fingertips.

8. Public Events and Things To do

It is easy to become socially connected in New York, and if you are, you can find many free events to attend (parties with open bars, art openings, free concerts, etc.). 24-hour lifestyle is one of the most accurate descriptions of New York. Almost anything that you do in the daytime, you can get done in the nighttime too. There is always something to do in this city. All you need to do is go outside and the events will be all around you.

9. Food

Diversity also means great food. You can find authentic food from all over the world. You can find all sorts of multicultural restaurants and bars. Food is also available at any time, anywhere.

10. Traveling

New York has great connections with the whole world.

Moving to New York City Cons


1. Living Costs

New York City is one of the most expensive cities to live in. Everything is expensive from renting and buying an apartment to coffee, food, or basic leisure activities. For example, in any other city, you can find three times bigger apartment for half the price you would pay in NY. Even with all the discounts, you will still pay double or triple for everything.

2. Personal Space

If you are moving to New York, you need to prepare yourself for sharing personal space. It gets really crazy during rush hours, but we are not talking about that, you will be surrounded by people all the time. (and most of the people have a really bad attitude at first). Serious lack of quiet and personal space is one of the biggest problems of living in New York, along with the living costs. Most of the citizens don't have personal space at home either, because of the rent prices. Many people who have decided to live alone, are living in very small apartments, locally called shoe boxes because they can not afford bigger ones by themselves.

3. The Stress

New Yorker’s can be rude and aggressive. Living in New York can really absorb your energy, as you are always in some kind of a rush, and you spend most of the day at work. Big Apple is definitely exciting, but it is also very draining. You may find yourself with little to no energy on the weekends, which will stop you from enjoying the nightlife ar other fun activities.

4. Weather

Weather is not great. You get all 4 seasons here, but the winters are really long and cold, and summers are hot and also long. It is either really cold or really hot for the most part of the year.

5. Smell and Dirt

Dirt is always a big problem in large population cities. Apart from the dirt itself, New York City is filled with cockroaches and rats. The urban legend is that there are five rats per resident. Also, one of the great problems is the smell, the constant smell of garbage, urine or overly burnt food.

6. Holidays

10 days off a year is normal in New York. So you have a really small number of free days or even free hours if you are living and working in NYC.

7. Terrorism

The city is the number one terrorist target in the USA.

New York Pros and Cons
New Yrok City Fun Facts

Moving to New York City Tips


Living in New York is always exciting and thirling, but it can also be really hard. The more secrets you know, the easier it will be. If you are considering moving to Big Apple, you will want to get some information ahead, here are 10 TIPS for moving to New York, 10 facts that will help you prepare for this step.

  • Carefully pick your neighboorhood! There are hundreds of neighborhoods throughout five boroughs, and all of them are completely different. Take your time getting to know them and finding the one that really fits your character.
  • Be prepared that you may not be able to afford to buy a home. For most New York citizens, homeownership is not the option. The median price for a home in New York is three times higher than anywhere else in the USA.
  • Remain calm! There are plenty of ways of finding a place to live in. You can always get roommates and share the expenses. New Yorkers recommend using streeteasy for finding a place. Important tip: if you find a home you like, rent it immediately, it will probably be gone by tomorrow.
  • You should consider renting on a short-term basis in the beginning, take the time to get to know the city and choose the neighborhood. You don't want to be stuck in a place you don't like for a year or two.
  • Find your place of serenity! New York is extremely loud, crowded and fast, but if you want you can explore the city and find urban pockets, that is the only way for getting peace in this metropolis.
  • There is a myth that subways don't work on the weekends. That is not completely true, but often enough, subway lines are renovated on weekends and you will have to travel differently.
  • Taxi is almost never a faster option than the subway, especially during the rush hour.
  • Bring an umbrella! Rain in New York is more often than you would expect.
  • If you don't feel comfortable in crowds you will want to avoid tourist areas, they are also much more expensive.
  • The best way to get to know the city is by simply walking or biking all over, but be careful, bikes get stolen all the time.

Check out our printable Stage-by-Stage MOVING CHECKLIST.

This ultimate moving checklist will help you complete your moving without stress.


Moving Checklist

New York City Moving Costs


There are certain costs associated with moving that most people tend to neglect. Even if you have opted for a self-moving job that does not involve hiring a professional moving company, you will have to pay extra for certain things. Here is a list of moving and packing costs you may have forgotten.


