Your Guide to New York City

Many Fellows move to new cities and states for their Fellowships and have questions about life in Boston, New York city and Philadelphia. Fellows created these guides to give you some insight into how to make your move successfully.

So... you’re moving to New York. Congratulations!

Whether you have been accepted as an FAO Schwarz Fellow, or are just choosing to move to NYC to start your career, it is not an easy feat and you should take pride in your accomplishment. However, it’s easy for your excitement to be overshadowed by anxiety about your big move to one of the largest cities in the world.

While it may seem daunting, I promise that making this transition is simpler than it seems. I will walk you through some of the most challenging parts of moving to NYC to help you get started on this exciting chapter of your life!

The New York City Guide

Created by FAO Schwarz Fellows

Housing

When moving to New York City, the most intimidating part of the process for many people is finding a place to live that won’t break the bank. The way that you go about finding housing can differ based on what you are looking for in an apartment, who you want to live with, and what your budget is.

Regardless, here are some important things to consider when starting your apartment hunt.

Find a neighborhood (or neighborhoods) that you are interested in living in.

You will want to consider what areas are close to your host non-profit and what forms of transportation are available in that neighborhood. I also recommend that you spend time looking into the history of that neighborhood, preferably before moving there.

Remember that regardless of where you move, there are likely thousands of families who have called that area home for generations and thus it is your job to respect and uplift the existing community.

Consider what you want in an apartment.

When I was looking for housing, I had a conversation with my alumni fellow mentor to gain some insight into the process. One thing that really stuck with me was that I needed to consider all the small details, down to what floor I wanted to live on. It is important to contemplate what you need and want in an apartment.

Consider things like windows, kitchen size, number of bathrooms, and washing machines/dryers. Some people prefer to be in an apartment on a main road while others prefer to live on side streets. Ask yourself which aspects of your dream apartment you would be willing to compromise on and which you cannot live without. It is also important to pay attention to the cost of monthly rent. If you are unsure what your cap should be, I recommend looking at apartments with rent that is equal to or lower than 30% of your annual salary. So, for example, if I am making $40,000/year, I would not want to pay more than $1,200/month or $12,000/year (30% of $40,000).

Please note: If you are seeking out a stranger, I would, of course, recommend getting to know them a bit before meeting up in person. Remember internet safety and trust your gut! And, regardless of how you find your roommates, make sure you discuss your living styles to make sure you are compatible before signing a lease!

Find roommates and/or an apartment.

With the price of housing in NYC, it can be difficult to find a studio or one bedroom apartment that is affordable, thus adding another layer of stress for people who are moving to the city by themselves. Although the prospect of living with strangers can be scary, it is much easier to find incredible roommates than you might think.

Where to start: When trying to find roommates, start by asking people who live in NYC if they know of anyone who has an open room or who is also moving to the city. When starting this process, I received a number of possible leads from my alumni fellow mentor regarding acquaintances of theirs who were looking for someone to split the rent with.
Social media: If you do not have any leads from people living in NYC, fear not. There are tons (and I seriously mean tons) of NYC housing groups on Facebook in which people post profiles of themselves in search of like-minded people to live with. Take initiative and message people first. If you do not end up being roommates, you may find yourself a new friend to explore the city with!
Facebook Marketplace: Facebook not only has useful housing groups but also Facebook Marketplace, a buying-and-selling feature where many people post listings for open rooms that are available to rent. This route is how I found my apartment and my two wonderful roommates! Usually, these posts are made anywhere from a month to two months before the lease needs to be resigned so keep an eye out for them!

Pro-tip: If you live far away from NYC but have found a future roommate who lives close to or in the city, have them tour apartments and FaceTime you so that you can get a sense for what the apartment looks like without physically being there. You can, and should, have your potential roommates FaceTime you for a virtual tour even if they already live there.

Pro-tip: A lot of apartments in NYC, especially those that are older, are often referred to as “walk-ups” because they only have stairs for people to move between floors. If you have ambulatory related access needs, consider looking for an apartment on a lower level or one that is in a building with an elevator.

Here are some tips from other fellows who have made the move to NYC from out of state:

From Jacob Jeong (Reading Partners fellow 2024-2026): Jacob, originally from Los Angeles, California, urges people to keep a close eye on apartment hunting apps like StreetEasy and Facebook housing groups. He says, “Especially in the summer, listings will come and go in as little as a day. It is important to keep an eye on available units.”

