New York City is one of the dirtiest and most expensive cities in the United States. Yet it is also the largest and most densely populated American city. So what is it that drives so many people to find their home in New York? And should you consider becoming one of the more than 8.6 million people living in New York? The short answer is yes because New York has a lot to offer. There are literally thousands of reasons to move to New York and here are some of the more important ones.
Opportunity: launch your career in New York
New York is known as the city of dreams for a reason. And whatever yours is, there’s a place for it in the Big Apple. Between Wall Street, IT consulting companies, law firms, Michelin-star restaurants, and good old Broadway, New York is a city of endless opportunity. Young or old, experienced or not, just starting out or looking for an upgrade, it does not matter. New York has something for you.
Starting out in New York
With convenience stores on every corner, countless cafes and fast food restaurants and plenty of rich people with children, starter jobs are a dime a dozen. Get yourself on your feet as a cashier, clerk, waitstaff or an au-pair. Or jump right in and start your entertainment career on Broadway (or Off-Broadway), at the 21st Century Fox headquarters conveniently located in Midtown Manhattan or by getting discovered while busking (legally) on a busy street.
Looking to start your own business instead? New York can make you or break you. The competition is fierce and the stakes are high, but the success and its rewards can be even higher. With a good idea, a bit of luck and a lot of hard work, you can just become one of the giants living in New York, rubbing shoulders with the likes of IBM, Verizon, and Pepsi.
Diversity: feel at home whoever you are
One of the main causes of stress when relocating is learning how to fit in with an entirely new environment. But there isn’t much to fear if your destination is New York. You will have a hard time finding a more diverse city anywhere in the world. With more than 200 languages spoken, less than 50% of the population white and one of the largest Pride parades in the country, New York is a melting pot of different cultures and a welcoming place to all. Regardless of your background, ethnicity, race, religion or sexual orientation, you can find somewhere to fit in if you move to New York.
Art and culture: see the best the world has to offer
New York has long been a cultural center of the United States and the world at large. No pop artist touring the world today wants to miss the opportunity of entertaining at Madison Square Garden which means you will never have to miss another major star. And if you are more into the hipster scene, Webster Hall happily opens its stage to the lesser-known acts. Still, haven’t found what you’re looking for? Don’t worry! As with everything else, New York offers great variety in live entertainment. Check out the performances at the Met Opera or Carnegie Hall, see the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall or enjoy Hamilton on Broadway – there’s something for everyone’s tastes.
New York is also home to some of the world’s best and most famous museums. You can’t miss the Metropolitan Museum of Art with its iconic tiered steps and the perfect Central Park location or the truly staggering grandiosity of the Museum of Modern Art and its 125,000 square feet of gallery space. And if that isn’t enough, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum houses another modern art collection worth checking out. For a change of pace, visit the American Museum of Natural History and see the breath-taking T-Rex skeleton on the dinosaur floor.
Nightlife: the city that never sleeps delivers
After a day of hard work, it’s important to know how to let loose and relax. Luckily, if you move to New York, this won’t be an issue. There is no shortage of restaurants, bars, clubs or rooftop parties here! Have a beer or two at your local pub (don’t worry, every neighborhood in the city has one) or put on your best dancing shoes and queue at one of the exclusive clubs often frequented by celebrities. And if you are not sure where to go, just take a walk and you’ll find something within minutes. This city is truly one that never sleeps so you are bound to find something interesting even in the dead of night!
Convenience: you are never more than a train ride away
One of the biggest advantages of relocating to New York is the fact that you will never again have to worry about access to anything your heart desires. Wherever in New York, you end up, everything is within easy reach. Banks, bodegas, gyms, coffee shops, and restaurants, even beauty salons, you will find it all densely packed into every block. One will be just around the corner from wherever you choose to live, making New York the ultimate city of convenience.
You will find that cars are near obsolete here. Based on its sheer size, you would not guess it, but New York is a very walkable city and you will see thousands of people in the streets every day. With each neighborhood offering uniquely different views, this is a great (and cheap) way to get to know the city while getting around. If walking isn’t quite your thing, the metro has you covered. It’s a simple way to get virtually anywhere in the city within minutes. And if you want to get fancy, you can always get in one of the iconic yellow cabs!
Experience: move to New York because it’s New York
The list of reasons why you should move to New York is as long as New York’s population is numerous. Ask any New Yorker why they live in the city – everyone has their own unique answer! New York offers some of the best and most varied food in the world if that is your thing. It is also a great place for shopping, from thrift stores to high-end boutiques. And of course who can forget the views of the city from top floors of its countless skyscrapers! All of this and more can be a good reason to choose New York as your next home.
But ultimately, you should move to New York is that it’s New York. Arguably the most famous city in the world, home to such fictional stars as Carrie Bradshaw and Spiderman, bright, busy, multicultural, simultaneously cut-throat and laid back – New York is an experience like no other!