Little things that most people overlook when moving here (Ovid: apartments, rental)

[tugofpeace]

My plans to move here are getting pretty solid. Going to find a studio for under $2500 hopefully in a decent area and then try it out for a year.

That being said, I've learned so much about the various aspects of living here, but I was curious about what kind of things I might have missed. So far I thought of the following:

How expensive is takeout? In Dallas I could get a large pizza hut pizza for $13, and some solid chinese takeout for under $20 for an entree + appetizer. Is food pricing vastly different in NYC if you're not dining in?

How difficult is shopping for groceries/goods? I heard that in some stores the lines are so long to check out that people pretty much shop from the register. Is it really that bad, and is inventory usually decent?

If you do want to eat out at a restaurant, are the wait times terrible all the time?

Are the gyms super crowded as well? How much does a decent gym membership cost?

How much do utilities and internet run typically, for a studio?

How important is your neighborhood when considering social life? Is it normal for people to travel a mile away to do something?

[2020's YouTube Vlog]

Originally Posted by tugofpeace

How important is your neighborhood when considering social life? Is it normal for people to travel a mile away to do something?

It's very important.

Many people, especially those in Manhattan, do not like to venture far from their neighborhood.

Many people downtown won't even want to go above 96th street.

Are there people who are willing to travel?

Sure. But there's also a good number who like to stick to where they know.

[pierrepont7731]

Originally Posted by tugofpeace

My plans to move here are getting pretty solid. Going to find a studio for under $2500 hopefully in a decent area and then try it out for a year.

That being said, I've learned so much about the various aspects of living here, but I was curious about what kind of things I might have missed. So far I thought of the following:

How expensive is takeout? In Dallas I could get a large pizza hut pizza for $13, and some solid chinese takeout for under $20 for an entree + appetizer. Is food pricing vastly different in NYC if you're not dining in?

How difficult is shopping for groceries/goods? I heard that in some stores the lines are so long to check out that people pretty much shop from the register. Is it really that bad, and is inventory usually decent?

If you do want to eat out at a restaurant, are the wait times terrible all the time?

Are the gyms super crowded as well? How much does a decent gym membership cost?

How much do utilities and internet run typically, for a studio?

You want to live in Manhattan and in a prime area at that. You will pay more because of the high rents, so food will cost more, but if you are ordering from chains, it shouldn't be crazy expensive. Keep in mind, living in the South, the cost of everything is generally cheaper compared to NYC or other expensive places.

NYC offers just about anything you want. It is great for a reason, especially in terms of food. Shopping for groceries is like any other place. You can have groceries delivered or get them yourself. The lines were only insanely long during COVID. If you go at times when places aren't as busy, you can be in and out in no time. I go to a few Whole Foods markets and my checkout is done in five minutes. Use the self checkout machines.

Wait times for restaurants are like any other place. If it's very very popular, you may have to make reservations, but most places are normal.

Utilities depend on the size of your apartment and what is included. If you have to heat your apartment, then your ConEd bill will be much higher. I pay $150 - 200 a month for my place, but I have a two bedroom apartment. Meanwhile, my ex-girlfriend has a large alcove studio in Manhattan and pays $200 - 300 a month since she does not have heating included. Internet depends on which service provider you use and how fast of a speed you desire. The plan I have costs $85 before discounts, but I don't pay that. That is for the fastest internet speed. You can certainly get cheaper internet.

Gym membership depends on what you consider decent and can vary. Shop for specials where possible.

[Metromoxo]

Re: lines in grocery stores - if you shop at Trader Joes, you should be prepared for lines. Luckily Trader Joes is also prepared and they have tons of cashiers and an efficient system. But yeah, when I've shopped at prime shopping time at the Upper West Side Trader joes I have had to do my shopping while standing in a line the snakes throughout the store.

Granted I haven't in to that one in probably a year so maybe those were pandemic times that caused that. The Chelsea store lately hasn't been that bad.

Its funny though, I was in Soho the other evening and felt like it was a ghost town. It was only about 5:30 pm on a Monday and I was wondering where everyone was. Decided to walk 10 minutes over to the TJ's store on Spring St and that's where I found the crowds. Still the line moved very fast.

[Chava61]

Originally Posted by tugofpeace

How important is your neighborhood when considering social life? Is it normal for people to travel a mile away to do something?

