So you’ve probably been in love with the city after seeing Blair and Serena living their best life shopping and eating in the coolest restaurants and cafes in Manhattan. You’ve idolized it and believe that this is the city where dreams are made of. Where you can become an actor, singer, model, etc. So you researched everything there is to know about the city, or so you thought. 

Coming from a small suburban town 20 minutes east of Los Angeles, I always had dreams of moving out and experiencing the amazing life I would have in NYC, and to some extent it is true. Now do not get me wrong, I absolutely love NYC even with all its flaws. But there are some things I wish someone told me before I took the plunge and completely relocated my life almost 3,000 miles. Completely away from all family, friends, and everything I had ever known. 

1.EVERYTHING IS EXPENSIVE! (yes I mean absolutely everything)

Living near Los Angeles, I thought I was financially prepared to live in another city, boy was I wrong. I thought paying $3.00 a gallon for gas and $1.00 a pound for apples was expensive, but reality hit when I was first alone and went to do errands. Fruit no matter where you go is beyond expensive, which is understandable since NYC is so far from any farm so you’re basically paying for the inconvenience of exportation costs. But even the little things, pharmacies like Duane Reade, CVS, Rite Aid, essentials are ridiculously expensive.

2. APARTMENT HUNTING IS A JOB IN ITSELF 

When trying to find an apartment you need to be on your A-game and be prepared to at least spend a month looking, researching, and getting all your documentation in order. Besides having 40x the rent, filling out the application, paying a fee, providing proof of employment, pay stubs, tax documentation among some of the paperwork needed. You then have to decide which borough you want to live in and then you can begin touring places.

3. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IS DIRTY BE PREPARED FOR THE THINGS YOU ARE GOING TO SEE

Not only is public transport dirty physically, but you will also see the strangest things. The more you see them, the more normal it’ll be in your eyes. Do not be alarmed if you see the homeless yelling, sleeping in a train car, or walking up and down the subway asking for money. More common than not you will catch performers singing and even dancing while the train is moving, people including kids selling food, as well as so many other things. A quick tip: if you see an empty subway car with no one in it or a couple of people in it, do not get inside, there is a reason people are avoiding it and you should not want to find out why.

4. EVERYONE IS NOT RUDE, THEY ARE JUST HONEST (THEY KEEP IT REAL)

For anyone that is coming into New York for the first time, keep in mind that the people in the city are not rude. They keep it real and unfortunately are not afraid to tell you the harsh truth. Also, everyone is truly in a rush there, so if they push you or tell you to get out of the way, do not take it personally. It is just in their nature to have a hard persona! After living there for a while you will start to develop a bit of it too.

5. NEVER TAKE THE SUBWAY ALONE AFTER 11:00 P.M. 

Safety is something I do not take lately and believe everyone should have some type of protection especially my women. If you are out late and do not want to pay for that Uber ride or even that shared ride, make sure there is someone with you or you at least have some type of protection. The subway can be pretty empty after this time and it is home to many of New York’s homeless population. So make sure you have thought of other alternative ways to get home.

6. PRE-GAME AT SOMEONE’S PLACE, DRINKS ARE TO EXPENSIVE

Bars and clubs in the city are unlike any place! They stay open as late as 4 a.m. and some even later but if you’re going to be there for more than an hour or so pregame at someone’s place or go to a local liquor store and drink your poison of choice before you go in. With the cheapest cocktail starting at around $18.00 and beer at around $10.00, your drinks start to add up. Of course, prices vary between the area and the borough, but if you’re in Alphabet City, West Village, or Midtown, get your plastic ready because you are going to pay a ton.

7. THERE ARE MORE THINGS TO DO IN THE CITY THAN EAT

For whatever reason, everyone I have come across always wants to go and eat as a way to pass time. Whether it be brunch on the weekends, after-work cocktails and appetizers, or a dinner catch up with a friend you haven’t seen in a while. Don’t get me wrong, I love to eat but not every single time, you waste a ton of money, and sometimes you’ll make better food at home. Some activities my friends and I loved doing that are free or very inexpensive is watching a matinee Broadway or off-Broadway show (check out the app TodayTix). Walk around Chelsea Piers or Battery Park area, rent a canoe at the Loeb Boathouse, visit Museums (they usually have a student discount or suggested pricing), take the ferry to Brooklyn, or ride the Seaglass Carousel (go at night, it lights up and is so beautiful). 

