Is New York City a good city to live in?

Question

I'm a freshman in college and I'm considering moving to New York City next year to continue college there. I've been to New York City a few times and I absolutely loved it. As a matter of fact, the first time I ever went there I had a feeling of this is where I should be. I'm going to be a Business major and English minor. The real reason for going to New York City is to be discovered in the music industry. I've decided not to major in music because I've heard you're more likely to be discovered by attending open mic nights every night you're available to do so and by singing/playing in parks and such. Plus sending your music to record labels and hoping for the best. I am worried about the potential of not being discovered at all. Even if I'm not though, I'll still most likely have amazing memories of the city, right? I am worried about crime rate, what could happen (ya know you see the movies and such lol), and costs of living and going out which I'll be doing a lot since I will be in college. I wanted to know if many college students go out to bars even if you're under 21, fake ids and such or do they go to other apartments seeing how that would be cheaper, or a combination of both. I'm pretty much interested in anything anyone could tell me about their experiences of living in New York City and your opinion on my dreams. Please be curtious.

Answer 1

not in this world. nowhere is good

Answer 2

New York City is very expensive to live in, so you really need to take that into consideration.

As far as getting "discovered" - don't waste your time sending your music to record companies. Almost all of them have a rule about accepting unsolicited material - they just don't. It gets chucked out unopened. You'd be better off playing any gig you can - open mic nights are a start. I knew a band that got noticed by playing OUTSIDE CBGB's back in the day. Most of it is right place, right time.

As far as crime... It's a big city, of course there's crime. To lessen your chances of being a victim, you need to exercise common sense - don't be drunk and alone, etc.

If you're under 21, you're not going to get into a bar. Period. The end. New York has some of the strictest liquor laws in the country, and one of the most expensive liquor licenses. It costs any establishment more than $15,000 a year just to maintain the license. Plus, the police do spot checks - they send in an underage decoy to see if they get served. Failure to adhere to liquor laws has harsh penalties and they're not cheap! Therefore, any reputable establishment will not purposely violate those laws. (And any that do, you probably wouldn't want to be in anyway!)

Otherwise, good luck!  

Answer 3

I live in Texas so I can't tell you anything about living in NY, but I did visit there this summer and I thought if you'll be looking for a job when you move there you might be interested in working at Stardust Diner at 51st & Broadway.  The wait staff are all aspiring performers and they perform as well as wait tables.  The manager even lets them "pass the basket" each evening and the donations go to a different one each night for a singing , dancing or acting lesson -- whatever that person needs.  Some of them are so good I can't believe they won't be "discovered".

Answer 4

NYC is expensive even for middle-income people. Most likely you will be living in Queens or Brooklyn. Manhattan is full of rich and poor people.

Monthly Bills and Expenses (2008 dollars)

Studio Apartment: $1500.

Utilities (gas and electricity): $150.

Subway/bus fares: $124 ($4/rountrip for 31 days).

Food: $300.

Life Insurance: $50.

Clothes: $60.

Miscellaneous: $200.

Total: $2384

That means you must make about $2384 per month after taxes. Or you must make about $28608 per year after taxes.

A lot of people do not make that much money when they are starting out in their careers. That is why a lot of young people are staying with their parents or sharing an apartment with a roommate. New York is not cheap but this is approximately what you would need, as a minimum, to live comfortably. Just as comparison, it would cost approximately $350,000 (before taxes) for a married couple with one child to live comfortably in a two bedroom apartment (Queens or Brooklyn). $350,000 is not a lot of money in New York City.

Sure there are other places that you can live cheaper but there is a huge trade-off and it is usually not in a better neighborhood. Crime is still a problem in poor and lower middle-income neighborhoods. I don’t think you want to live in a housing project or a subsidized home.

New York City is approximately 440 square miles (land and water) and is broken into five boroughs – Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Staten Island, and Queens. New York City is not just Manhattan, it is all five boroughs!  It is an insult to New York City residents when people say the real city is in Manhattan.  Again, the real city is all five boroughs.



New York City has real people who are from all over. This means they are no nonsense people. Most of them are not mean spirited or evil but they have to go to work or school and do not have the time to play mind games with people.

With the exceptions of some police movies and TV shows, there is no TV show or movie that accurately portrays NYC life. They are just for fantasy and entertainment.

Don’t expect a lot of things to happen to you for the better. New York City is that way; it forces everyone to be direct and upfront with important things. Go to school with the intention of learning and trying to do the best academically. You are not going to school to socialize, find a boyfriend or girlfriend, looking cool in attitude or fashion, or even just partying.  You are going to school simply to learn. You will find out that most of the students are transient people to you and could care less if you are popular or not.

If you have that mind set and don’t expect a lot social gratification then you will do fine in the City. If you end up with one or two friends then you are doing okay.

But New York can be intimidating so don’t get upset or depressed. People at first seem cold and uninviting. But after awhile you will see decent people who are just trying to make a living. If you ever move to Manhattan then try exploring the other four boroughs – where the real New York City residents live. That alone will surpass any night life Manhattan has to offer.

Answer 5

Who would be paying for you to live in the most expensive city in America, going to college and spending your time partying?  If you  are serious about college, the right college for you should be your priority, and getting through college without a huge debt is a big consideration.  The lifestyle you describe sounds risky and frivolous.  When you finish college and can support yourself, if you can afford New York, then that would be the time to go.