  • Packing Supplies

    If you plan to move on a budget and want to fo the packing yourself, you must know that you will need to invest in packing supplies like boxes, tape or bubble wrap.

  • Moving Insurance

    During the move something almost always brake. Getting moving insurance is always recommended. Most of the moving companies offer insurance and you can decide how much to get, considering how valuable your things are.

  • Moving Start-up Costs

    For renting new space start-up costs include things like your first and last month’s rent, a security deposit, a pet deposit or an application fee.

    If you are buying start-up costs are much bigger. They include closing costs for your new mortgage which is often measured in thousands of dollars. Average closing costs typically range from 2% to 5% of the cost of your home. These costs include things like a fee for running your credit report, a loan origination fee, attorney’s fees, the cost of a home inspection, a title search, an appraisal fee, and a survey fee, etc.

  • Boarding Your Pets

    You can expect extra costs for boarding your pets. Often enough, people tend to move their pets overnight, that way pets are not exposed to the stress.

  • Stair Fees

    Some of the moving companies will ask you to pay a stair fee.

  • Moving Large Items Fees

    It is always best to check with moving companies about extra fees and inform them about your large items, like piano or pool table, in advance. That way you will avoid surprises on a moving day.

  • Valuable Artworks or Decorative Pieces Are Often Handled by Specialised Movers

    There are professionals who are trained to handle valuable items. Packing and moving valuable items is more complex than regular moving. So you can expect to pay extra on moving those kinds of pieces.

  • Storage Space Renting

    Sometimes, you don't want to bring all of your things to your new home, but you don't want to throw them either. If you find yourself in this situation you will have to find storage space for those things. Having to store items could mean an additional monthly expense.

  • Re-buying Items Once You've Moved In

    While you shouldn't get rid of everything before a move, there are going to be some items that you're not going to want to bring to your new space.

  • Tips For Your Movers

    Your movers are doing a lot of hard work and heavy lifting, and they deserve to be compensated. Just note, that tips are always expected by your movers.


New York City Shipping Costs


Here you can find a list of shipping costs. Please note that the cost of international shipping (calculated with reallymoving) is solely the cost of shipping itself, while the cost of shipping within the United States (calculated with moving.com) also includes other additional expenses. Costs are calculated for moving entire two bedroom home, in the next three monts.

International Cost
Vancouver (Canada) $3,700 - $5,200
Sydney (Australia) $4,500 - $6,000
Auckland (New Zealand) $4,500 - $6,000
Beijing (China) $4,600 - $6,300
Tokyo (Japan) $4,500 - $6,000
Dubai (United Arab Emirates) $3,500 - $5,800
Mexico City (Mexico) $3,000 - $5,100
London (United Kingdom) $3,500 - $4,800
Dublin (Ireland) $3,500 - $4,800
Singapore $4,500 - $6,000
United States Cost
San Francisco, California $5,199 - $6,642
Chicago, Illinois $3,060 - $3,855
Washington D.C. $2,350 - $2,929
Austin, Texas $4,037 - $5,126
Los Angeles, California $5,086 - $6,494
Boston, Massachusetts $2,294 - $2,856
Miami, Florida $3,482 - $4,404
Seattle, Washington $5,076 - $6,481
San Diego, California $5,094 - $6,505
Denver, Colorado $4,167 - $5,296

New York City Living Costs


New York is world’s most expensive city to live in. Everythig starts with renting or buying a house. If moving to New York is the next step you will probably need to get informed about the cost of basic and personal necessities in this city. For more information about living costs visit numbeo or expatistan.


How much are utilities in New York City


  • 85m2 Apartment Monthly Utilities, Basic (Electricity, Water, Cooling, Heating, Garbage):

    $140.75

  • 1 Min. Of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans):

    $0.08

  • Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/adsl):

    $63.40

  • Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), for 20 Years Fixed-rate, Yearly:

