Moving from Arizona to the Big Apple
Moving from Arizona to New York is definitely going to change your life in many aspects. And the relocation can become a source of excitement, fear, and the desire to make it in the Big Apple. Located between Washington D.C. and Boston, New York is well known as the world’s cultural, media, and financial capital. A symbol of freedom and cultural diversity, New York is home to over 8.6 million people as of 2017 and one of the most densely populated cities in the United States with 28,491 people per square mile.
Compared to Arizona’s desert climate with hot summers and mild winters, New York has a humid subtropical climate. The northern and western suburbs lie between a humid subtropical and humid continental climate. Unless you are from the northern part of Arizona, you should start preparing yourself for New York’s freezing cold winters and snow falls. It also rains a lot in the Big Apple, so make sure you have an umbrella with you even if there is a 5% chance of rain.
Housing and neighborhoods
The New York City consists of five boroughs: Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, The Bronx, and Staten Island. It is well known for its expensive and tiny apartments. Hence, if you’ve never been to New York before and don’t have much information on various neighborhoods, do your homework in advance. They say in New York it’s harder to find an apartment than a job.
Our advice for you would be to sign a short-term lease (2-3 months) at first so that you can give yourself enough time to discover the city, find out the neighborhood that fits your lifestyle, and decide whether to buy or rent a house. Compared to Arizona’s capital Phoenix, New York is over 80% more expensive, while housing is over 200% more expensive. Nevertheless, no matter what salary you currently have in Arizona, expect it to double once you start a job in N.Y.
Economy and employment
Mainly built on these three islands: Manhattan, Long Island, and Staten Island and situated near the Hudson River and the Atlantic Ocean, New York has continuously grown as a trading port over the years. As of 2017, the city has the highest number of billionaires in the world — 82 to be exact! Their combined net worth amounts to $398 billion.
This global hub of business and commerce offers plenty of opportunities in retail, trade, transportation, banking, finance, real estate, advertising, theater, fashion, and so on. Home to a large number of Fortune 500 corporations, in February 2017, the city broke a new record with an unemployment rate of 4.3% and in November 2017 its unemployment rate dropped to 4.0 %.
What to do in NY?
Compared to Arizona, New York is way busier, noisier, more diverse, full of life, and full of tourists. It’s true that the city never sleeps, and it constantly pushes you to stay awake, enjoy the moment, and achieve your next big goal. Among the things you will truly savor once you settle in, are the international mouth-watering cuisines, beautiful sights, endless skyscrapers, and plenty of activities, events, movies, and parades.
While it is true that living in New York can be very expensive, there are a lot of free nights in various museums and theaters, as well as free events and shows in every corner. Be on the lookout for these things if you don’t want to spend extra money every time you want to enjoy your time off work. Also, check out these best fall getaways whenever you need to get a break from the noise of the city.
Transportation
New York’s public transportation, especially its subway, is one of the best in the country. Take advantage of it if you want to visit popular shores in Brooklyn, Queens, the Coney Island, and more during the summer. To turn public transportation into a friend instead of an enemy, make sure you download the offline subway map. You can thank us later.
Moving to the Big Apple with a car
Once you move to New York, you will need to register your car with the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (NYSDMV) within 30 days after you establish your residency, and also transfer your out-of-state driver’s license. You can do these both at the same time, but not before you get a New York car insurance. Keep in mind that New York does not accept an out-of-state insurance, and you need to present proof of insurance for your vehicle (whether you use it or not) in order to register it.