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Why Living in NYC is a Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience

Posted in City Guides on July 11, 2022

We have watched countless times the breathtaking skyline and the Statue of Liberty on the screen and heard or read about it in so many different songs and stories. Although, in reality, it isn’t quite like that, and there are certainly pros and cons of living in NYC, it is still one of the most famous cities in the world and one of the most exciting ones to relocate to.

Is Living in NYC Worth It? It Most Definitely Is, but Brace Yourself for a Completely Different Lifestyle

What is living in New York really like? New Yorkers often describe themselves as “workaholics,” people in constant action who have busy schedules. To a person who is relocating for the first time, you can often hear New Yorkers say – “One day you will be infatuated with this town, and the next you will hate with a burning passion.” NY is a true metropolis where you can encounter something different each and every day. This city never sleeps.

Is Living in NYC Hard? Of the Main Positive Aspects of New York City Is the Opportunity to Start a Successful Career

What salary do you need to live in NYC? You can’t just relocate to a big town without being certain that life will be comfortable. The bills and other expenses in the Big Apple are not low, that much we can say. But on the other hand, it is one of the most prosperous cities in the US, offering exciting career opportunities in any professional field you can think of. Therefore if you are relocating without a job or looking to get one before you move, the Big Apple is bound to offer something interesting.

Now to answer the question of salary. For example, if you are relocating to New York City alone, some will say that around 60 or 70 thousand dollars will be enough to live comfortably without necessarily having to share an apartment with someone. We understand that many people choose cross-country movers and their packing services to relocate them to this beautiful town because of the glamor, Broadway, and the scenes of people drinking cocktails on rooftops, and these scenes do exist in reality. However, you have to work for it, but the very notion that there is an opportunity to achieve something makes this town great.

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New York City Is One of the Most Culturally Diverse Cities in the World

The Big Apple is home to numerous communities from all continents, and it is estimated that around 600 languages are spoken across its entire area. Therefore, if you are looking to make friends after relocation, there shouldn’t be any problems at all. While living in New York City, you will have the opportunity to experience a different culture each day. Just to illustrate this, here are some famous cultural festivals:

  • In February, you will be able to attend the famous Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade and Festival.
  • In March, along Fifth Avenue, the famous Saint Patrick’s Day Parade takes place, celebrating the wonderful Irish culture.
  • In late April or early May, in Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Sakura Matsuri: Cherry Blossom Festival takes place, celebrating Japanese culture.
  • In May, Haitian American Heritage and Flag Day Celebration is held at Nostrand Avenue and Clarendon Road.
  • In June, the Israel Parade takes place on Fifth Avenue.

The list goes on and on, and there isn’t a single month without a cultural event being held. What is more, it’s often said that NY residents are welcoming people, and such high cultural diversity certainly plays a huge role in this. If you have anxiety about moving cross-country because you are afraid of adapting to a different environment, in NY, depression after relocating is not such a big problem.

Such High Diverse Cultural Life Is Always Followed by an Outstanding Cuisine

What are the pros of living in NYC? If you are a gourmet, then there probably isn’t a better town to decide to live in when moving across country. Whatever neighborhood you pick for your house or apartment, there will be a foreign eatery right around the corner. NY certainly has a plethora of Michelin-starred restaurants, but the real beauty is in visiting the authentic places where you can try food from all parts of the world. Finally, we mustn’t forget about the famous NY pizza, and there are still places open where they use coal-burning ovens. Here is a lovely video on some of the best eating places in NY.

Despite Being a Metropolis, the Nature and Green Spaces Are Abundant and Beautiful

When the term “metropolis” is used, the first things that come to mind are concrete buildings and gloomy weather. However, that isn’t the case with the Big Apple. There are approximately 1700 parks. When relocating to NY, whatever address you choose, you want to be less than 10 minutes away from a park. This makes it ideal for individuals who are relocating with children or with their furry friends. You will never truly run out of things to do in NY with kids with this many playgrounds.

You Are Going to Live in the Vicinity of Many Wondrous, Sunny Beaches

Many individuals tend to overlook this when looking for legitimate long-distance movers. NY has around 14 miles of public beaches that are all connected with public transportation. Some of the most popular ones are Coney Island Beach, Brighton Beach, and Rockaway Beach. To make things even more amazing, at some beaches such as Rockaway, waves are suitable for surfing, and there is no denying that many individuals have a lifelong dream of riding the waves.

The Big Apple Has One of the Best-Developed Public Transportation Systems in the Country

When talking about any big city, public transportation is usually one of the main negative characteristics. However, when weighing ‘living in New York’ pros and cons, public transportation is definitely a positive characteristic. The metro system is incredibly efficient, and more than 10 million individuals use it every day. Therefore, if shipping a car cross-country currently doesn’t fit your relocation budget, commuting is absolutely possible with public transportation.

