10 Ways to Make Moving to NYC Cheaper

Have you always wanted to move to The Big Apple? Of course, it is never too soon or late. But you have probably realized that the past couple of years have been crazy. It almost feels like we’re living in a simulation, right? You’re going to want to save up as much as you can. Since the economy isn’t the most stable at the moment and inflation is affecting us all. So if you’re looking to move to NYC on a budget, here are 10 ways to make moving to NYC cheaper.

10 Ways to Make Moving to NYC Cheaper

If you’ve made up your mind already and you definitely want to live in your dream city, no matter how expensive it can be congratulations! You sure do have some courage. Moving to NYC can be quite a nightmare if you’re not prepared adequately or you don’t have tens of thousands of dollars in your bank account. If you want to learn about all the ways to make moving to NYC cheaper, we at Best Movers NYC are here to teach you how.

1. Get ready to sacrifice comfort

Unless you’ve been very lucky and you have more than a few thousand dollars to spend per month, you’re gonna have to make a few sacrifices. You simply can’t get it all. If you want a top location, you’re probably gonna have to size down quite a lot. And look for one of those tiny apartments. If you want more space, you’ll have to live further away from Manhattan. Apartment searches in New York City can take anywhere from a month or two if you’re lucky to 6-7 months. The housing market in NYC is brutal at the moment.

Many flats which are reasonably priced will not have some other amenities you’ll need like a washing machine or a balcony. Some don’t even have a kitchen area. So you’re probably going to have to take your laundry to a local laundry service shop once a week and eat out. Or use the little stove at the apartment. You might have seen a TikTok star, Alex Webber, who moved to NYC by himself last year to pursue an acting career. He started making TikToks about his life in a tiny apartment in Manhattan and became popular. He found a solution to his kitchen problem by buying an air fryer.

2. Know which neighborhoods to look at when searching for an apartment

In New York City, finding a place to rent may be a nightmare. However, if you know where (and how) to look, it doesn’t have to be. You can totally locate an apartment online by yourself. You don’t need a broker. Plus, it is a little expensive. But a broker could possibly find something that fits your demands and your budget, so you may want to take advantage of it. It’s become quite difficult to find pet-friendly apartments in NYC though. So if you have a pet, it might take longer. Knowing which areas to focus on is also beneficial. Brooklyn is known for being a less expensive area, but that is changing. Our experts at local movers Brooklyn have noticed that Brooklyn is getting more and more expensive each day. It may be out of your price range soon. So look now.

On the other side, you may be surprised to learn how inexpensive Upper Manhattan really is. But only, the Upper Manhattan. Decide which of the five boroughs you’d want to call home and try finding a few flats that fit your budget.  If you’d like to move to this part of New York, our residential movers Manhattan will be more than happy to help you out.

3. Make sure you understand what are the “No-fee” and “Broker” Apartments

Many apartments in New York City are rented via a broker, unlike in most other American cities. It’s important to remember that renting an apartment in NYC is quite comparable to purchasing a home, so be careful to plan ahead of time. Sometimes, it’s cheaper to get a mortgage than to rent. So check your credit score. First and last month’s rent, plus a security deposit, are examples of upfront expenses you’ll have to pay if you employ a broker to locate an apartment. 8 to 15 percent of a year’s lease is typical for these expenses.

Just to put things in perspective, one month’s rent comes out to be almost $8,000. Are you able to pay for this charge? As a precaution, make sure you’re just browsing for “No Fee” flats. With a broker, you’ll have more options. But if you’re trying to save up, it’s better to wait for something to come up in the “no fee” section.

4. Find a few roommates

If you’re going to NYC on a budget, it should go without saying that you should look into roommate options. Online services like EasyRoommate or Roomiematch might help you locate suitable roommates in the Greater New York region if you are a newcomer and don’t know anybody in the area. On these sites, you can find someone who is a similar age or has the same hobbies. You can chat for a bit and meet up. It’s a great way to make your first friend in New York as well. Having a roommate will not only save you money, but it will also give you a head start on your social life in a new location.

5. Consider renting on a month-to-month basis

Once you start the search, you may find out it’s gonna take more time to relocate. So, a month-to-month rental may be a good alternative. If you don’t sign a year-long lease, you have the flexibility to see how your spending patterns evolve and make necessary adjustments to your budget. This alternative, on the other hand, is always an option. Once you’ve finished your lease, many landlords are happy to give you this choice, but you’ll need to ask first.