    4.26

New York City VS US Average
Food New York City US Average
Meal in Inexpensive Restaurant $20.00 $14.50
Mcmeal at Mcdonalds (or Equivalent) $9.00 $7.00
Water (1.5 Liter Bottle) $2.31 $1.45
Milk (Regular), (1 gallon) $4.31 $3.11
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) $3.52 $2.36
Eggs (Regular) (12) $3.57 $2.27
Chicken Breasts (1 lb) $5.89 $3.85
Potato (1 lb) $1.86 $1.1
Apples (1 lb) $2.72 $2.02
Local Cheese (1 lb) $7.26 $4.74
Child Care New York City US Average
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Monthly $2,337.15 $886.18
International Primary School, Yearly $38,291.67 $17,116.12
Self Care New York City US Average
Private Doctor Short Visit $135 $112
Box of Antibiotics $27 $17
Tube of Toothpaste $2.03 $1.78
Hair Shampoo 2-in-1 $6 $4.77
Deodorant, Roll-on $4.58 $3.39
Toilet Paper - 4 Rolls $4.05 $3.41
1 Box of 32 Tampons $8 $7
Transportation New York City US Average
Local Transport - One-way Ticket $2.75 $2.20
Local Transport - Monthly Pass $127.00 $70.00
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) $2.50 $3.25
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) $2.60 $1.71
Gasoline (1 gallon) $3.05 $2.77
Housing New York City US Average
Apartment (1 Bedroom) - City Centre $3,132.46 $1,291.27
Apartment (1 Bedroom) $2,046.77 $1,015.10
Buy Apartment in City Centre - Per Sq Ft $1,289.44 $239.62
Buy Apartment - Per Sq Ft $575.19 $173.92
Hourly Rate for Cleaning Help $25 $21
Leisure and Recreation New York City US Average
Fitness Club Monthly Fee, 1 Adult $80.38 $36.17
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) $33.18 $15.14
2 Movie Tickets $33 $25
2 Theater Tickets (Best Available Seats) $373 $171
Coke/pepsi (Small Bottle) $2.02 $1.80
Cappuccino (Regular) $4.59 $4.07
Domestic Beer (500ml) $7.00 $6.00
Bottle of Wine $15.00 $12.00
1 Cocktail Drink $16.00 $12.00
Marlboro Cigarettes 20 Pack $14.00 $7.25
Clothing New York City US Average
Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 or Similar) $54.83 $43.12
Summer Dress (Zara, H&m or Similar) $37.95 $34.67
Pair of Nike Running Shoes $87.37 $73.84
Pair of Men Leather Shoes $127.19 $94.36
Laundry Detergent (3 L.) $17 $11

New York City Transportation


There are many options for getting around New York City, and most of the citizens agree that public transportation is the most affordable, comfortable and efficient way. Public transportation in NYC falls in two biggest categories, subways and buses. If you are traveling around during the working days, the subway is the most reliable and efficient way. If you are traveling during night or weekends you may want to consider getting a taxi, and if you wish to move across the city, from East to West, the bus is your best option. There are also numerous railway lines in NYC, but they are mostly designed to take you to more distant boroughs.

Taxi Fares:

Taxis are available 24/7. Apart from the usual pricing, you will be charged with some additional costs. Taxi start price increases 50 cents every fifth of a mile, there is $1 surcharge added if you are traveling during the rush hours (Monday to Friday, 4 pm - 8 pm) and 50 cents surcharge is added at night (8 pm - 6 am). You will also need to tip the driver, usually 15-20%.

  • Taxi Start - Average Tariff:

    $2.50 with a range from $2.50-$3.75

  • Taxi 1km - Average Tariff:

    $2.60 with a range from $2.50-$5.00

  • Taxi 1-hour Waiting - Average Tariff:

    $30.00 with a range from $24.00-$48.00

Owning a Car:

  • Gasoline 1 gallon - Average Price:

    $3.05 with a range from $2.75-$3.85

  • Buying a new car (Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline Or Equivalent) - Average Price:

    $221,845.00 with a range from $18,200.00-$30,000.00

Owning a Car:

You can find car rentals for $60 for one day. It is not advisable to use car rentals in NYC, driving is difficult and parking is one of the biggest problems of the city.

Public Transport:

MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority):

MTA runs the city’s rail and bus system. The first step for using this transportation system is purchasing a MetroCard. You can get unlimited MetroCard or a SingleRide card. SingleRide card costs $3 and you have to use it within the next two hours. With an unlimited MetroCard, you have several options, and you can ride as often as you need. You can get weekly MetroCard for $31, or monthly MetroCard for $117. There are discounts for seniors over 65 and for disabled (up to 50%). Children traveling with parents can ride for free.

1. Subways:

Subways operate 24/7. With a single card, you can transfer to a bus within 2 hours. The subway does not travel to Staten Island! To go there you have to use a bus or ferry. Subway lines sometimes stop running or change routes, get the latest information from mta.info.

