Welcome to “the City,” as they call Manhattan here in New York. The most densely populated borough of New York City, Manhattan is an iconic landmark in the United States, famous for its skyscrapers. A major financial and commercial hub, Manhattan is a fantastic place to chase your dreams. You’ll find some of the best working and educational opportunities here while mingling with people from all around the world.
With outstanding public transportation, the best Broadway shows, gorgeous New York City parks, and diverse cuisine, there’s never a dull moment when living in Manhattan. Read on as we tell you more about moving to Manhattan and living life to the fullest in this famed New York City borough.
1. City Overview
Driving in Manhattan is hugely challenging and finding a parking spot is even more difficult. With a steady stream of pedestrians to worry about and slow-moving traffic, most residents prefer walking or using the public transportation system to get around the city. Did you know that New York City and Lower Manhattan, in particular, is the top-ranked walkable city in the U.S.? If you can’t walk to your destination, use the city’s rail and bus transportation system known as the MTA New York City Transit.
It will be overwhelming to take in and master for a newbie to Manhattan. With a little time, and maybe a few unintended trips in the wrong direction, you’ll get the hang of it. Once you do, you love that it’s a quick, affordable, and environmentally friendly way to travel across all five boroughs of New York City. There’s no need to navigate heavy traffic and spend precious time finding the ever-elusive, or expensive, parking spot.
Purchasing a MetroCard is your ticket to getting on the buses and subways that run 24/7, 365 days a year. So stellar is the public transport system here that there’s a new subway taking you where you want to go, likely in the next 10 to 15 minutes. New York’s Yellow Taxis are ready to ride on a day when you’re lugging heavy baggage or are too tired to walk or take the subway. If you love biking to work, Manhattan offers plenty of avenues to do so. If you’re commuting to Manhattan, use the Hudson River Greenway, a bike path that runs from Battery Park to Inwood.
Enjoy the magnificent waterfront views by taking a ferry that can take you to uptown or downtown Manhattan. The Staten Island Ferry takes you across the river to Staten Island, helping you soak in the majestic views of the Statue of Liberty, New York Harbor, and Lower Manhattan en route.
2. Real Estate Outlook
It’s no secret that buying or renting a home in Manhattan is expensive. The average rent for an apartment in Manhattan is $3,667. The good news is that rents have seen a marginal decline, up to about 10 percent compared to previous years. The median home value in Manhattan is about $998,557. For a resale condo, you can expect to pay about $690,000. If you’re looking for more affordable neighborhoods in Manhattan, consider Upper Manhattan. With an average rent of $2,000, the average cost of rent in Upper Manhattan is significantly lower than the overall rent cost in Manhattan. To get more value for money in terms of housing, consider other boroughs of New York City as your options. Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island have significantly lower housing and renting expenses compared to Manhattan.
3. Manhattan Neighborhoods
If you’re new to Manhattan, choosing a nice neighborhood is your first step toward making this vibrant city your home. Here’s a handy list of Manhattan neighborhoods from which to choose
Upper West Side
Are you looking for a relatively affordable neighborhood that’s also swanky and picturesque? Upper West Side checks off all these, with many acres of green space, chic boutiques, and trendy restaurants, cafes, and bars. New York City’s popular parks, such as Central Park and the Riverside Park flank the area, making it one of the prettiest neighborhoods of Manhattan.
Battery City Park
Ranked among the safest neighborhoods in Manhattan, Battery City Park is a family-friendly area to move into and is a popular choice with young professionals and growing families. It’s a spacious area, away from the hustle of Manhattan’s famous touristy spots. With parks, upscale malls, and several eateries, this neighborhood has plenty to keep you entertained. Young families often need more space to fit in their family’s increasing needs. Use our Manhattan storage facility to stow away rarely used items, helping you create more room in your small apartment.
Washington Heights
A lovely neighborhood accessible to Midtown via train, Washington Heights is a budget-friendly (as much as you can be in the city) neighborhood of Manhattan. The Fort Tryon Park here is an urban oasis that gives you a tranquil zone to escape the bustle of the city. Chill out with your family at this park while enjoying the panoramic views of the Hudson River.
4. Things to Do
There’s so much to do and see in Manhattan, meaning you’ll never experience boredom living here. If you enjoy the outdoors, there are several acres of green spaces within this busy city, where you can find your Zen. Central Park is one of the most popular parks around, but there are several others as well, including Fort Tryon Park, Washington Square Park, Hudson River Park, and more. With playgrounds, hiking and biking paths, basketball courts, and dog runs, the outdoor parks in Manhattan are an ideal way to spend quality time among nature.
For art and lovers, take a trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the largest art museum in the U.S. You’ll find vintage pieces from the ancient era, including paintings and sculptures from Europe and Egypt as well as breathtaking items showcasing American and modern art.
A melting pot of people from the world over, the cuisine in Manhattan represents its rich diversity. Whether you’re craving Italian, Mexican, Greek, Indian, Asian, or Jamaican, you’re sure to find a restaurant or eatery in Manhattan that serves delicious fare that caters to your taste buds. Manhattan clam chowder and New York-style pizza are the most famed dishes that belong to this city.
5. Reasons to Move Here
The top reasons people move to Manhattan is access to opportunities at high-quality and lucrative jobs. It’s a financial hub of the nation, making it a great destination for those with a degree in finance and accounting. There are world-class hospitals in and around Manhattan that are always looking to hire the best talent in the world of health care. Many Fortune 50 companies have their offices here, making Manhattan is a terrific place to carve out a successful career. There are also many jobs in the construction, entertainment, and retail sector. New York University has top-rated arts programs while Columbia University provides Ivy League education. For science, engineering, and math courses, there’s the New York Institute of Technology.
This City of Dreams teaches you to grow and adapt quickly and enriches your personal journey of growth and development. A true cultural melting pot, Manhattan helps you discover new cultures, cuisines, and make new friends. The pace of life here is fast yet, in the midst of the madness, there are friendly people, delightful food, and beautiful diversity to balance it out.
One of the best things about living in Manhattan is that you don’t need to own a car, helping you save countless dollars on gas. The subway is your best friend in this city and getting anywhere within the city is only a train ride away. Plus, you’ll meet people from all walks of life on the train, and you never know, your new BFF, business partner, or that special someone might be the person standing right next to you on the train.
If you live in Manhattan, you can savor the beauty of all four seasons in the year. Winters can be brutally cold with significant snowfall, while summers are hot. Winter snow ushers in the holiday season, when the shopping districts around Manhattan are all lit up, creating an aura of festivity and cheer. To make the most of warm summer days, head to the many city parks or enjoy a day of sunbathing on the sandy beaches of the Atlantic shore.
Between moving to Manhattan and transitioning to your new home or apartment, you may need storage space to keep your belongings. We have self-storage units in different neighborhoods in and around New York City, making it convent to find a rental that’s close to where you live. Our climate-controlled units keep your temperature-sensitive goods in an ambient environment. We have a variety of unit sizes from which to choose. Whatever your storage needs, our CubeSmart facilities offer clean units with flexible access hours.
Our friendly customer service team is here to assist you with your moving and storage. Don’t forget to ask about our special discounts and storage offers to help you save precious money. We offer a free move-in truck and driver at select locations so that you can complete your move in a single trip, skipping the need to hire an additional truck. With superior amenities such as 24-hour video recording and well-lit facilities, you have added peace of mind when renting a storage unit at a CubeSmart facility.
Header image by Free-Photos from Pixabay
