I’m writing this guide to NYC because I WISH someone wrote this for me when I first moved here. There’s so many hoops to jump through, and some of them are on fire, but you’ll make it!

New York City is still the NUMBER ONE place to be as a young, ambitious person building their career. Everyone is on top of everyone.

Finding an Apartment

The number one thing you’ll need to do is find a place to live. NYC apartment hunting is one of the most time-consuming, difficult things you could do. But it doesn’t have to be. Here are some tips to get you through.

NEVER pay a broker fee. Many people will tell you that you have to. That’s not true. It’s in your right to reject a place that has a broker fee. There are also no-fee brokers, where the landlord pays the fee.

Sublet first before finding a lease! Use apps like Roomi or SpareRoom to find a roommate. You don’t even have to make 40x the rent (what newbie has that money?) An NYC apartment search is a real marathon. You’ll want to have your criteria set. Once you find a place, you’ll have to jump on it ASAP!

Use Craigslist or PadMapper. These are free options. What’s cool about PadMapper is that it will actually show you the location of the apartment via Craigslist data. It’s a great way to find a sublet. You can also ask friends if they know anyone renting.

Get free furniture on Craigslist as well! Your JAW WILL DROP when you see how much money you’re saving vs. going to a furniture store. You can even find used IKEA furniture on CL super cheap. If you’re feeling bold, you can take your furniture on the subway to save money on a cab. Just be sure to wrap it in plastic wrap!

Finding a Job

Finding a job in NYC is one of the earliest, hardest tasks you’ll have to do!

Start out by reading our article, “How to Maximize Your Job Search“!

Try to line up a job before you get to New York. If you’re lucky, you’ll get an internship or go to college here. That’s not what this guide is about.

There are many types of work you can do even without a degree.

Waiter jobs can be surprisingly lucrative. Find one on NYC Poached! I waited tables for over 3 years in NYC. The first job at a popular sports bar chain was okay. It allowed me to live in pre-gentrification Bushwick with 4 roommates (not glamorous, but it’s living!) The second one was at a day cafe. It got better and better as waiters would rotate sections throughout the day, allowing each to have a “rush” section for breakfast or lunch. By the end of that, I would sometimes make $300 in one shift.

Retail and tourism jobs also tend to be plentiful, if waiter jobs are too hectic for you. There’s also plenty of gig labor. Offer dog-walking services or explore the gig economy through platforms like TaskRabbit or Fiverr.

AGGRESSIVELY attend networking events. If you’re moving to NYC from outside the city, without a network, you have to build one! So start right away. Some great sites to find networking events are Eventbrite and Meetup. You can also search for events on LinkedIn. For more tips on digital job seeking, check out “New Graduates: How to Get a Job Post-Crisis“!

When you go to the networking event, work efficiently. Get there early and meet other early attendees. Grab a name tag. Write “Somebody” or “Nobody” on it, and witness how people’s curiosity draws them to you. If there’s a speaker panel, you have limited time. After the speaker portion, get ready to meet more people.

Finding Cheap Food & Drinks

In such an expensive environment, you gotta eat, literally!

There’s a trick to it. Try eating breakfast for lunch (before 11 AM). Oftentimes, the food will actually be a cheaper price, since breakfast is supposed to be a “smaller” meal (come on, portions are always huge in NYC)

With that in mind, you can also eat half portions of food, saving the rest in your fridge. Of course, there’s always the famous $1 slice of pizza as well! (Adjusted for inflation)

Meeting a friend or business contact at the bar? Only drink at happy hours. Alcohol tax in NYC is ridiculous. You’ll pay at least $13 for your average cocktail. At happy hours, they can be as cheap as $7 or half off.

Need groceries? Shop at Trader Joe’s or Target. You could be paying a third of the price of other grocery stores. Even better, Trader Joe’s offers free samples while you shop (phew, COVID’s over). You’ll have friends who’ll say they always buy “a couple sale items” at Whole Foods. It didn’t used to be cheap, but you can actually find good deals there occasionally.

Don’t want to shop in-person? Instacart can get expensive if you’re not discerning. Try ordering Costco groceries online for savings.

Saving on Everyday Items

A budget is a must. Use apps like You Need a Budget to set spending limits and cut costs.

NYC is a fashion mecca. That does NOT mean that you need designer labels! It might feel ironic shopping at a chain store in NYC. (Feel free to roast me for this one)

There are many affordable places to buy fashionable clothes in NYC: H&M, Uniqlo, Everlane, vintage/thrift stores, it all depends what you’re looking for. For shoes, you can find a surprising amount of high-end labels like BCBG, Calvin Klein, Cole Haan, Betsey Johnson and others at DSW (Designer Shoe Warehouse) for highly discounted prices.

You’re not going to one-up that executive in kitten heels. Give it time. For now, get a COMFORTABLE pair of shoes. Nobody walks in L.A., but EVERYBODY walks in NYC!

Learn the Transit System!

You’ve just landed in NYC. It’s time to learn how to use the subway CORRECTLY!

Get familiar with the subway map. Download a copy from the web or use the MTA app. Don’t catch the wrong train when you’re going to work! End up in the right neighborhood. Save yourself time.

Buy a monthly unlimited Metrocard. Rides on the subway, bus or ferry are $2.90 each! They’re not going down, only up. Some transfers are also not free, don’t pay double! If you use the subway twice a day, or an average of that in one month, the card pays for itself.

Train delays are constant! Download the MTA app and plan for delays. Leave extra time. It’s ALWAYS going to take you 15 minutes longer than you think. Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it. 🙂

Never enter an empty train car when the rest are full. Just don’t. Nothing good will come of it. Either the A/C is out, or the power is out, or something worse.

Honorable Mentions

Buy a sturdy pair of shoes, preferably ergonomic. In NYC, you’re going to walk more than you ever have.

Invest in a good, fashionable pair of boots. It rains and snows a lot in NYC.

Nature is not out of reach without a car. You can even take the subway to get there. Some of my favorites: Prospect Park, Rockaway Beach, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, City Island, Marine Park Salt Marsh Nature Trail, Governor’s Island.

Try new things as often as possible. You’ll be surprised at some of the places public transit will take you.

Let’s Summarize

Let’s revisit some of the topics covered below.

Finding an Apartment: Never pay a broker fee. Sublet before signing. Use Roomi, SpareRoom or PadMapper. Get Craigslist furniture.

Finding Cheap Food: Eat breakfast for lunch. Eat half portions. Only drink at happy hours. Shop at Trader Joe’s, Target or CostCo online.

Saving on Everyday Items: Shop at DSW, fast fashion stores and vintage shops. Get comfortable shoes!

Finding a Job: Line up a job. Get a waiter job on NYC Poached. Work in retail or tourism. Aggressively attend networking events. Find events on EventBrite, Meetup and LinkedIn. Network efficiently and cleverly.

Learn the Transit System: Memorize the subway map. Buy an unlimited Metrocard. Download the MTA app to avoid delays. Leave extra time. Don’t enter empty train cars (in general).

We hope that this guide to NYC helps you plan your move! Best of luck!