It’s crazy to believe it but we’re already more than halfway through the year. My biggest goal for this year was to move into the city and to really embrace all that it has to offer. Moving anywhere takes a bit of effort but when moving to a big city, there are several factors that should be considered.

The Cost of Living In New York

Living in New York or any city can be an expensive affair so considering the cost of living before the big move is very important. According to Payscale, the cost of living in New York has gone up to 128.8 percent higher than the national average and according to SmartAsset the median cost of a 1 bedroom apartment in New York is $2,098. The facts of the matter is that before a big move you have to save up.

Price, Size, and Location

The three biggest factors of renting a place in the city comes down to price, size and location. In many cases, you will need to sacrifice one of these factors in order to find the place that is perfect for your life or if you want all three than know that you will need to pay up or get a roommate. The biggest factors in my decision process was price and size. A big thing for me is I that I always want to be able to continue to save money and live very much below my means. Price became a big factor because I didn’t want to sacrifice how much I wanted to continue saving. Size also became a huge determinant because in my case the closer to midtown the smaller the apartment became and the higher the cost which in turn lowered my options in certain boroughs. I knew I would have to sacrifice location by choosing a place a little farther out but I made sure to also research lines to ensure my commute to and from work was still 25-30min.

Online Resources

Looking for the right place can really feel like a tremendous effort because with so many hard costs there is also the fact that the place needs to feel like home and if you need roommates then the roommates also need to fit your lifestyle. The app that ultimately helped me land a place was Roomi because like many New Yorkers I decided to look for roommates and a room versus a whole apartment to myself. It helped me connect with the actual people living in the apartment and decide if we would be a good fit as roommates. Other apps that also aided in my search included Roomster, Spare Room, Trulia and even Facebook Apartment search groups.

5 Boroughs In The City

There is so much history that plays a part into New York and the vibe of each neighborhood. Many people do not know that there are five boroughs in New York which include Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. Brooklyn is the largest of the boroughs and Manhattan is the most expensive. It is important to research to figure out which neighborhood fits your needs and where you feel you would make the most connections.

Keeping Track Of Time and Picking Up The Pace

A big part of being a New Yorker is keeping track of time and maximizing your time to be the most productive. It is called the city that never sleeps for a reason. The biggest help for me with managing my time has been to get a nice watch that not only is long lasting but stylish and functional. I have a Jord Cora Polaris wood watch and it’s perfect for me because it’s the greatest mix of quality, craftsmanship and style.

A really cute addition is that it’s super customizable and can be sized to fit the person, the watch face and woods can be mixed or matched and every watch comes with a one year warranty.

You can signup here to potentially win $100 towards your purchase of any watch of your choosing.

Finding Your Tribe

The most important part about settling into a new home is to find people and places that resonate with your vibe. I challenge myself all the time to not be afraid of going to places and events alone because it’s always a great way to step outside of your comfort zone and find real connections. Simply think about what you are interested in and what you enjoy and look for those events or places because you will then find people with similar interests.

Being An Initiator

Along with finding a connection, it’s important to be an initiator. Never take someone’s contact info if you are not going to use it and cultivate that relationship. Don’t wait for the other person to invite you out but invite your new connections to the places you want to explore.

Familiarize Yourself With The Locals and Your Neighbors

Each neighborhood in New York has its own culture and it’s own pulse. It’s important to visit the well known places in your neighborhood and meet the locals. Find out where the best pizza is in your neighborhood, explore a museum or simply take a walk.

New York Festivals

My favorite thing to do in the summertime is to go to a festival. In New York, there are so many types of festivals and whether you are a foodie a music lover, or a beauty guru there is a festival that fits. My favorite festivals to go to in New York has been the Afropunk music festival and the Curl Fest festival. Festivals are a great way to meet tons of people and explore.

Comment down below if you’ve recently moved to a city or New York!