  • Single Ride (Adult) - $2.75
  • Single Ride (Children under 4) - Free
NYC Metro
NYC Map

2. Buses:

To pay for the bus ride you can either use MetroCard or pay in exact coin change. Buses usually run every 5-15 minutes, and most of them operate 24/7. From 11 pm to 5 am bus drivers will stop wherever you ask them to. You can get the latest information about bus routes on mta.info too.

  • Single Ride (Adult) - $2.75
  • Single Ride (Children under 4) - Free

3. Aerial Tram:

The Roosevelt Island Tram operates 7 days a week from 6 am to 2 am (on weekends it operates until 3:30 am). You can use MetroCard to pay for the ride, and you can transfer to any MTA transportation system.

  • Single Ride (Adult) - $2.75
  • Single Ride (Children under 4) - Free

NYC Ferry:

  • The Staten Islan Ferry is free, the route goes from Manhattan's Whitehall Ferry Terminal and it lasts for 25 minutes.
  • NYC Ferry operates throughout the whole city. It cost the same as the subway. Visit the NYC Ferry website for more information.

Bike:

You can rent a bike for $12 for one day or for $24 for three days. Passes can be bought through the mobile app or at the rent stations. You can also get the annual pass. For more information visit the CITI BIKE.

Hop-on Hop-Off Buses:

Locally called HOHO buses are tourist-oriented rides, traveling around the city and stopping at all major attractions.

NYC Farry
NYC Bike

Work and Salary


Average Yearly Salary in New York City is $70,317

Currently, most popular and best-paid jobs in New York City are:

  • Software Engineer - $99,054/yr
  • Executive Assistant - $63,878/yr
  • Project Manager - $77,641/yr
  • Administrative Assistant - $44,889/yr
  • Operations Manager - $69,084/yr
  • Marketing Manager - $73,429/yr
  • Account Manager - $61,642/yr

All the information is provided by Glassdoor and Payscale where you can get more detailed information about the job of interest. If you don't have a specific job in mind, you can also check this list of 10 common jobs and professions in the United States with an average salary for each of them.

Job New York City US Average
Cashier $23,452/yr $22,711/yr
Receptionist $33,130/yr $29,844/yr
Repair Technician $33,193/yr $32,606/yr
Actor $41,282/yr $37,208/yr
Registered Nurse $83,665/yr $69,270/yr
Secretary $36,392/yr $31,279/yr
Preschool Teacher $30,764/yr $28,973/yr
High School Teacher $63,423/yr $51,027/yr
Lawyer $132,211/yr $117,188/yr
Truck Driver $57,085/yr $57,062/yr

New York City Schools, Universities, Colleges

  • New York City Public Schools:

    Public schools system is managed by the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE). This department covers every public school in NYC from preschool to age of 21. The New York City public schools system is the largest schools system in the USA with more than 1.800 separate schools. Apart from regular highschools, you can find all kinds of specialized schools like technical, art, design, business, performing arts, music or science schools. For more information visit the official website of the NYC Department of Education.

  • New York City Private Schools:

    There are more than 900 private schools in NYC. The New York City Department of Education pays $70 million to private schools sector each year. Some of the private schools are the best in the USA.

  • New York City Charter Schools:

    In addition to public and private schools there are also publicly funded, indipendet schools, called charter schools. They opearte on their own set of rules.

  • New York City Parochial Schools:

    Parochial schools serve both elementry adns econdary level. Main religions operating parochial schools in NYC are: Jewish, Protestant, Roman Catholic and Islamic.

  • Universities and Colleges:

    New York City is home to more university students then any other city in the United States. There are more then 110 universitites and collegis in NYC. Public higher education is provided by City University of New York and State University of New York. Campuses are settled in all five borough. Some of the most importnat universites in NYc are the Columbia University (founded in 1754) and Barnard College (one of the Seven sisters Univesity).

    Most important private universities are New York Univesity (one of the largest private universities in the United States) and The New School (multidisciplnary university housing eight separate specialised colleges).

Things to do in New York City


New York City is always alive. Events are everywhere and all the time. In the city this diverse it can be hard to choose one event, and it can be really hard deciding where to start exploring. If you have trouble finding events and choosing which one to attend here are some websites that can help you make that decision:

  • nyc.com

    Here you can explore Broadway shows, concerts, sports events, nightlife and more.

  • eventbrite

    On this website, you will find events happening today, near you. You can add additional filters if you are interested in some special type of event.

