Imagine telling your friends that you’ve decided to move to New York City. The reaction on their face is not of pure excitement. It’s a look of suspense. But why? What’s so great about it? And most importantly, how are you ever going to afford it? And that’s one of the major worries that people deal with when moving to a bigger city. Look, we’re not going to lie to you: Living in NYC is no affordable task. Sure, you can live on the cheap in a place like Queens. But don’t expect it to be like that in a place like Manhattan.
How much money should you save up? It has varied from person to person. But on average, saving at least $5,000 would be a safe bet. It can go a long way if you’re financially savvy.
Here are a few things to consider budgeting for:
1. Rent
If there’s one thing NYC is infamous for, it’s that the rent is steep. But don’t let that intimidate you. A one-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn might be cheaper than a studio in Hell’s Kitchen. At the same time, you need to be very careful of what the landlords will tack on you (like a lease or broker’s fee). There is no shame in finding a temporary place like a room for rent. Those will run up at about $600 to $800 a month. The best place to find them would be on a site like Craigslist.
2. Fares For Taxi/Subway/Bus
Public transportation options are endless. Most of them are affordable, too. Once you have a place to live, be sure to know where the bus stops and subway stations are. That way, you’ll know your starting point for when you need to map out point A to point B and how much it will cost you.
3. Miscellaneous Expenses
We get it. You want to go out and explore New York City to your heart’s content. At the start, that may not be the case for financial reasons. But once you have a stable job in place, you can adjust those expenses to a modest amount (without having to break the bank or missing a rent payment). But don’t worry, you can still be able to find something to do without having to travel far.
4. Moving services
This is completely optional if you’ve got a handle on moving your stuff from one place to the next. But for the things that you won’t fit in the trunk of your car or back seat, the professionals at Simply Moving can help your moving process go as smooth as possible. If you need to know how much you should budget for our service, be sure to get an estimated quote from us today.
Conclusion
Moving to a new city takes financial preparation. Especially when you’re moving to New York City. Make sure you’re able to save up just enough to make your dream move a reality.