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I live in the NY metro area.. not in NYC. I kind of avoid NYC at all costs, so I may be the wrong one to chime in here! Maybe someone who likes NYC can give another perspective.. but I'm being upfront in telling you that there is no amount of money you could pay me to live in NYC.
Having said that, there are some people who love it and wouldn't dream of living anywhere else. So take what I say and balance it with opinions from others.
If you're moving to NYC, remember that it's not "Sex in the City." That was a TV show, and not how it really is. Don't move because you have some fantasy of the city. TV is not real life. Move for the right reasons-- like a huge job offer.
THE GOOD tons to do, the city literally never sleeps. Great restaurants, amazing shows, fabulous museums, lots of culture, etc. etc. Salaries tend to be a lot higher for professionals, however, so is the cost of living. You will find a hypnotic energy in the city, and a lot of very interesting and unique people.
THE BAD be prepared to pay through the nose for everything. Good luck finding an apartment, and get ready to pay top dollar to live in a six story walk up apartment the size of a closet. Groceries are more expensive... and forget about owning a car in the city. You will pay a couple hundred dollars per month just to garage it, and tons at the pump. If you don't want to garage it, learn about alternate side of the street parking. Buy a clunker, because everyone will bash into you when you park on the street to "create" their own space.
You'll find people are very rushed and generally not nearly as friendly as in the south. (My personal opinion after having lived in the north and the south) There is also still quite the homeless problem, and lots of crime.
Taxes are very high. But you can always take a day trip to NJ where there is no sales tax on clothes.
The weather is awful. You have about 10 months of cold, rainy, snowy, or bone chilling weather, and two months of hot and humid weather. You will get a few nice days here and there. The spring is gorgeous (when it's not raining) as is the fall.
I would STRONGLY advise against moving to NYC without a job or a place to live. This city can chew you up and spit you out.
Instead, how about taking an extended vacation here (you can get a cheap room at the Yonkers YMCA) and see if this place is really for you. Go job hunting and apartment shopping BEFORE you make your move. Ride around in the subways and take buses. Talk to people.
Why am I still up here? My career. Nothing more. I would move in a second if I could, but I have "golden handcuffs."
I'm curious as to why you have decided to make such a move?
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