{"id":12055,"date":"2014-10-03T11:10:48","date_gmt":"2014-10-03T15:10:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cubesmart.com\/blog\/?p=12055"},"modified":"2024-04-22T10:07:09","modified_gmt":"2024-04-22T14:07:09","slug":"9-tips-for-manhattan-newbies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cubesmart.com\/blog\/city-guides\/nyc\/moving-guide\/9-tips-for-manhattan-newbies\/","title":{"rendered":"9 Tips for Manhattan Newbies"},"content":{"rendered":"

Living in New York City is a unique experience in any borough, but Manhattan is so central to the New York lifestyle that locals refer to it simply as \u201cthe city.\u201d If you\u2019re ready to take on a bold new challenge, living in Manhattan could be the perfect choice to shake things up. Keep in mind, however, that relocating to this city is much more challenging than your average move. If you\u2019ve never lived in Manhattan before, make sure that you take these tips to heart.<\/p>\n

Get Comfortable with NYC Transportation<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Image via Flickr <\/a>by Olivier Palta<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Manhattan\u2019s public transportation system<\/a> is stellar, with taxis, buses and, of course, the subway to get you to your destination. Driving, particularly in Manhattan, is notoriously difficult. There\u2019s a never-ending supply of pedestrians to worry about, and parking is extremely expensive. Even if you do score a good spot on the street, you\u2019ll have to move your car the next day to comply with alternate side of the street regulations that facilitate efficient and frequent street cleaning.<\/p>\n

If you plan to keep your car, your best option is not to drive it, but to store it. You can hang on to the vehicle for trips out of town, but you won\u2019t need it on a daily basis. An affordable vehicle storage unit<\/a> is the best option.<\/p>\n

Reevaluate Your Budget<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The cost of living in Manhattan is expensive, and depending on the city that you\u2019re coming from, it may require a drastic change in the way that you manage your money. A family of four who are accustomed to living comfortably on $48,000 a year in Marshall County, Mississippi, would need $93,500 to enjoy the same lifestyle in New York City. Housing, childcare, and insurance top the list of the biggest expenses in the city.<\/p>\n

In Manhattan, rental apartments make up three-quarters of all homes. In April 2014, the average monthly rent<\/a> for a Manhattan apartment hit $4,000. Harlem, in particular, saw the greatest increase, with rates jumping to an average of $2,528 in the typically low-cost neighborhood. Newcomers to this part of the city must prepare to adjust their budgets accordingly.<\/p>\n

Plan for a Different Type of Shopping Trip<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Image via Flickr <\/a>by The All-Nite Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Without a car, simple routines such as grocery shopping take on a whole new look. Many Manhattanites make frequent, but smaller trips to the bodega, stocking up on just enough food for a few meals. If you\u2019re accustomed to stocking up at a traditional grocery store, or patronizing wholesale clubs for bargain-priced goods, you\u2019ll have to change your habits significantly to survive in this walker\u2019s paradise, where you can typically only buy as much as you can carry home in a single trip.<\/p>\n

Be Realistic About How You\u2019ll Eat<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When you\u2019re planning your budget for life in Manhattan, it\u2019s important to look at your new city habits realistically. If you live in the suburbs now, you may eat most of your meals at home or happily cart a bagged lunch to work every day. Reconsider whether these habits will really work for your new lifestyle in Manhattan. Anything that you cart along to work is something you\u2019ll have to carry on the subway. As mentioned previously, your groceries will present a unique challenge as well. Many Manhattanites eat out regularly and consider it just another part of the city\u2019s distinct lifestyle.<\/p>\n

Learn the Lingo<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Image via Flickr<\/a> by (vincent desjardins)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