  • nycgo.com

    This link will provide you with information about important and popular annual events in NYC.

  • clubfreetime

    And lastly, here you can browse from FREE events!


We prepared the list of 10 attractions that you must see as soon as you move here, so you can stop feeling like a tourist and start attending more local events.

  • Times Square:

    Get overwhelmed by the famous New York vibe, take a look at the numerous electronic billboards, at the place where broadway and seventh avenue meet.

  • Statue of Liberty:

    A most important symbol of New York City. The 93-meter Statue of Liberty represents the Roman goddess Libertas, standing free of the shackles, holding a torch in her right hand and carrying a tablet with the date of the Declaration of Independence, “JULY IV MDCCLXXVI” (1776) in her left hand.

  • Empire State Building:

    One of the most recognizable symbols of NYC. The main attraction that you will want to visit, take a look at the whole city from the 86th floor, day or night time, and it is open until 2 am.

  • Fifth Avenue:

    Fifth Avenue is a symbol for luxury and prestige, both Met and Guggenheim are located in this street.

  • Broadway:

    Catching a musical in New York is almost a ritual, one of the most important things to do in the Big Apple. You can start with one of the three ever-present productions: the Lion King (1997) at the Minskoff Theatre, Phantom of the Opera (1988) at the Majestic or the Chicago (1996) at the Ambassador. Broadway theatre represents theatrical performances presented in the 41 professional theatres.

  • The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA):

    One of the largest and most important museums of contemporary art in the world. The collection of 150,000 pieces of art are kept here, with masterpieces like The Starry Night by van Gogh and Dalí’s The Persistence of Memory. You can visit MoMa for free on Friday nights from 16:00 to 20:00 pm.

  • The Metropolitan Museum of Art:

    The Metropolitan Museum of Art is home to artworks from all over the world, in the last 5.000 years. Explore the art at the largest gallery in the United States. You must be aware that on the day is not enough time to explore the whole museum, you will need and want to come back!

  • Central Park:

    One of the biggest attractions of NYC, Central Park is much more than open public green space. Here you can enjoy all sorts of activities like yoga, outdoor theatre, zoo, public art and more. A big part of Manhattan’s grid system was pulled out and filled with one of the most beautiful parks in the whole world.

  • Staten Island Ferry:

    Staten Island Ferry rides are free, they last for 25 minutes and during the tour, you will experience perfect views of the city along with the best view on the statue of liberty.

  • Chinatown:

    There are several Chinatowns that you will want to visit. You can start with the Manhattan’s Chinatown which was the biggest Chinatown in NYC for a long time, today, that honor goes to Chinatown in Queens.

Art & culture


New York City is often described as the cultural capital of the world. Numerous major cultural movements began in the Big Apple. Ethnical diversity is significantly influencing the culture of the city. New York was the top venue and birthplace for all sorts of art. Music genres like jazz, hip hop, punk or rock bloomed in this city. For a long time, New York City has been considered the dance capital of the world. New artists are drawn to this city through endless opportunities and inspiration. Explore the culture in the city, start attending events, visiting galleries and museums. You will have the chance to enjoy all sorts of art.

Architecture:

  • Enjoy New York’s historic or modern architecture. You can go on the Around Manhattan Architecture Tour, hosted by architects, and enjoy the architecture from the yacht.

Music, Dance, Film, and Theatre:

  • Visit Lincoln Center, Broadway Theatre, Carnegie Hall, The Blue Note or simply enjoy live concerts throughout the city. New York film industry is not as big as Hollywoods, but still, New York is home to many important film festivals, production houses, and independent film companies.

Visual art:

  • Visit art museums, art galleries, cultural museums, historic museums or children's museums to explore classical or modern visual art. Go to nycgo.com and choose where to start, there are over 300 museums and over 100 art galleries in this city! Apart from conventional art facilities, New York City is home to major street art projects and movements. New York City has a law that requires annually allocating a specific amount of money for artwork in any public building owned by the city.

Because of the cultural and ethnic diversity, New York City is home o large number of major parades and street festivals. Summer Stage in Central Park is one of the most important festivals that you will want to visit! Apart from that, there are parades for almost any important date, like the Village Halloween Parade, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade or the collective celebrations on New Year’s Eve.

Sport Teams


New York City is home to some of the best professional sports teams. Take a look at the list of Major league teams in New York City.

