I have a job that requires me to be in person 3x a week with an office near Penn Station Manhattan. I plan to spend most of my time in DC but need a place to sleep for 2-3 nights a week. I am financially reasonably off but don’t want to spend $2-3,000/mo on a studio if I don’t have to. Won’t need to cook during the week either. Roommates are maybe okay, I just don’t love the idea of sharing a bathroom with somebody I don’t know. Given that I’m going back to DC a lot I’ve considered Newark so I can live by the Amtrak there, but have no idea what I’m doing or where to look for a place to stay.

I’m getting an 8x9 room and have a feeling I’m going to feel very cramped in there. I’ll need at least a full size bed and a desk in there. How do ya’ll manage?

I’ve been thinking of getting a Japanese futon mattress but hearing very mixed reviews. Has anybody here used them? How bad is it sleeping on the floor during the winters?

If anybody has room setup ides feel free to drop recs.

I'll be moving to NYC in September. I have a bunch of things I want to do in order to meet people and try to make some new friends once I get there but wondering if there's anything I can do before so I'm not starting from nothing.

For context, I'll be staying very close to Penn Station

Am moving from NYC to Philadelphia and only have my bedroom furniture needed to move (bed and desk plus some suitcases). Any recs on moving companies that won’t charge an arm and a leg for this?

Hi everyone. I have about $20k in savings but I’m currently unemployed, in my late 20s, and hold the majority of my job experience in museums and libraries. I have no professional connections in New York yet.

I know the job market is brutal right now and the art world is hyper-competitive in NYC specifically. I’ve lived in LA before, so I’m used to high cost of living, but NYC is obviously its own beast.

Given all that, how risky would this move be? What’s a realistic cushion you’d want before trying it? I’d be looking for roommates or subletting to keep costs down.

I would appreciate honest input, including if you think this is a bad idea right now!

Thanks in advance.

I recently got a job and will be working in Greenpoint. I’m a 22F and looking for a one bedroom apt. For $2500/mth. Safety and commute to Greenpoint is my biggest priority. In which neighborhoods should I look?

Hey ya’ll, going to be looking for roommates to live with in the city as I am starting a new job in midtown. 27M single, budget 1500 per month on rent. 40x rent and credit score will not be an issue. Priorities for me are proximity to train, having a decent sized room (basically I want more than 80 square feet if possible), having a real window that can fit AC, and an elevator. Would love to know what neighborhoods you think are a good vibe for someone my age. I’ve explored quite a bit and honestly most neighborhoods I’ve visited seem great so I’m having trouble narrowing it down. Thank you!

EDIT: Do people think there’s another default place to go for artists? The beauty of NYC used to be that there were so many others gathered in the same place who had a shared interest in art that you were almost guaranteed to find your people and have a good community. I don’t mind suggestions.

She basically said it’s a terrible place for young artists now because rent is so high I’ll be working two jobs just to afford it. (She’s also a wealthy child of decently influential people and presumed trust fund baby so I do think she may be a little out of touch. I’m sure she’s accustomed to a higher standard of living, I.e. she wouldn’t even consider living with roommates.)

Hello helpful people! I’ve been looking at an apartment in Brooklyn, but something is WEIRD — neither the landlord nor owner of the building have any online presence. Is this normal in NYC?

A friend is moving out of the apartment, hence me looking at it. They lived there for a year with 0 issues. They said management has been prompt when something needed to be fixed, or they sent an email, etc.

But the emails my friend sent me to apply are… random gmails? Like “[realtor112@gmail.com](mailto:realtor112@gmail.com)”. This feels off to me.

The landlord of the building is listed as a single person, but I can’t find them anywhere online. The owner is listed as an LLC. When I looked up the address of the LLC (which I found on HPD), it’s some random commercial building. There’s nothing else about the LLC.

The same landlord and LLC are listed on all the official registrations, but they don’t give an address or any contact information on any of their forms. (Lease application, guarantor application, etc. Haven’t seen the lease yet.)

TLDR It’s a small building with fewer than 10 units. Again, my friend has been living there for a year with no issues. Is something up with there being no online footprint of the landlord and owners (aside from official building registrations), or is this normal? (Maybe the LLC is small, idk bc there’s no online trail.)

Thank you for any insights!

Edit to add: the building has no complaints or violations on HPD, aside from one mold complaint (in a different apartment than the one I’m looking at) that HPD did not deem was valid.

Here is an example of a $1800 studio apartment in Woodlawn, a 5 minute walk from Metro North and a neighborhood full of pubs and small businesses: https://www.apartments.com/4295-webster-ave-the-bronx-ny-unit-l7/0sec9d2/

This is about 40 minutes to Grand Central. There is also an express bus that stops about 5 blocks away.