The Five Boroughs of NY All Have a Unique Charm

Before booking cross-country moving services to relocate you to this wonderful city, one of the five NY boroughs has to be chosen as your address. They are all beautiful in their own unique way, and here is some basic information about them:

Living in Staten Island

Staten Island, also known as the “borough of parks,” is the least populated borough but the third-largest in area. If you are a person who enjoys nature, you won’t run out of things to do after relocating to this borough. As the nickname suggests, it has an incredible number of parks and is also part of the Gateway National Recreation Area. In addition, Staten Island has diverse wildlife, and you will be able to witness breathtaking sights of white-tailed deer, bald eagles, egrets, snapping turtles, and many more. When it comes to demographics, the largest foreign community is Italian, so there will be no shortage of fine Italian restaurants. Finally, Staten Island has some of the most interesting cultural attractions and institutions, such as Historic Richmond Town, the National Lighthouse Museum, Snug Harbor Cultural Center, and Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art.

Living in the Bronx

The Bronx is primarily populated by the Hispanic and Afro- American communities. The music scene of Bronx has acquired a legendary reputation as this borough is considered to be the birthplace of modern DJing and is also the birthplace of many famous rappers. The Bronx is also home to NY Yankees and their famous Yankee Stadium. This stadium is, nowadays, also used by NY’s soccer team, so you will have a real opportunity to watch MLS as well. This borough is also known for some highly renowned cultural institutions, such as the Bronx Museum of the Arts and the Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance. We mustn’t forget to mention that one of the greatest writers of all time, Edgar Allan Poe spent his final years in the Bronx and wrote one of his most famous works, “Annabel Lee.” Nowadays, the cottage where he lived is open to the public as a small museum. However, the most important thing about the Bronx (and the main reason to move here) is the fact that it has the most affordable housing. Riverdale, Morris Park, and Kingsbridge are some of the neighborhoods where cross-country moving services are a common sight.

Living in Manhattan

Manhattan, the name says it all. By many, it is considered to be the world’s cultural, financial, and entertainment capital, and there are numerous reasons for such an opinion. First of all, the famous Wall Street (part of the Financial District) is located here, and the largest stock exchanges are here as well – the NY stock exchange and Nasdaq. Also, here are some of the world’s strongest corporations, such as Pfizer, as well as some of the most renowned universities, such as Columbia University, Berkeley College, and NY Institute of Technology.

But where to begin with cultural institutions and attractions? Broadway, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art, NY Philharmonic, and NY Opera are all located here. The NBA’s Knicks and the NHL’s Rangers both play in the famous Madison Square Garden located in Midtown Manhattan.

In short, Manhattan is the embodiment of NY’s glamor. Many famous singers and musicians have sung serenades about this wonderful borough. But, as you might have expected, it is the most expensive to live in.

Living in Brooklyn

Brooklyn is NY’s most populous borough and has an evenly spread cultural diversity. It is estimated that around 50% of the population speak another language besides English. Brooklyn also has an even proportion of urban areas and green spaces, and some of NY’s loveliest parks are located here, such as Prospect Park or Brooklyn Botanical Garden. Brooklyn has had an incredible influence on the culture, especially on cinematography. Iconic older movies like “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” or “Saturday Night Fever” were filmed in this borough. From more contemporary cinematography, Spike Lee based many of his movies in Brooklyn. This borough is also home to the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the Brooklyn Philharmonic. Brooklyn Museum is one of the largest museums in the USA and has the second-largest collection of art pieces in the country.

Living in Queens

Queens is the second most populous borough in NY and is considered to be the most culturally diverse borough. It is estimated that around 56% of individuals speak another language besides English, and according to some research, around 140 different languages are spoken in total. As a result, Queens is known to have some of the best restaurants in NY, regardless of what cuisine you desire. This borough is known for its legendary jazz scene – Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and Charlie Parker were all residents at one time. In modern culture, it has also given birth to some of the most popular rap stars like NAS. Queens is known for its laid-back lifestyle and a lot of music venues where you can listen to any known genre of music.

Relocating to NY Is Definitely Worth the Money, Time, and Effort

There is no doubt that NY is one of the most exciting cities to relocate to. Being such a diverse cultural environment that is dedicated to art, you will never get bored. Of course, before hiring long-distance moving services, you should weigh all the real advantages and disadvantages, but one thing is certain – if you have the means and a stable job, NY is a joy to be part of.

Hannah Michaelson

Hannah is a freelance relocation writer from NYC that has become an expert on packing and unpacking.

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