6. Declutter

In New York City, you likely won’t have a lot of storage space. Or a lot of space at all. In other words, whenever you move, do your best to get rid of whatever you don’t need. Make sure you’re not cluttering your NYC apartment. Plus, it will be cheaper to hire long distance movers Manhattan has if you don’t have as much stuff. Don’t bring all of your furniture if you think it’s gonna be too crowded. See with your roommates how much stuff they are bringing as well. You can easily sell your extra clothes and things that have sitting around in your house for far too long on a site like Craiglist. Or you can donate it to local charities. Having a yard sale is also a terrific method to raise money for moving expenses.

7. You need to set aside some extra money

The first and final month’s rent, a security deposit, and brokerage fees, to name a few, are examples of up-front costs. The overall cost of all of these might be in the tens of thousands. New York City’s rental market is much more expensive and competitive than the rest of the US. Think about these fees as your down payment and closing costs. Those who haven’t saved money are in for a nasty surprise. However, suppose you plan ahead and put some money aside. In that case, you may discover that living in New York City is less difficult (and less expensive) than you anticipated. Especially if you have a roommate to split the bills with. Make sure you take a look at some things you should know before moving to NYC, like grocery prices, utility expenses, and so on.

8. Purchase a monthly Metro Pass

If you’re going to be spending a lot of time on the subway in NYC, you’ll want to invest in a monthly pass. It’s obvious that the math is correct. The cost of a metro or local bus journey is $2.75 at the time of writing this article, while the express bus fee is $6.50. For just $116.50 a month, you may travel the trains and buses as often as you like. You’ll pay only $60 if you qualify for reduced fare (senior citizens and students, for example). This is very important if you’re going to be anywhere outside the city center. Only 40 or so journeys will cost you $115 if you purchase individual tickets. That’s just ten days of travel if you’re making four journeys a day. It goes without saying that you will want to get unlimited access. Do it as soon as your residential movers Bronx have finished unloading their truck.

9. Buy second-hand furniture

It might be a good idea to search for used furniture on the internet. This way you can make moving to NYC cheaper. You probably want to do it right away, but you should make sure you have other expenses covered before buying furniture and decorating. And make sure you’re going to settle in that apartment. You want to wait until you’ve settled in, learned the ins and outs of New York City, and most importantly, found a job and made some money. To save money on house furnishings and other commodities, go on Craigslist and 5miles and you can find lots of good quality furniture for less money. If you already have some furniture you want to bring to your apartment, make sure to employ long distance movers Staten Island, so you don’t have to risk getting injured while moving.

10. Keep your calm!

Don’t let any of the things we’ve mentioned above discourage you. With the right mindset a few organizational skills and planning, it is entirely possible to not spend a fortune on moving and living in NYC. This is the most important piece of advice we have for you. A move to New York City can be both exhilarating and terrifying, and it’s easy to become bogged down by concerns about finding a place to live, securing a job, and generally getting your bearings. Recognize that you’ve arrived at or are about to arrive in the finest city on Earth, and take a deep breath. The number of opportunities you’ll have here and the people you’ll meet will make it all worth it. The following few months will bring you some of your most treasured memories, so seize the chance to make the most of them.

Why a full-service move may end up costing you less money?

Moving is quite expensive, we all know that. And you may think that moving on your own or with the help of a few buddies may be a more rational thing to do in this situation. But in fact, more often than not, a DIY move tends to cost more money in the end than employing professional movers such as residential movers Queens. Why? Because by the time you pack up all of your things and pump the gas into your vehicle and call up your buddies to help you load it, professional movers would have already finished the job. And what if something gets damaged in the way? Well, you’re just gonna have to buy a new couch or table. With a moving company, your possessions will be secured properly and this is unlikely to happen. And if it does, most companies are able to offer you a reimbursement.

If you opt for a full-service move, you’ll likely get a discount and you’ll get more time to deal with other matters in the moving process. Professional long distance movers in Queens will offer you packing services, loading, and unloading as well as furniture assembly and disassembly as a part of their full-service package. This is the best way to go about your move and make moving to NYC cheaper! We wish you a happy relocation!