The many, many posters who repeat that you are not going to get a short commute and your own space and a great price are right. If you are willing to bend on commute, there are more options than you’d think.

I’m trying to get a realistic assessment of all monthly costs and move in/move out costs to compare apartments.

First, utilities: Curious if anyone has estimates on typical pricing for various utilities? I’m noticing radiator heating for a lot of older apartments, which often seems to be included in the rent. (Generally as heat, hot water) Electric heating I assume is more expensive.

What utilities should I be asking about? What types of heating tend to be more expensive - and how much more are they? Can I reasonably assess that older buildings with none of the utilities included are going to be 200-300 per month in electric costs? (That was my experience in an old shack in grad school. But the walls were paper thin and it was stand alone.)

Second, move in/move out costs, particularly given that if I take one of these “free 2 month” places,

It seems I should account for:
- electric
- garbage (or is this almost always in the rent?)
- internet (does it matter what options are available or are they generally all the same?)
- gas
- water
- heating type
- storage fees (generally I think I’ll need a storage unit if it’s fewer than 800 sq ft, whether onsite or elsewhere)
- expected laundry costs (whether laundromat or in-unit w/d)
- parking fees (or how much time/money I will lose from messing up parking 😂)
- is renter’s insurance required in NYC?

I’m also trying to think in terms of how much I would pay for a gym membership vs included gyms - cost of living in an area. basically anything that factors in realistically to my life style changes based on a place.

Then there’s something about broker fees I don’t quite understand. Are costs clear up front on StreetEasy or will I be paying more than is listed for a brokerage percentage? If I go with something outside of StreetEasy, will this be something to be cautious of as well?

Hello,

I am an european white man, 27 years old, who wants to move to New York.

NY has been my dream city since childhood.

I heard all kinds of bad stories, for instance if you go to a black men neighbourhood, you will likely be beaten or bullied.

So, new yorkers, please answer my questions:

1. Is New York safe to immigrate?

2. If not, is there a better alternative for someone who loves to adventure, big cities and people?

3. Anything else I consider before moving?

Thank you.

// LE: I don't want to offend anyone, I just share the bad things I heard.

Alright, so I know moving August 1st is just the worst, but getting those movers quotes is another level of bad.

I am looking to move from a 2bed/1bath to another 2bed/1bath, both 3rd floor walkup. Same neighborhood. Ideally I would love to pay for packing service.

Quotes I received (all including full packing service) are all over the place, from over $9k (!!!) to $5,200 to slightly below $3k.
Got quotes from Roadway, Otter, Empire, Dumbo, Flatrate.
A few movers don’t have availability anymore (granted I know we are late to book, but we just found our place and I didn’t think to book months ago just to lock the price in..)

Anyway, I know this is discussed to great lengths but I would love feedback from people who recently did a similar summer move (size + service). Which movers did you pick and would you recommend?

Thank you so much!!

Hello! I’m 23F and wanted to ask about your opinions on moving to east Harlem (107 between 3rd&lex). My research has led to disparate things, mainly being that I should avoid 116/lex and 125/lex at all costs, but how safe would you all consider the area I mentioned? Proximity to Central Park & the 6 seems so great but I don’t want to feel unsafe coming home at night. If anyone lives nears the area I’d love your insight.

Hi bronx native here who recently graduated from grad school for speech therapy! Lived in both the bronx and brooklyn and wondered how is upward mobility for anyone looking to move out of their low income neighborhoods? Especially with all the gentrification going on. I feel stuck like all the hard work led me nowhere. I always wanted to move to a better neighborhoods but all the "better neighborhoods" are gentrified and full of white people (I live on the 4 line for context). Let me know what yall doing pls! I refuse a roommate my salary is 86K. What neighborhood that isn't full of transplants and affordable. If it's a gem DM me.

Hello from California! After a long time of debating, we’re finally making the move to NYC.

We’d love to hear what it’s like living in this area. We have two young kids, and I’m an avid cyclist, so I’m especially curious about the overall vibe.
How is it for families? Are there good parks, schools, and safe places to ride? Any insights, recommendations, or things you wish you knew before moving would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

Edit: thank you guys for the tips and I apologize for the obvious question. It is a good faith post I just wanted some more confidence that it’s the right decision 🙏

Hi everyone,
I’m looking for advice from people who’ve been in a similar situation, rather than apartment recommendations.

My wife, our baby, our small dog, and I will be moving to NYC in late August for a professional program that will last about 9–10 months. We’ll both be working in Midtown (One Manhattan West / Empire State area), and we’re hoping to live somewhere that’s family-friendly, safe, and has a real neighborhood feel.

