- I lived in New York City for a decade and spent $2,000 on rent every month.
- This high price is not worth the traffic, crowded events and isolated people.
- I decided to move to Philadelphia and finally left the city earlier this month.
I’m a born and bred New Yorker who grew up on Long Island – in the shadow of New York City.
As a child, I remember fantasizing about my life growing up in the city. I imagined living in the heart of Manhattan and having a busy, beautifully chaotic social life. Honestly, I pictured myself as Carrie Bradshaw – as cliche as that sounds.
I was lucky enough to make some of them a reality; I moved to New York City right after college in 2015. I couldn’t afford to live in Manhattan, but settled in Brooklyn. Although my social life was nothing like Carrie’s, I still had fun and met some of my closest friends.
Of course, I understood that the city was expensive, but for me it was worth it. New York City had everything I could ever want.
Ten years later, I’m now in my 30s and the city has lost its charm. Spending $2,000 on rent every month was no longer worth it.
In January, I did what I thought I would never do: I left New York City and moved to Philadelphia. Here’s why.
Affordable apartments are not livable
I’ve always said that in New York City, you either have a great apartment in a not-so-great neighborhood or a not-so-great apartment in a great area. You just can’t have both if you make under $100,000 a year – which I always did.
I moved every two years, so that’s five apartments in the city. I had plywood floors, four story walks, duct tape holding up the walls, and mold that never went away.
I also had nice apartments in neighborhoods where I no longer felt safe.
Now that I’m in my 30s, I want my home to be comfortable, in a neighborhood I love, and have everyday amenities like a backyard and a washer/dryer—both basically unheard of in New York.
Being single and independent is expensive in New York
After years of living in tight quarters with roommates—strangers and best friends alike—I just wanted to live alone and work on my independence.
But in New York, that’s hard, especially if you’re a single person. Most people move into one-bedroom apartments with others to keep costs down.
In my senior year in New York, I finally got my first one-bedroom apartment, which marked an important step into adulthood. I learned to be okay with being alone. I learned to manage my finances and I learned how much I love my alone time. I couldn’t do any of this while living with spacious rooms.
But it came at a cost. For $2,000 a month, I spent most of my salary on rent.
In Philadelphia, I scored a two-bedroom apartment in a great neighborhood with a backyard and washer/dryer for less than my rent in New York. And I can live alone.
Cultural events are becoming more and more crowded
It is often said that New York City’s high prices are worth it because of all that it has to offer. It is true that the city has a lot of events, concerts and theaters.
But in recent years, I’ve noticed how difficult it is to get tickets to these events. In most cases, they are sold out, too expensive or too crowded.
The Bell House in Brooklyn was my favorite place to see comedy. But you had to get there at least an hour before the doors opened just to secure a seat. In New York City, you are in constant competition with millions of people who want to do the same thing you want to do.
Plus, it was getting harder to see a Broadway show for less than $100.
In Philadelphia, on the other hand, I’ve easily been able to book event tickets at cheaper prices.
New Yorkers seem to be set with their friend groups
The most famous generalization about New Yorkers is that they are mean. I never found the truth. I have witnessed hundreds of acts of kindness among New Yorkers during my years in the city.
I think it’s more accurate to say that New Yorkers are insular. I had a hard time making friends because most people seem set with their current friend groups. They are not interested in welcoming people into their lives or even having a conversation with a stranger.
Most New Yorkers are too focused on their current friends, their jobs, and their rush to reach out to a stranger and hook up.
I’m at a stage in my life where I want to branch out and meet new people. Thankfully, the people I’ve met in Philadelphia are all eager to welcome me into their lives and show me around the city.
Traveling in and out of New York City has become unbearable
It’s no secret that traffic in New York is terrible, but it’s more apparent when you travel in and out of the city.
For years, the Hudson Valley has been my favorite getaway, but since the pandemic, those small towns have become increasingly crowded, making a quick trip there nearly impossible without hours traffic.
Also, getting to and from any of the three airports in the city is a nightmare. With traffic, it can take you over an hour and Uber prices are close to $100. It got to the point where I didn’t want to travel anymore because it was so difficult to get in and out of New York City.
No city is perfect, but New York is not for me right now
New York has been my home for years and I can see why people still love it. I will always love him.
But for me, right now, I’m looking for something different. And New York just doesn’t fit anymore – especially at the current price.