Is living in New York worth it? Find out here!

Learn about the advantages and disadvantages of living in one of the largest metropolises in the world!

Living in New York is a dream for many people. After all, who doesn't want to live in the most cosmopolitan city in the world? There, there is no lack of variety of entertainment, in addition to the above-normal quality of life and, of course, beautiful landscapes.

Proof of this are the numbers of people with another nationality who live in the municipality. In all, 3 of the nearly 9 million inhabitants are foreigners. As a result, 50% of New Yorkers speak a language other than English at home.

Is living in New York worth it Find out here


Thus, we can see that being a foreigner in New York is belonging. This is critical for some people who face difficulties in living away from family members and feel out of place in another nationality.

However, before taking that dream off paper and moving to the Big Apple , it is important to analyze the city's advantages and disadvantages.

In this article, we will help you with that choice. We brought the main points for you to evaluate and know if, in fact, you want to become a New Yorker. Come on?

Advantages and Disadvantages of Living in New York

Living in New York has many advantages, but living abroad also has its drawbacks. As they say, “not everything is perfect”. 

Next, we separate the advantages and disadvantages of living in the big metropolis. Check out!

Benefits

As in every big city, New York has an above-average quality of life. There, things really take off. Public transport, for example, operates 24 hours a day and serves almost every corner of NY. Thus, people who do not have a car do not feel limited, which ends up reducing costs.

In addition, education is another positive point that we must highlight. The city has the largest public and private education system in the United States . In terms of higher education, large and traditional American academic institutions, such as Cornell University and Columbia University, draw the attention of students from all over the world to their facilities.

In the same way, job opportunities attract immigrants from different countries, who leave in search of a change of life, well-being and quality of life. People who want to have work experience abroad stamped on their CVs are also interested in New York.

The largest amusement parks in New York City

If you love culture, the city is your place. By bringing together millions of foreigners, it offers a variety of different cultures in one place. There you can, for example:

  • discover cuisines from all over the world;
  • having contact with other languages ​​and cultures;
  • open the mind;
  • having a place to walk;
  • between others.

Finally, even if New York has a fast food on every corner, it is possible to eat well and develop healthy habits. That's because buying hormone-free fruits, vegetables and meats is easy and affordable (even if it costs a little more). 

There are several supermarkets that adopt the culture of healthy eating. After all, the population's mentality is changing, as is the concern with health and aesthetics.

Disadvantages of living in New York

Despite the many advantages, there is a price to pay for living in a large metropolis. Starting with the noise, after all, the city doesn't “sleep”, right? This characteristic that attracts so many people, can be a problem for others. In addition, the places are always crowded, as well as public transport. You need to plan ahead to reserve your spot.

Another downside is the cost of living . Although the dollar has much greater purchasing power compared to the real, some basic services have prices above what we are used to in Brazil .

Medical expenses, for example, are all borne by the citizen and are expensive. In the pandemic, several people acquired exorbitant debts due to hospitalization. In addition, maids, plumbers, etc., are highly valued professions and may charge higher fees for services.

Laundries can be very cool, becoming a meeting point in movies and series. But in reality it is not very functional and has become one of the disadvantages of living in NY. You have to carry a heavy pile of dirty clothes to the laundry almost every week, which is a real waste of time and money.

Finally, the climate is a sensitive issue. There are those people who love winter to see snow, ski and ice skate. However, the cold is very intense and lasts longer than usual. This can generate discouragement to leave the house and prevent you from doing some outdoor activities. Also, temperatures are extreme in NY: it's very cold in the winter and very hot in the heat.

Living in New York can be (almost) perfect, you just need to analyze what is most important and functional in your routine. Thus, in addition to the advantages and disadvantages, knowing basic information for everyday life is also important when making a decision.

Check out some of this information below!

How is the cost of living to live in New York

The cost of living in a cosmopolitan city is not cheap. Of course, some factors can make the bills more expensive. For example, the location of your residence, eating habits (eating at home or in restaurants), among others.

Let's start with the basics: the minimum wage. In November 2021, the rate was $15 an hour. This amount is valid for any professional category, from domestic servants to fast food attendants . Thus, the estimate is that the average individual income in New York City is $50,825 annually.

Among the basic accounts, rent is one of the main ones. It costs around $2,100 and $3,700 (as of 2022). However, the value will depend on the number of rooms, size of the place, etc.