8. TAKE THE LIRR OR METRO-NORTH TO EXPLORE OUTSIDE THE CITY

Public transportation is not all bad! The Long Island Railroad at Penn Station or the Metro-North in Grand Central is definitely worth taking if you want to explore more of New York. It is less than $40 roundtrip depending on where you are going and it is super cleaner than the subway. You can look up times, prices and even buy your ticket online or the app.

9. FIND A GROUP OF FRIENDS OR A FRIEND, THEY WILL BE YOUR FAMILY

Moving anywhere can be a lonely experience, especially if you do not know a single soul. More often than not the city is filled with people that are not originally from there and are just trying to make it as well. You need a good group of people that have your best interest at heart and share similar values as you. They are the people that are going to support you when you feel like giving up!

10. DO NOT FIND AN EXCUSE TO SHOP, SAVE YOUR MONEY FOR A RAINY DAY

You are going to be tempted to go shopping all the time, especially when you’re just walking down 5th Ave or in Soho. Unless you absolutely need something, save your money. New York has a lot of unpredictabilities that happen, losing your metro card, your rent increased, or your bills are higher than the month prior. Whatever the case may be it is always good to have that cushion money so you are not stressing out wondering how you are going to pay for something.

11. INVEST IN A GOOD COAT OR TWO

Winter can be rough in New York, especially since you are walking everywhere all the time. If there is something I recommend above all else is to splurge on your outerwear! It is a piece you can get so much use out of and it serves not only as a statement piece but as something is ultimately essential. A parka is a must for those days where you just want to be comfortable and warm, The North Face, Moncler, Canada Goose are among the many that I find will work the best. A trench coat is another type of coat, which is something you need in your closet when you have a more formal event to go to like a date, party, and need it to go with your outfit. Club Monaco, Reiss, and J. Crew are some great options and they have discounts too!

12. DO NOT WEAR SANDALS 

If you’re anything like me, sandals are practically part of your identity. But I would refrain from using them altogether or not as often as you would normally. It is true what they say about NYC, it is one of the dirtiest cities in the world. With the rats, bugs, feces, and other things I have seen on the floor of the city, I would not want to risk my feet or let alone any other body part anywhere near that. 

13. NEVER GET THE APARTMENT ON THE BOTTOM FLOOR

Every New Yorker you ask will always tell you, do not get the bottom floor room/ apartment. Especially if you are in a walk-up and not not a luxury building. The reason being is that you are close to the ground and all the creatures that live there. Roaches being number one, it is almost inevitable for them not to find a way to your place. As if that was not enough, you also hear all the noise of cars and people chatting it up in all hours of the night. 

14. THE HEIGHTS AND BROOKLYN ARE GREAT NEIGHBORHOODS (DON’T LET ANYONE MAKE YOU FEEL BAD)

Rent is expensive anywhere you go, it is inevitable. But if you can save a few hundred dollars or so then I urge you to do it! Places in lower and mid- Manhattan are in the prime location to all the bars, clubs, and restaurants. But you are going to be getting a tiny apartment that cost’s half of your paycheck each month. Places like Brooklyn and the heights in Manhattan (Hamilton, Washington, etc.) are amazing places to live. Yes, it is a bit far from many things but you get a huge apartment (in NYC standards) for way less than you would expect. And you get a calm and quiet environment more than what downtown would have to offer.

15. DATING IS LIKE A JOB (PEOPLE ARE MARRIED TO THEIR JOB)

Every time I tell someone I lived in NYC, they always follow up with the question of what dating is like there. And let me tell you, it is worse than any job or internship I have ever done. Okay, I may be exaggerating a bit, but every girl and some guys you will ask will have the same response as me. In the city, dating apps are all the rave, it is how people meet their significant other. Nobody will stop you on the street and ask for your number, that just does not happen.

