Ultimate Guide to Living in New York

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So, you’re curious about living in New York? Well, you’ve come to the right place!

The expert movers, travelers, and worldwide locals that make up the team at Relocalate.com are here to help. 

We’ve compiled the ultimate guides to answer the most common questions people just like you have about living in the great state of New York.

Dive deep into the topics you’re interested in to make sure your new home in New York matches what you’re looking for. 

We’ll explore whether New York is a good place for YOU to live, and we’ll highlight some of the best cities for you to visit, explore, and ultimately call home. 

Pros and Cons of Living in New York

You’ve heard it before, and it’s true: no place is perfect. What matters is how good of a fit it is for you.

Relocalate.com is here to help you decide whether New York is the best place for YOU to live. 

Here are some reasons to love living in New York:

  • Close proximity to so many things, great public transportation system which makes getting around easy – for both work and play! 

And, on the flip side, here are some of the downsides of living in New York:

  • Rent is high (but worth it), NYC winters are brutal (major snowstorms happen often) but there’s plenty of fun stuff to do indoors as well.



Read More: Is New York a Good Place to Live?

Best Place to Live in New York

So, you’ve got your heart set on living in New York? Well, the decision making doesn’t end there. You’ve still got to decide where to live in New York!

In some other articles, we’ll dive deeper into some of the best places to live in New York. 

Our experts have considered a whole bunch of different criteria to select the top locations, including:

  • The best places to live for families, retirees, singles, young adults, outdoor lovers, foodies, and more. 
  • The safest places to live. 
  • The cheapest places to live. 
  • The best schools. 
  • The best job markets. 
  • The best housing markets. 
  • And so much more. 

Just want a quick list? No worries, here are some of the best cities to live in New York:

  • Brooklyn
  • Buffalo
  • Croton-on-Hudson
  • Jericho
  • Manhattan
  • New York City
  • Queens
  • Rochester
  • Staten Island
  • Syracuse
  • The Bronx


Read More: Best Places to Live in New York

Checklist for Moving to New York

So now you’re preparing for your big move to New York. Maybe you’ve even started packing!

As you probably already know, there are a lot of things to take care of when you’re moving. Both in your current state and once you get to New York.

Here are some of the major things you’ll want to take care of when you move to New York:

  1. Updating your address with USPS. 
  2. Getting your New York driver’s license. 
  3. Transferring your vehicle titles and registrations to New York
  4. Getting New York car insurance.
  5. Signing up for health insurance in New York and finding new doctors, dentists, and local hospitals. 
  6. Updating/changing other insurance policies you may need (homeowner’s insurance, renter’s insurance, pet insurance, motorcycle insurance, etc.)
  7. Registering to vote in your district in New York.
  8. Updating your address with your banks, credit cards, subscription services, loans, investments, phone plans, and bill pay. 
  9. Enrolling your kids in their new school district. 
  10. Licensing your pets and finding a new vet. 
  11. Setting up your utilities for your new home. 
  12. Preparing to file state taxes for New York and your previous home state. 

Visit your New York Moving Checklist for a detailed guide on all of the above.  

Read More: Moving to New York Checklist


While we’re at it, let’s cover some high-level questions and fun facts about New York.

Things to Know About Living in New York

As you’re preparing for your move or getting settled into your new home in New York, here are some things to know about living there. 

Cost of Living in New York

One thing to consider when moving to a new state is the relative cost of living

New York ranks 49th on the Cost of Living Index with an overall rating of 145, meaning it’s one of the most expensive places to live. 

Here is how New York scores for the cost of living in each specific category:

  • Groceries: 118.3
  • Housing: 230.2
  • Utilities: 99.2
  • Transportation: 110.6
  • Health: 102.5
  • Miscellaneous: 114.8

The average cost of living in this index is scored at 100. The numbers above represent the percentage of the average. A number higher than 100 represents an above average cost of living, while a number lower than 100 represents a lower cost of living. A lower rank indicates a lower cost of living. 

This data comes from the Cost of Living Index prepared by the Council for Economic Research (C2ER), which compiles data from cities across the country to rank and compare the differences in costs of living. 

Sales Tax Rates in New York

Sales tax is a way that state and local governments collect tax revenue from its residents and visitors. 

These taxes are applied when you purchase something. It’ll show up on your receipt or bill. If you’ve recently moved to New York from somewhere else, the new sales tax rates may surprise you. 

On top of the state sales tax rates, local rates for certain counties and cities may apply and vary as well.

New York’s state sales tax rate is lower than the national average at 4%, with an average local rate of 4.52% (the highest local sales tax rate is 4.88%). Across the state, the average sales tax rate is about 8.52%. 

Check with the New York tax office for the most current tax rates.

Real-Estate Property Tax Rates in New York

If you own or plan to own real estate in New York, you’ll want to think about the property tax rates when you move there. 

New York ranks 43rd (from low to high) for its state property tax rate of 1.72%

There may be additional property taxes on top of the rate stated here depending on your county, city, and school districts

Check with the New York tax office for the most current tax rates.

New York’s Job Market & Economy

Another thing to think about when moving to New York is the job market and economic indicators

Overall, New York ranks 3rd for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the United States. 

The GDP measures the overall monetary value of all goods and services produced within a certain place over a period of time. 

Its top 10 industries (ranked from largest to smallest by economic contribution to the state) are:

  • Finance and insurance
  • Real estate and rental and leasing
  • Professional and business services
  • Educational services, health care, and social assistance
  • Information
  • Wholesale trade
  • Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food services
  • Manufacturing
  • Retail trade
  • Construction

The top employer in New York is the State University of New York system.

Notable Destinations and Landmarks in New York

Our New York moving guide wouldn’t be complete without a brief mention of some of the most iconic destinations in the state

When you get settled in, a road trip may just be in order. 

One of the most iconic landmarks in New York is the Statue of Liberty.

National Monuments that you can find in New York include: 

  • African Burial Ground National Monument
  • Castle Clinton National Monument
  • Fort Stanwix National Monument
  • Governors Island National Monument
  • Stonewall National Monument
  • Statue of Liberty National Monument

These destinations are all great places to visit when you get a chance. 

Facts about New York

New York is the 11th state of the United States that lies in the northeast region. To its north is Canada, to its south is Pennsylvania, to its east is Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean, and to its west is Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, and Michigan. 

What is the capital of New York?

The capital of New York is Albany.

Albany is located in Albany County with a population of 97,856.

What is the population of New York?

The population of New York based on 2020 US Census data is 20,201,249.

What is the largest city in New York?

The largest city in New York is New York City. 

New York City has a population of 8,879,928.

What is the size of New York?

New York is 54,554 square miles, making it the 27th largest state in the U.S.

What is the state motto of New York?

The state motto of New York is: Excelsior!

What is the state bird of New York?

The state bird of New York is the Eastern bluebird.

What is the state flower of New York?

The state flower of New York is the Rose.

What is the state tree of New York?

The state tree of New York is the Sugar Maple.

What is the minimum wage in the state of New York?

The minimum wage in New York is $12.50 to $15.00 per hour.

What is the median income in New York?

The median annual household salary in New York is $67,844.