But if you want to pay less in rent, know that it is possible with some options, such as:

  • live in more distant places from the central area;
  • share the place with other people;
  • rent a room instead of the whole property;
  • search for cheaper neighborhoods like Brooklyn and Staten Island.

On basic bills like electricity, water, garbage, heating and cooling, you pay about $167.13 for all of them. For internet, it's US$ 65 and US$ 0.11 for 1 minute of prepaid cell phone call.

Speaking of public transport, the best way to use the service is to purchase an unlimited MetroCard for 30 days. The value is US$ 129.50 (in 2022), including subway and local bus trips as many times as you like. For single trips, you pay $2.75 per ticket.

We can't forget about leisure, as anyone who lives in NY will want to enjoy all the possibilities the city has to offer. 

The truth is that there are many free attractions in New York , in addition to the main tourist attractions. For example, the city's river kayak tour and the Central Park SummerStage festival. To enjoy a movie, a ticket costs 17 dollars. In gyms, the monthly fee is 113 dollars, on average.

What is education in New York like?

downtown new york 1024x683 - Is living in New York worth it?  Find out here!

Public education in the US is one of the highest rated in the world. Its excellence is an example for several countries, which adopt the American education system as a template for the best schools.

In New York it is no different. The teaching is of high quality , in which the schools offer different programs and have an excellent infrastructure. Thus, any child and young person aged between 5 and 21 is entitled to free public education.

At graduation, faculties follow the same level of excellence. Cornell University, for example, ranks 18th in the QS World University 2021 rankings. In addition, it is one of eight universities that make up the Ivy League , the group of most prestigious universities in the United States.

Columbia University is also in New York City and is one of the most coveted by students around the world. It ranks 19th in the QS World University 2021 rankings and the quality is a reflection of its experience — it is the oldest in the state of New York.

That is, if you move to NY, you will not have to worry about your studies. On the contrary, it will be a great opportunity to study at a quality college and enjoy the best colleges in the world!

how to get work

Getting a job in New York is not as complicated as it sounds. There are more simplified ways, such as vacation employment . This exchange program lasts up to 4 months and takes place between November and March.

You can also abuse social media to search for jobs. LinkedIn is a social job network that advertises jobs daily. There, you will find opportunities that match your skills, competencies and expected pay.

Asking for directions also provides work. Know someone who lives in New York? Talk to that person, show interest in living in the city and ask for referrals from companies, or even the place where the person works. Who knows, maybe you guys become co-workers too?

However, remember that to get opportunities, you need to be fluent in the language. Trying for a job without having the security to interact with other people can be risky and, up front, a little frustrating.

Finally, consider underemployment. These are the roles that Americans don't really like to do. For example:

  • babysitter;
  • clerk;
  • janitor;
  • construction helpers;
  • fast food attendant .

What documents do you need to live in NY?

Living in New York requires some bureaucracy, such as a visa . The first step is to stipulate how long you want to stay in the city to understand what documentation is needed.

If you want to spend a season from 6 months to 1 year, the basic tourist visa (B2) is the easiest way to live in NY legally. The advantage is that, as a tourist, you are just passing through. So there's nothing to keep you in the city. It is different from a work or student visa, for example.

To work in the city, you need a work visa or a green card . They are issued by the authorities — US Embassy or Consulate — before your trip. The easiest way to get this visa is through US companies. After all, they have to pay for your New York visa application.

However, if you really liked New York and want to live in the city for an indefinite period, it is possible under these conditions:

  • live in the US as a permanent resident for 5 years;
  • marry a US citizen and live in the US for three years with a green card ;
  • serve or have served in the US Army.

Who can get a green card :

  • family member of a US citizen (sponsored by him);
  • American spouse;
  • who have work (H-1B and L1), investment (EB-5 and E-2) or engagement (K1) visas.

In short

How much is the cost of living in New York?

$50,000 a year is the ideal amount to live in New York.

How much is the salary in New York?

15 dollars an hour. This amount is valid for any professional category, from domestic servants to fast food attendants. Thus, the average individual income in New York City is estimated to be $50,825 annually.

How much is rent in New York?

From 2,100 to 3,700 dollars per month, depending on the number of rooms, size of the place, location, etc.

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