  • Baseball MLB:

New York Mets

New York Yankees

New York Mets play at the Citi Field in Flushing, Queens while the New York Yankees play at the Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. Baseball season starts in March and runs until late September.

  • Basketball NBA:

Brooklyn Nets

New York Knicks

Brooklyn Nets play at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn while the New York Knicks play at the Madison Square Garden, Midtown Manhattan. Basketball season starts in October and runs until late April.

  • Football NFL:

New York Jets

New York Giants

Both New York Jets and New York Giants play at the MetLife Stadium, Secaucus, New Jersey. Football season starts in Septmeber and runs until January.

  • Ice Hockey NHL:

New York Rangers

New York Islanders

New Jersey Devils

New York Rangers play at the Madison Square Garden, Midtown Manhattan, New York Islanders play at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, and New Jersey Devils play at the Prudential Center Newark, New Jersey. Ice Hockey season starts in October and runs until late April.

  • Soccer:

New York City FC

New York Red Bulls

New York City FC play at the Yankee Stadium, Bronx, while the New York Red Bulls play at the Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey. Soccer season starts in March and runs until early November.

Moving to New York City Alone


When you find yourself in a situation where you are moving to a new city completely by yourself, meeting people and making friends is one of the biggest challenges. Especially if you are moving to NYC. There are more than eight million people in this city but they always seem busy, and they probably are. New Yorkers have a reputation for being unfriendly, but that is not true, you just need to get to know them! Here are some tips for meeting people in New York City.

Meetup Groups:

New York City has a large number of meetup groups that gather very often, are diverse and you can find a group for almost every occupation and interest. You can explore opportunities on the meetup website. If you can't decide for yourself, these are some of the most popular meetup groups in New York City:

  • Hudson Valley Hikers
  • Free Comedy and New Friends NYC!
  • Alternative to the Bar

Join the class:

Joining the class is a great opportunity to meet new people while learning something new. There are public classes for almost anything in New York City. By attending public classes you will meet people that share your interest, your hobbies and are passionate about learning. Make your choice on coursehorse, here you will find listings of all available courses, and by adding filters you can find your best match. Here are three top-rated courses on coursehorse.com:

  • Seasonal Pies & Tarts
  • After Workshop: Indigo Dyeing
  • Stained Glass Lessons

Work Out:

Working out can help you make friends, whether you join an adult athletic league, fitness camps, or simply run through the city during the running season.

Volunteer:

This is one of the best ways to connect with people, you are helping others while making connections and finding friends. You can choose among numerous volunteering programs online or you can use VolunteerMatch.

Go On a Tour:

Joining a tour means that you are going to meet people who are most likely new to the city, just like you are. This can be really helpful, you can share your experiences and start exploring the city together. You can browse the tours on nycgo.com, where you can find free tours too.

See Improv or a Comedy show:

Laughter connects people! Improv shows are great for connecting with fun groups or individuals.

Attend Events:

Something is always happening in the city that never sleeps, and there are a lot of social networks that will help you find an event you are interested in.

Moving to New York City with a Family


Most people think raising a family in a big city is not a good idea. However, raising children in New York can be a great experience from which you and your children will learn a lot. In each of the five New York boroughs, there are family-friendly neighborhoods, with great schools, playgrounds, low crime rates and all the pertinent amenities that the city has over the suburbs. Here you can see a list of the best neighborhoods for raising children in each of the five boroughs:

Family-Friendly Neighborhoods:


  • Bronx: Riverdale

    Riverdale is the top family-friendly neighborhood in the Bronx. It is quiet. It has a lot of playgrounds and parks, and it has three great college-prep schools: Fieldston, Horace Mann, and Riverdale Country. Apart from that, people describe Riverdale as one of the safest neighborhoods in NYC. Riverdale is very isolated from the rest of the Bronx, and it has a suburban vibe.

  • Brooklyn: Williamsburg

    Williamsburg is widely known for its hip scene and vibrant nightlife, but there is much more to it. Williamsburg is perfect for raising families. There are a lot of parks and open spaces. It is really safe and it offers a lot of child-friendly activities. This is a perfect neighboorhood for young families.

  • Manhattan: Battery City Park

    Battery City Park is one of the best places for raising a family in NYC. It is great for both kids and their parents. The neighboorhood provides a great commute time and there are a lot of public open spaces and events that are extremely kids friendly. Also, this neighboorhood will provide you with great houses and condos for families and apart from that, here you will find some of the best NYC schools.