New York\u2014Manhattan in particular\u2014has a certain local lingo that you\u2019ll want to learn as quickly as possible. Something as small as pronouncing “Houston Street” the same way that you\u2019d pronounce the Texas city will mark you as a newcomer right away (it\u2019s HOUSE-ton, by the way). \u201cThe city\u201d means Manhattan, the Brooklyn Bridge is just \u201cthe bridge,\u201d and \u201cNew Yorkers\u201d are only those people who live in New York City itself.<\/p>\n

Though you can get a MetroCard, prepare to call this mode of transportation the \u201csubway\u201d or \u201ctrain.\u201d Don\u2019t refer to the trains by color, but refer to them as the \u201c6 train\u201d or \u201c4 train.\u201d Forget north and south, because you\u2019ll only head \u201cuptown\u201d or \u201cdowntown.\u201d Slipping into the language of Manhattan<\/a> can help you blend in like a local quickly.<\/p>\n

Adjust Your Pace<\/strong><\/h2>\n

New Yorkers are always moving. This is no city for standing still or making your way anywhere at a leisurely pace. Manhattanites have some of the lowest obesity rates in the country simply because they walk so often, and they frequently seem to do so in a hurry. If you enjoy a slower pace of life, Manhattan may not be right for you. If you\u2019re determined to become a New Yorker despite your slow-paced habits, at least prepare for the move by adding several long, vigorous walks to your routine before you get there.<\/p>\n

Downsize Your Belongings<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Square footage is at a premium in Manhattan. Residents looking to buy rather than rent a home in the city saw prices hit a whopping $1,759 per square foot in 2016<\/a>. The easiest way to save money on Manhattan apartments is to downsize to as few belongings as possible. Clean out your closets and prepare to ditch anything that you don\u2019t use often or love deeply. For items that you don\u2019t need regularly but can\u2019t bear to ditch, a self-storage unit<\/a> offers a low-cost solution.<\/p>\n

Manhattanites are also great at maximizing what space they have. Prepare to use up every last inch of your closets. Staying organized will help you maximize your space. If living in a small space seems daunting, you can get inspiration from some of the most drastic residents of the city, such as Felice Cohen, who made a cozy home in a 90-square foot micro-studio<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Get to Know the City Before You Commit<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re not familiar with Manhattan, you should take at least a few weeks to get to know the city before you commit to moving. If your job is relocating you to Manhattan, you may find yourself pushed into this drastic move with little prep time. Your employer may offer some reimbursement for expenses related to your move, including a hotel rental for you the first few weeks in the city, while you get your bearings. Keep in mind that moving expenses related to job relocation are usually tax-deductible<\/a> as well.<\/p>\n

Explore Manhattan and its various neighborhoods thoroughly before you decide where you want to live, or even whether you really want to live there. Take advantage of companies that offer moving storage<\/a>, so you can keep your belongings somewhere safe while you\u2019re scouting out your new home.<\/p>\n

Consider What You\u2019re Willing to Forego<\/strong><\/h2>\n

To make it in Manhattan, there\u2019s a good chance that you\u2019ll have to cut back significantly in more than one area. Many New Yorkers go without a dishwasher or elevator. Most have no personal green space at their disposal. If you love your large, amenity-packed apartment, you may want to stay put, or at least consider an apartment outside Manhattan. If you truly love living in Manhattan, however, you\u2019ll probably find any number of little conveniences that you can do without for the sake of immersing yourself in a vibrant lifestyle that you love.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re still ready to take on Manhattan after giving this lifestyle a closer look, pack your bags lightly, put those old items in storage, and get ready for a new adventure.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Living in New York City is a unique experience in any borough, but Manhattan is so central to the New York lifestyle that locals refer to it simply as \u201cthe city.\u201d If you\u2019re ready to take on a bold new challenge, living in Manhattan could be the perfect choice to shake things up. Keep in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":8456,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[637,643],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12055","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nyc","category-moving-guide"],"yoast_head":"\r\n9 Tips for Living in Manhattan, New York City | CubeSmart<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Relocating to New York is one of the toughest decisions you can make. 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