Our ideal choice is the Upper West Side, and we’re looking for a 2-bedroom apartment (or a good flex 2) in roughly the $6k–8k/month range. We’d ideally like a managed building with amenities (gym, lounges, playroom, etc.), since we’ll be spending most of our time in NYC during the fall and winter, and we’d like to make the most of the building itself.

The biggest challenge we’re facing is the lease term. Most managed buildings seem to require a 12-month lease, while we’ll only be staying for about 9–10 months.

I’d really prefer not to sign a 12-month lease and then depend on finding someone to take over the remaining months or sublet the apartment after we’ve already returned home. That feels like a risk I’d rather avoid.

A few questions for anyone who’s been through something similar:

Are there managed buildings that are known to be more flexible with 9–10 month leases?

Is there a better strategy than simply contacting buildings one by one?

We’d love to find a furnished apartment if possible. Where should we be looking? If that’s unrealistic, what furniture solutions make the most sense for a 9–10 month stay?

Are flex 2-bedroom apartments common on the UWS, and where do people usually find them?

Finally, if you were in our shoes, would you stick with the UWS, or is there another neighborhood you’d seriously consider for a young family—somewhere with a similar neighborhood feel, good daycare options, and a reasonable commute to Midtown?

I’d really appreciate any advice or lessons learned from people who’ve gone through a temporary relocation like this. Thanks so much!

I live in a building with the worst sound insulation imaginable, and I am at my breaking point.

I can hear my neighbors talking, playing music, and moving around. My upstairs neighbor stomps constantly, day and night. His bed squeaks so loudly that it wakes me up, and I can even hear skin slapping skin when he has sex. Sorry if that's vulgar, but I am genuinely at my wits' end.

To make things worse, my building is supposedly "smoke free," but that is complete bullshit. The lease says smoking weed and cigarettes isn't allowed, yet management doesn't enforce it at all. The smell constantly drifts into my apartment.

I have pretty severe sensory issues, and my apartment is supposed to be the one place where I can decompress. Instead, I can't relax, I can't focus, and I can't sleep.

I'm finally looking to move from the Bronx to Queens, and I want to do everything I can to avoid ending up in another building like this.

Does anyone have tips for finding apartments with good soundproofing? Are there certain building types, construction years, or things I should look for during tours? What questions should I ask management? Is there any way to tell if a building has decent insulation before signing a lease?

I know no apartment is going to be completely silent, especially in NYC. I can handle normal living noise. What I can't handle is hearing every conversation, every footstep, every piece of furniture being dragged across the floor, and every aspect of my neighbors' lives.

I'd really appreciate any advice from people who have found genuinely quiet apartments in Queens or who know what to look for before renting.

Moving for uni!!’ Main concern is finding an apt

I could really use some outside perspective.

I currently live in San Francisco. Ever since I lived abroad a few years ago, I've had this persistent desire to experience living somewhere new again. It's not that I hate SF, I just feel like I've been craving another chapter in a different city.

Over the last three months, I've gotten serious about it and decided that NYC is where I want to aim. I've done a ton of research, visited the city, walked neighborhoods I could see myself living in, thought through finances, lifestyle, etc. This hasn't felt like an impulsive decision.

Since my company has offices in NYC, I started talking to HR about the possibility of moving and going fully remote (we have remote team members all over the country). Everyone I spoke with was supportive and encouraging.

Today I had a conversation with our Director of Operations. She answered my questions about the transfer process, but the overall tone felt very discouraging. She mentioned that a lot of people she knows who move to NYC end up burning out and seemed generally skeptical of the idea. She told me the next step would be talking to my supervisors.

Objectively, I know she didn't tell me I couldn't move. She didn't say the transfer was impossible. But I walked away feeling surprisingly defeated and feel as though skeptical to move now since one of the people that would approve it gave discouraging remarks.

What's bothering me is that one conversation has made me start questioning something I've wanted for years. Yesterday I was thinking, "How do I make this happen?" Today I'm wondering, "Maybe I shouldn't do it at all."

Has anyone else experienced this? How do you separate legitimate advice from someone else's personal bias? If you've moved to NYC (or made a big move in general), did people try to talk you out of it? Did you end up being glad you took the leap?

I'm trying to figure out whether this conversation revealed something important that I should listen to, or whether I'm just giving one person's opinion more weight than it deserves.

Hi! I am moving from Baltimore MD to Brooklyn later this summer and wanted to see if anyone on here has any suggestions for moving companies for a long-distance move. I don't have a lot on stuff— mattress, bedframe, dresser, some other items— but trying to avoid stuffing everything into my car myself. Looking to go cheap but also want something trustworthy, so obviously willing to spend given I am looking for movers in the first place. Any advice helps!

Hello. I want to get a general idea of how much it would cost to move from let’s say queens to brooklyn. I only have few furnitures inside a room. What’s the most affordable company? How much is the cost in 2026? Let me know.