  • Queens: Auburndale

    According to streeteasy Auburndale is one of the NYC neighborhoods with the highest density of households with kids. Almost a third of homes are occupied with families with kids under 18. The neighboorhood offers great family-friendly housing options, it is relatively safe and you will find great schools here too.

  • Staten Island: Great Kills

    Over half of the Great Kills households are family households. Some of the best schools in New York City are located in this neighboorhood and there are a lot of parks and playgrounds. Great Kills is often described as a small town. You will find everything you need there, a park, a beach, shops and restaurants ad much more.

Things To do With Kids:

New York City offers great entertainment for children, various festivals, parades and event are held daily, numerous parks and playgrounds, and there are many attractions to visit with your family. You can take your kids to see almost every NYC attraction but here is the shirt kist of kid-focused attraction that you can enjoy with them:

  • Bronx Zoo
  • Central Park Zoo
  • Children’s Museum of the Arts
  • Children’s Museum of Manhattan
  • Carousel in Battery Park
  • LEGO Store in Flatiron
  • New York Hall of Science

New York City - Important Information


The City of New York

NYC Seal

Located at the southern tip of the state of New York, and is situated on one of the world's largest natural harbors, the city is the center of the New York metropolitan area, the largest metropolitan area in the world and one of the world's most populous megacities. New York City consists of five boroughs, each of which is a separate county of the State of New York. The five boroughs are Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, The Bronx, and Staten Island.

  • Official City Website:

    NYC.gov

  • Official State Website:

    ny.gov

  • Official Language:

    English

  • Other Spoken Languages:

    Spanish, Chinese, Russian, French, Hindi, Gujarati, Urdu, and around 800 more.

  • Area Codes:

    212, 646 and 332; 718, 347 and 929; 917

  • Zip Codes:

    10001-10282 ( Manhattan)

    10301-10314 (Staten Island)

    10451-10475 (Bronx)

    11201-11256 (Brooklyn)

    11004-11109; 11351-11379; 11385, 11411-11436; 11691-11697 (Queens)

  • Area: 468.484 sq mi (1,213.37 km2):

    Water 165.841 sq mi (429.53 km2)

    Land 302.643 sq mi (783.84 km2)

    Metro 13,318 sq mi (34,490 km2)

New York City Population:


  • According to the last census (2010): 8,175,133
  • According to the latest estimate (2018): 8,398,748
New York City Demographics by Race
White 3,661,800 42.78%
Asian 1,198,334 14.00%
Other Race 1,294,497 15.12%
Black or African American 2,081,507 24.32%
Two or More Races 285,089 3.33%
Native American 34,487 0.40%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander 4,358 0.05%

Taxes in New York City

Single Filing Status, Average New York City Salary ($70,317) Taxes:

  • Income Tax: - $20,071
  • Sales Tax: - $1,561
  • Fuel Tax: - $21
  • Property Tax$: - $2,192
  • Total Estimated: - $23,845

Percent of income to taxes = 36%.

For more personal information calculate your taxes with smartasset.

New York City - Average Yearly Temperature

  • Hours of sunshine: 2535 2hours
  • Average Rainfall: 119 days
  • Average Snowfall: 11 days
  • Annual high temperature: 16.8°C
  • Annual low temperature: 8.9°C
  • Average temperature: 12.85°C

New York City - Crime rate

According to a 2015 ranking of 50 cities by The Economist, New York was the 10th overall safest major city in the world, as well as the 28th safest in personal safety. New York crime index by numbeo is 43.90 (moderate).

  • Level of crime: - 46.61 (moderate)
  • Property crime index: - 50.59 (moderate)
  • Violent crime index: - 46.84 (moderate)
  • Corruption and bribery: - 51.52 (moderate)

Flight Costs from New York City


List of flight costs, from New York to other major cities. Based on the cheapest flights from skyscanner, booked one month ahead.


  • Vancouver (Canada): $149 (1 stop)
  • Sydney (Australia): $670 (1 stop)
  • Auckland (New Zealand): $683 (2 stops)
  • Beijing (China): $338 (1 stop)
  • Tokyo (Japan): $505 (1 stop)
  • Dubai (United Arab Emirates): $397 (1 stop)
  • Mexico City (Mexico): $134 (1 stop)
  • London (United Kingdom): $114 (1 stop)
  • Dublin (Ireland): $284 (direct)
  • Singapore: $439 (1 stop)

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