Men particularly, value their jobs more than anything in the world. Be prepared to have some dates canceled, rescheduled or them show up a bit late. It is also very common that people will be going out with many others at a time. So do not put all your eggs in one basket, go out on dates too and see what you like and what you don’t. Lastly, do not be surprised if they “ghost” you or start to become distant. All the women and men I have talked to say this is very common and it does not phase them anymore, it is what it is. 

16. INVEST IN ZIPCAR (IT’S $7.99 A MONTH AND SO WORTH IT)

NYC can be a bit overwhelming for everyone. One thing I noticed is everyone takes a mini-vacation at least every month! They either spend the day in Upstate New York or go to a nearby getaway, the Poconos in Pennsylvania and Connecticut seem to be very popular. I figured out that the best way to get around the neighboring states is by renting a car. I have been a part of SO MANY car-sharing services but I find the Zipcar is the best.

The cost for membership is $7.00 monthly and you only pay for the rental of the car every hour. It usually starts as cheap as $8.50 per hour and the tolls you cross which vary in price depending on where you are going. They provide you with a gas card so you don’t have to pay to fill up. It is the best for people under the age of 25 because places such as Enterprise and Hertz tend to charge a fee for people under that age threshold or do not let you rent at all. All you do is pay a $25 application fee and send in a picture of your ID. If approved they will send you your membership card (takes less than 2 weeks) and you can start riding! 

17. DO YOUR GROCERIES ON AMAZON PRIME, COSTCO OR FRESH DIRECT 

One of the things I absolutely hated about NYC was doing groceries! It is common to go to the store every day or every other day to buy what you need. It would be nearly impossible to carry a week’s worth of groceries in one shot. Trust me, when you live in a walk-up as I did, it is definitely a pain in the ass. Subscribing to a delivery service is life-changing! I recommend Instacart through Costco if you do bulk shopping such as cases of water or detergent. You get more quantity for your money but you have to have a membership (I normally use my parents, you can always borrow someones).

FreshDirect is another great service, I have never had an issue with them, I tend to purchase more fruits and vegetables through them since it is always the freshest! All you need is to make an online account with them and boom you’re ready to order. Finally, Amazon, I have tons of friends that use this and swear by it. They own Whole Foods so all of your favorites will be at your disposal without you having to leave your apartment. The only downside is that you have to pay monthly or annually for the subscription of prime. But they do have student pricing and if you are not a student they offer a 6-month free trial so you can test it out and see if you like it!

18. HEADPHONES ARE A MUST

Always carry your headphones, I promise you will be upset if you do not! NYC is such a noisy city that sometimes you need to block out the sound of early morning construction and the subway running across the tracks. But proceed with caution, a friend of mine that was born and bred in the city always told me to make sure whatever I am listening to is not too loud to the point where I cannot hear what is going on around me or just have one headphone in at all times. There are times where there might be a fight nearby or something of the sort and you do not want to be caught in the middle of it.

19. BUY AN UNLIMITED WEEKLY METRO PASS

When I first moved I was told to just buy the monthly metro pass since you get the most bang for your buck (I believe it is $127 now) so naturally I did, because what did I know? BIG MISTAKE! If you have a habit of losing things, especially small items do not get the monthly pass. I cannot tell you how many times I have misplaced my card right when I refilled it, and I have had friends that have been robbed for their card (I know it sounds ridiculous but it happens more often than not).

The weekly pass is more manageable to keep tabs on and I did the math, you are only saving $4 if you go with the weekly, that’s the cost of a cheap coffee at Starbucks. Side note, always refill your card! Do not buy a new one every week, the city charges $1 every time whereas if you refill you do not have to pay but the one time, and the card will last you a year before it expires.

FINAL THOUGHTS

As always, these are my recommendations and you should take them as you will. My friends both born in and out of the city agree with these tips. Especially, if you are coming from any other state that is not nearby. Nonetheless, I absolutely adore NYC and truly think there is no other city like it. I hope your future and current endeavors lead you to the city that never sleeps.