🏠decent living situation — awful roommates, deadbeat landlords, or psycho neighbors will make you super miserable so try to get this one locked down!
🫂 homies — making new friends can take a long time, but if you commit to putting yourself out there over and over you’ll connect with some truly inspiring and amazing people
🤑 income (even a little) — yes you can get by on dumplings, no Ubers, no bars, etc. but being broke here feels particularly like a prison because most things are stupid expensive. Be on your grind and then blissfully spend it all away
If you end up getting all 3 of these you’re probably gonna be hopelessly addicted to being here just like me. Welcome to NYC :)
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here’s my misc thoughts lol i’m no expert but this is from my POV as someone who’s lived here full time a bit and grew up visiting all the time. firstly, you’re def right that it is expensive — nearly impossible to relocate to if you don’t have a job secured and aren’t rich. even moreso if you have never visited or have only done one super tourist-y visit--it’s not just Times Square and Statue of Liberty (love her tho) rainbows and butterflies vibes lol.
like i seriously do not recommend moving here if you haven’t been to other boroughs, and neighborhoods outside of Midtown, SoHo, FiDi, UES etc. i’ve never been to england so can’t speak to it bit you might find it helpful to look online for comparisons to cities you’ve spent more time in - london and other cities in europe perhaps. consider if NYC would be that much more exciting or “better” for you?
also there’s a huge issue of influencers and people who wanna live here impulsively for fun that has driven up rent and driven out lifetime residents, esp working class folks and people of color. (lots of writing out there on the difference between moving to any city vs gentrifying one, and what one can do to not be complicit in the latter). and, my family is from here and i have always loved the city; i did get a job here after graduation but i really wouldn’t have moved here if i hadn’t.
so definitely come here intentionally, and arrive with a willingness to engage with your community! sometimes new residents who aren’t as acquainted with the “real” new york and can’t afford apts in the more gentrified or historically wealthy areas (most of manhattan, some parts of brooklyn) have a misconception of the city, so they end up feeling awkward or “unsafe” where they live, and thus don’t give back to their neighborhood. it’s veryyy weird that some people move here only to go to work, eat out and party on the weekends. (not saying this is you ofc! but just a general note).
the irony is that NYers get a bad rep for the mind your own business culture and realness--and yeah NYers aren’t “nice”, but people are kind. folks care about and actively help out their neighbors. i saw this in my own fam growing up! and as sinatra himself once said: “if i can make it here, i’ll make it anywhere.” it is a tough place to “make it” for people without roots. but i’d never deny that new york, for many of us, lives up to its reputation as the so-called greatest city in the world ;)
Aug 30, 2024
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I moved to NYC from a small town after college. I had a lot of support. My parents helped me look for places and we stayed with family nearby. I sublet an apt until friends from college joined me.
Since then I've moved with my partner to places we didn't know anyone and I didn't have a job lined up. It took a while each time but I found a job eventually.
Things wouldn't have ended well for me if I stayed in my small town so I feel you. It's not impossible to go somewhere on your own but it's going to take work to build a life. If you've got some money saved, you could sublet a place for a month and then try like hell to get any job you can in that time, then look for something more permanent at that point. Tbh tho there's going to be a lot of people out of work soon so it's not going to get easier to find a job.
Feb 9, 2025
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It was a big risk, but I was just laid off from a job I hated and had a fresh breakup on top of that. I had decent prospects as far as potential jobs go, but I wanted to stay in “the city” and I felt like I hit a ceiling in San Francisco. Plus, I’d lived there nearly my entire life. Thus, I had a suspicion that if I couldn’t be happy in New York City, then I wouldn't be happy anywhere.
That was a little over six years ago now and I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. A LOT has happened here, and I’ve dealt with a ton of grief, but man, I love it here. I have a great job, made some real friends and community, and am living outwardly as my truest self.
I’m sure I could’ve had this in SF if I tried, and I know that this lifestyle will change inevitably, but I love living in a place with an energy that emanates throughout the city.
Mar 6, 2024
Top Recs from @gabe
Jan 25, 2024
Ate this for the first time last night because it’s been rec’d a bunch of times on here and im in Boston for the week. Borderline psychedelic. This sandwich is insane. You’re all insane. I’m kinda craving another somehow.
Feb 8, 2024
Thanks y’all for the fire tips - I had a blast. Just put everyone’s rec’s into a google maps collection so you can find them at the link📍
My addition is the Empire Garden Restaurant in Chinatown. Built into an old vaudeville theater, the food is solid but the atmosphere is absurd and a must see.
Feb 14, 2024