There are currently more than 18-million people living in the New York City metro area. This makes New York the most populated city in the United States. 

If you’re planning on moving to New York, you may be in for a culture shock, especially if you don’t know the city. 

So, what’s it really like living in New York?

In this article, we’ll share five things you need to know before moving to New York City.

1.You’ll Need Somewhere to Call Home

You’ll need somewhere that you can call home. The big question is always going to be budget. It’s not cheap or easy to rent or buy in New York. 

Locals all tend to use brokers when negotiating on places to live in New York.  Don’t make the mistake of assuming you can do this for yourself. 

You’ll need to decide where in New York to live. You’ll probably want to be in one of the five boroughs. Don’t rule out the New York suburbs, though; you can discover more about South County here. 

2. The Subway Is the Best Way to Get Around

We’ve all seen the movies set in New York where everyone rides in the yellow cabs. Don’t do it. Cabs are an expensive way of getting around. 

Owning your own vehicle in New York is also not really worthwhile either. By far the best way to travel is the Subway. There are plenty of stops, and you can get anywhere in the city pretty quickly. 

3. You’ll Need to Learn to Eat On a Budget

Eating can get expensive in the city if you don’t know where to look. There is plenty of pizza stands on every corner that offers slices for a reasonable price. 

You’ll need to remember when you’re eating out that the price on the menu doesn’t include the service charge. Always double-check before you order. 

4. Get Used to the Lack of Personal Space

Did we mention that New York City is busy and densely populated? Whenever you’re out and about, you’ll find yourself surrounded by people. Keep your wits about you and get used to walking in a crowd. 

5. It Takes Longer Thank You’d Think to Get Places

While the quickest mode of transport is the subway, you should always allow plenty of time to get around.

Given the number of people that use the subway and the distances between platforms, you’ll spend most of your journey time getting to your train. 

If you try to get around by road, you’re pretty much guaranteed to get stuck in traffic somewhere along your journey.  

Moving to New York?

If none of this has put you off moving to New York, then you’re ready to take the plunge.

Do some research into the area you want to move, avoid taking cabs and stick to the subway. And above all else, get used to how busy the city can be. 

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