What are the costs of living alone in NYC

Starting a new life in New York doesn’t come cheap. In fact, it can be a very expensive decision considering the high price tag of this city. It is one of the most costly places in the world to live in. The housing prices are over the roof, and if you’re moving from another state, you will have to count in the costs of hiring some of the affordable movers Forest Hills NY has to offer. You won’t be left with a lot a wiggle space in your budget, necessary for a decent life in Big Apple. However, according to its residents, it is completely worth it. And there is always a crafty way that can help you decrease costs of living alone in NYC. Here’s what you need to pay attention to the living costs.

Housing – the biggest of the costs of living alone in NYC

Finding a rent-controlled apartment in New York is like searching a needle in a haystack. It will consume a lot of your time, so it is highly advisable to delegate other tasks to professional movers. But this is a task that only you can do. While the long distance movers NYC can relocate your entire home without a scratch, they can’t find you a new place to live in.

You will have to do it on your own, or with the help of the real estate service. The expert who knows the city inside and out will be your best ally in finding suitable accommodation. However, prepare yourself for a high price of housing, which is the most expensive part of the costs of living alone in NYC.

The costs of living alone in NYC will depend on your budget and on your preferences

As the biggest expense, the housing is certainly a number one. It is also the most important one since it might dictate which part of the city you will be living in.
However, all the other expenses will depend mostly on your preferences, lifestyle and things you will do after the move. It is a bit ungrateful to try and put them all in one box since they do vary from person to person.

For example, getting organic food and eating healthy is maybe very important to you.  On the other hand, someone else might don’t care about that at all and eats fast food every day. In this case, your expenses for food will be much higher. This is applicable for all other expenses.

Your lifestyle is directly proportional to your costs. By prioritizing your expenses, you can have quite an enjoyable life in NYC, and stay within your budget at the same time. Life in New York City has its pros and cons but overall life in the big apple is amazing. Check out this guide to living in NYC to gain a better understanding of what it is like to call NYC home.

While taking a taxi is an unnecessary cost for some, for others is a part of the daily routine.

Average living costs in Big Apple

Still, in order to make a comprehensive moving budget plan, take a look at some average costs that living in NYC brings:

• Housing
  If you wish to rent a 1 bedroom apartment in the city core, the monthly rent for that accommodation will be about $3,104. The same-sized housing outside the downtown brings fewer expenses of about $2,024.84. Three bedroom apartment will be astonishing $6,537.97 on Manhatten, but in other boroughs will be less by almost double at $3,625.00.
• Utilities
  It may surprise you that utility bills are on the low side of the monthly expenses. Basic utilities (electricity, heating, cooling, water, garbage) for 2 bedroom apartment are approximately $140.62 per month.
• Food prices
  While organic food is pretty costly, the prices of the regular fridge items like milk, bread or eggs are in line with the national average.
• Transportation
  One-way ticket in public transportation is $2.75. A monthly pass will set you back for $127. With a start tariff of $2.50 and $1.55 per kilometer, the cost of taxi transportation is significantly lower.
• Dinning
  New York has an exquisite dining scene, suitable for any pocket. The meal in an inexpensive restaurant is up to $20, while the three-course dinner for two in a mid-range restaurant is about $80. Meaning you will spend more money dining in NY, than in other similar cities in the nation. However, a great thing about this city is its street food, which is affordable and tasty.
• Entertainment
  Similar to dining, the nightlife in NYC is extraordinary but pricey. The same goes for theatre and museum tickets. Luckily, there is plenty of free entertainment options anytime, especially in the summer.

You will need a lot of money to party all night in New York.

Decrease the costs of living alone in NYC

Ditch the car

Having a car in New York isn’t just pointless, but it is also very costly. While the gas money is the same as in other states, the insurance premiums are much higher, and the prices of the parking are just ridiculous. If you even manage to be so lucky and find an empty space. Of course, let’s not forget the traffic jams that happen every single day. There are a lot of great ways to commute in New York, and driving isn’t one of them.

When you’re living alone in NY, ditching your car before the move will be the smartest thing you can do. Public transportation is very good in this city. It connects all boroughs and neighborhoods, and you will arrive much faster. Metro lines can’t get in the traffic jams and therefore are the quickest way to move around the town.

Ditch the car – ditch the stress and extra costs.

Get the roommate, cut the expenses

Maybe you dreamed about living alone in Big Apple, but that might not be the possibility just after you move. With the cost of the relocation itself, you will need a significant budget to start your New Yorker lifestyle all by yourself.

Consider having a roommate and how will that affect your daily routine. Due to very expensive housing, sharing an apartment is quite a common thing in this city.  It might not what you have envisioned, but it can be very beneficial to your finances.

Remember, when you are sharing housing, you are also sharing the financial burden.
All accommodation expenses are dividing into two or more parts (depending on the number of roommates).