New York City can be one of the most exciting places for people and one of the most difficult places to live for most people. NYC is full of beauty and excitement, but can also be filled with high anxiety and difficulty. This article highlights the pros and cons of living in New York City. Let’s explore the pros and cons about existing in the Big Apple long term.
Pro: Accessible Public Transit Options
The NYC subway runs 24/7. Most ferries and busses also run all day everyday as well. You will not find these many public transit options anywhere in the country. In fact, owning a car is actually more of liability in this super expensive city. The good news is you never have to drive again. New Yorkers can get to New Jersey or Connecticut with ease using the PATH or Metro North trains. So pop in your headphones, pull out your kindle, or ipad, and relax on your daily commutes on the various forms of public transit in NYC.
Con: Long Commutes/ Transit Delays
The downside of public transit is there are delays, emergencies, flooding issues, and multiple factors than can interrupt your commute anytime. You can get to the subway station and find out that your train is not running at all. There have been times where we all get kicked off the subway train for an emergency. In order to combat these possible delays, please give yourself at least an hour and a half to get to your destination.
Pro: City is Convenient for Walking and Biking
This is an amazing city for walking and biking. You can easily hit your step goals here and get a free workout on your way to work. Furthermore, everyday is leg day in NYC since there are several sets of stairs to climb daily. Several New Yorkers choose to bike to work as an alternative to taking public transit. This saves so much money in the long run. On a gorgeous day, there is no better joy than riding your bike or taking a stroll down the street or in one of the beautiful parks.
Con: Lack of Community
If you want to find a community, it is going to be quite a task in this city. The average New Yorker has at least two jobs, and at most five jobs. EVERYONE is hustling constantly. This means that trying to schedule plans with people is a nightmare. If you have friends that live in a different borough, you may only see them a few times a year. It takes me an hour and fifteen minutes to get to my friend’s place in the Bronx and takes even longer to get to my other friend’s home in Queens. People are pretty disconnected and it can be quite lonely at times.
Pro: High Hourly Wages
NYC is intimdidating for people from other states because the wages are so low in other parts of the country. People assume they would have to live in NYC on their current state wages. You can make a living here. It is not impossible. Yes, New York is expensive and the rent is very high. However, the minimum wage in NYC is $15 an hour compared to $7.25 an hour in most other states. Fortunately, most NYC employers pay way more than $15 an hour here. Since you have higher wages, you can make a living in NYC. A two-income household can have a pretty comfortable life here.
Con: Dishonest and Unethical Employers
You do run into a significant issue in New York with dishonesty in the workplace from management. You could say that this goes on everywhere, but it is on a larger scale in NYC. Regulations are super strict in here, so employers often cut corners to beat the system. This is usually to the detriment of their employees and customers. It is not uncommon for a business to be open one day and the next day, there will be a sign saying it was closed by of the NYC Department of Health, or the Department of Buildings.
Conclusion
These are just a few of the pros and cons of living in NYC permanently. People either love or hate NYC and there is rarely an in-between. Truthfully, I do not hate it here, but the love is starting to wane. There are an infintie amount of opportunities here. However, living in NYC sometimes feels like a full-time job with the constant grind. In conclusion, NYC living is not for the faint of heart. For some people, living here may only be for a season, but will be a forever home for many for a multitude of reasons.
https://bydominiqueduarte.com/what-do-you-love-or-hate-about-living-in-nyc/
Book Suggestion: https://www.amazon.com/Love-ish-New-York-City/dp/1797216554
Hope this helps,
Dominique Duarte
What pros and cons do you have about your home city?
2 replies on “The Pros and Cons of Living in New York City”
Your comments are very accurate. I have experienced the same having lived in nearby Conn.
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