I think most people tend to coordinate their social life after work to be either close to their place of employment (and then travel home by public transportation simply later on in the evening/at night) or near where they live.

[Mr.Retired]

Originally Posted by tugofpeace

My plans to move here are getting pretty solid. Going to find a studio for under $2500 hopefully in a decent area and then try it out for a year.

That being said, I've learned so much about the various aspects of living here, but I was curious about what kind of things I might have missed. So far I thought of the following:

How expensive is takeout? In Dallas I could get a large pizza hut pizza for $13, and some solid chinese takeout for under $20 for an entree + appetizer. Is food pricing vastly different in NYC if you're not dining in?

How difficult is shopping for groceries/goods? I heard that in some stores the lines are so long to check out that people pretty much shop from the register. Is it really that bad, and is inventory usually decent?

If you do want to eat out at a restaurant, are the wait times terrible all the time?

Are the gyms super crowded as well? How much does a decent gym membership cost?

How much do utilities and internet run typically, for a studio?

How important is your neighborhood when considering social life? Is it normal for people to travel a mile away to do something?

This is an idea to help bring all your answers together.
Wouldn't it be nice that everything you need is close by ?
Start by Locating an area of interest on the internet.
Areavibes is a wonderful place to start.
Once you found a potential neighborhood open up google maps.
Type in Pizza, Chinese food,grocery,restaurant,gym and mark those locations.
Call to find prices and check for menus or websites on line.
Try to find a rental within walking distance or a short drive.
Visit the location and and visit special interests.
Make your decision.
Best Wishes.

[bluedog2]

Originally Posted by tugofpeace

My plans to move here are getting pretty solid. Going to find a studio for under $2500 hopefully in a decent area and then try it out for a year.

That being said, I've learned so much about the various aspects of living here, but I was curious about what kind of things I might have missed. So far I thought of the following:

How expensive is takeout? In Dallas I could get a large pizza hut pizza for $13, and some solid chinese takeout for under $20 for an entree + appetizer. Is food pricing vastly different in NYC if you're not dining in?

How difficult is shopping for groceries/goods? I heard that in some stores the lines are so long to check out that people pretty much shop from the register. Is it really that bad, and is inventory usually decent?

If you do want to eat out at a restaurant, are the wait times terrible all the time?

Are the gyms super crowded as well? How much does a decent gym membership cost?

How much do utilities and internet run typically, for a studio?

How important is your neighborhood when considering social life? Is it normal for people to travel a mile away to do something?

I know some people don't care about it but I think closeness to a subway stop is very important. By close I mean within a few ( less than 5) minutes walk. In one of my first NYC apartments I didn't take this into consideration and was about a 15 minute walk to the subway. It became very annoying very quickly...especially in Winter.

[Adhom]

Originally Posted by bluedog2

I know some people don't care about it but I think closeness to a subway stop is very important. By close I mean within a few ( less than 5) minutes walk. In one of my first NYC apartments I didn't take this into consideration and was about a 15 minute walk to the subway. It became very annoying very quickly...especially in Winter.

This is true but now with hybrid or remote work, this has become far less annoying. Also, since the pandemic, everything can be delivered now, from fast food to groceries. Amazon is also ridiculously efficient in NYC since they are using their own trucks instead of UPS or Fedex. You can get some of the most obscure things the next day or even sometimes the same day.

[bluedog2]

Originally Posted by Adhom

This is true but now with hybrid or remote work, this has become far less annoying. Also, since the pandemic, everything can be delivered now, from fast food to groceries. Amazon is also ridiculously efficient in NYC since they are using their own trucks instead of UPS or Fedex. You can get some of the most obscure things the next day or even sometimes the same day.

I don't know how hybrid work or deliveries change the equation.I don't even work any more but I still use the subway almost every day....to go places and see things.

[Chava61]

Originally Posted by bluedog2

I know some people don't care about it but I think closeness to a subway stop is very important. By close I mean within a few ( less than 5) minutes walk. In one of my first NYC apartments I didn't take this into consideration and was about a 15 minute walk to the subway. It became very annoying very quickly...especially in Winter.

I agree with this. Also apartments near express subway stations usually have higher rents than those next to local stops.