Living in Manhattan is a dream for many. Do the relentless activities and events in Manhattan entice you? Then you’ve come to the right place.
Manhattan allows you to enjoy a city to the fullest.
This article is for anyone looking to move to Manhattan. Before you move, here are factors to consider.
Life in Manhattan
Manhattan is one of the five boroughs of New York City, U.S.A and it is also referred to as “the city”. It is densely populated among the five smallest boroughs of NYC. If at any point in time you want to stay in a new environment in New York City, living in Manhattan should be your best bet because the pros of living in Manhattan outweigh the cons. In as much as living in Manhattan can be a blessing to some, it could also be a curse and this all depends on your love for a city and what you detest.
PROS OF LIVING IN MANHATTAN
1. IT HAS MORE OPPORTUNITIES
According to Wikipedia, Manhattan has a population of 1,694,263 which happens to be the highest population, smallest land area, and highest population density in New York. On business days, the population rises to about 3.9 million. Manhattan happens to be the heartbeat of entrepreneur activities in the U.S and land of numerous opportunities. If you have an idea and need funding, Manhattan is the best place in the United States to get it easy!
If you have a strong interest in Fashion, Marketing, Technology, Sports, or Journalism, Manhattan is the place you need to be to excel.
2. GREAT SOCIAL SCENE
Manhattan has the most amazing nightlife in the United States and the city literally “does not sleep”. In this regard, it is effortless to network in Manhattan with the availability of numerous bars, nightclubs, and other entertainment centers. Living in Manhattan creates more avenues for you to network and do business with others.
3. MANHATTAN IS A SAFE PLACE
In the 1980s, New York City and Manhattan were known as the “most dangerous place” in the United States but this is not the case today. Due to the policies, the administrators have put in place, Manhattan is presently one of the safest cities in the United States on the condition that you will stay away from Central Park after midnight of course.
4. DIVERSE FOOD
In a city where there are about eight million inhabitants from different cultures and ethnicity, there is sure to be a wide range of variety of food to choose from. If you are looking at exploring a different variety of food, Manhattan should be your best option as the city boasts of over 70 Michelin-starred Restaurants with food ranging from Manhattan Pizza, Southern European foods, Italian foods, Halal foods, and many others.
5. ADEQUATE PUBLIC SPACES.
Manhattan has lots of public spaces like Central Park, school parks, and botanical gardens. These public spaces eliminate the need to move more often by car as traveling by car is a serious nightmare in Manhattan due to the crazy traffic. In Manhattan, you will be doing more walking in the subways as subways help to make you avoid getting stuck in the traffic.
6. RICH ARTS AND CULTURE
Manhattan prides itself as a city rich in arts and culture and there are lots of art galleries and museums like the Museum of Modern Arts, Frick Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Arts, and Guggenheim Museum
7. DIVERSE ETHNICITY
If you need exposure to lots of ethnicity and culture, living in Manhattan is the best choice for you because there are over two hundred ethnic languages spoken by different nationalities and immigrants in Manhattan like the Asian, Caribbean, Hispanic, Southern American, Black, White, and many others.
8. HIGH FASHION AWARENESS
If you are a lover of fashion but tight with budget, Living in Manhattan is the right choice for you as there are lots of Fashion fairs going on at different times and you are sure to bump into any of them.
9. EASY NAVIGATION AROUND NEW YOURK CITY
Manhattan is well connected with other fun cities in New York once you take the subway. It really doesn’t take as much time to visit exciting cities around Manhattan.
10. EXCELLENT PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICE
There is a claim that Manhattan has the best public transport system in the whole United States. No matter where you go to, as far as you do not take your private car, you are sure to get there in time using the public transport service. The train transport system is the most used and the train is always punctual and hardly delays.
CONS OF LIVING IN MANHATTAN
1. HIGH RENT
The rent in Manhattan is alarmingly high due to the high job opportunities, social life, and other factors. Whether you are looking at living in Manhattan to study, work or visit casually, the rent is not friendly but very threatening. An average apartment goes for over $3000 monthly! Most times, to reduce the cost of rent, you have to share apartments or live with families and share virtually everything which might not sit well with you if you are a very private person who is seriously watching your budget.
2. HIGH COST OF LIVELIHOOD
Asides from the high cost of rent, every other thing in Manhattan is literally on the high side. The individual cost of commodities in Manhattan costs more than in other cities in the United States. If you are looking at living in Manhattan, bear in mind that you will have to bear these costs.
3. UNSTABLE WEATHER
Formerly, Manhattan used to have a stable but this is no longer the case as the winter comes with rarely snowfalls and chills which results to hot summer. Typically the Trash days has an average temperature of 85 to 90 degree Fahrenheit.
4. DIFFICULTY FINDING AN APARTMENT
Before you move into Manhattan, you should have already gotten where to lay your head and the task of finding an apartment in Manhattan is a herculean one to achieve this, you will need the help of a broker with fees up to 15% if you are bent on living in a particular region in Manhattan.
5. DIRTY ROADS
New York in general is dirty and unorganized and Manhattan is not excluded. Living in Manhattan should get you used to the dirty sidewalks and messy auditorium. However, not everyone might have a problem with this.
6. HIGH POPULATION
This is a disadvantage as much as it is an advantage. If you are looking at living in Manhattan, get prepared to bump shoulders with others, share your spaces and protest with a large crowd.
When you want to go to places like the cinemas, galleries, and restaurants or book a ticket, expect to see long frustrating long lines in addition to bumping into other people and others bumping into you.
Finally, Manhattan is the most diverse, populated city in the United States with lots and loads of opportunities if you want to land a new job or need sponsors for a business idea. Living in Manhattan has lots of pros and cons but on average, the pros outweigh the cons. At the end of the day, it all boils down to you and if the city suits your lifestyle.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do I need a car in Manhattan?
You definitely do not need a car in Manhattan because you will be walking more often or taking the train. Manhattan traffic discourages you from moving to Manhattan by car.
Where can I find cheap accommodation in Manhattan?
You cannot find “cheap accommodation” per se because the rent is on the high side. Rather, you can get a shared apartment. This will cut down costs if you are really concerned about it.
Is Manhattan Safe?
Manhattan is a safe place to be in however, avoid walking alone on the subways once it’s past 11 pm, and also, avoid Central Park once it’s past midnight.