From Shraddha Patel (Reading Partners fellow 2024-2026): Originally from Louisville, Kentucky, Shraddha recommends “staying in an Airbnb monthly rental if you need some time to figure out housing.” Not only does this give you more time to find housing, but it also allows you to become familiar with different neighborhoods in the city before you commit to an apartment!

Apply For Housing

Once you have found a place that you want to live, you will need to apply for the apartment. This is a process in which you submit several documents to the landlord or building management company to prove that you will be able to pay the rent. Here is a list of some of the documents you may be asked to provide:

Rental application: You will receive an application from the landlord or management company that you will need to fill out. This will likely ask for some of your personal information as well as your rental history. If this is your first time renting, do not worry! Most landlords are understanding of this and will still accept your application if you have a proof of income.
Proof of ID: They will likely ask for either your driver’s license or passport to confirm your identity.
Bank statements: A bank statement from the past two or three months is generally required so that the reviewer can see your financial history.
Proof of income: Make sure you can provide proof of income from past jobs as you will likely not have started your role at your host organization yet. It may be beneficial to submit a statement from your organization’s HR department that details what salary you will be making upon starting the fellowship.
Guarantor: A guarantor is someone in your life, usually a relative, who is willing to back you financially in the case that you are unable to pay your rent. For first time renters, guarantors are an important part of an application as they serve as extra assurance to the landlord that rent will be paid every month. Guarantors do not have to pay anything unless you fall behind on rent payments. In the application process, you may be asked if you have a guarantor. If you do, they will be asked to provide their bank statements and proof of income. If you do not have one, do not worry, it is still possible to be approved for an apartment.

Please note: After you have been accepted for an apartment, you will be expected to pay both the first month’s rent AND your security deposit! If you can, save up before applying for housing!

Packing and Moving

Furniture and Moving

Once you have found your apartment and your roommates, your next step is to start packing what you will need to live a comfortable life in NYC. This step can be difficult as you will want to consider the size of your space as this will determine how much you can bring. Regardless of how well you pack, it is likely that you will spend the first few months in your new apartment buying small items that you forgot, and that is okay! If you are unsure what to pack, begin by assessing what you already use on a regular basis and work your way out from there! Current fellows who have made the move to NYC, such as Jacob Jeong, have also emphasized the importance of preparing for new weather. Jacob wants to remind people to “do research [about the weather] and make sure you have reasonable attire.”

Once you have finished packing your clothes, begin to think about the larger items you will need to have a cozy space in your NYC apartment.

Less is Much More

Another stressor related to moving to NYC is the hassle of packing your belongings up and actually getting them into the city. If you are coming from far away, or do not have anyone in your family that feels comfortable driving into the city, there are still many options for ways to safely and effectively get your stuff to your new apartment.

Research, research, research: It is likely that if you do not have any means of getting to NYC in your own car you will work with a moving company of some kind. My biggest piece of advice for this is to research, research, and research some more. There are countless moving companies out there, all of whom have different rates, rules, and timelines. If you think you have found a company you would like to go with, do not hesitate to reach out to them by phone or email to ask more specific questions about the process. For my move from New Jersey to Brooklyn, I rented a U-Haul U-Box, a giant steel box that is delivered to your home for you to fill with your belongings and then picked up and delivered to your new home. This option, while a bit pricey, was the best fit for my situation and was largely an stress-free process!

Pro-tip: Moving in with people who already call NYC home means that you will not only have to buy less furniture and necessities, but it also means that you will have people in your life who know their way around the city and can give you advice on what to do and see!

Getting Furniture

One of the biggest expenses of moving into any new apartment (aside from the security deposit) is furnishing your apartment, especially if you are moving in with roommates who are also new to the city. However, there are a number of ways to avoid spending thousands of dollars on new furniture.

Buying what’s already there.
If you are moving into the room of someone who is moving out, ask them if they are interested in selling any of the furniture currently in the space. If they are, see what the prices are and ask for additional photos of the pieces. If you see something you like, don’t hesitate to buy it! Not only will you (likely) save money by doing this, but you will also have less things to bring with you on move-in day!

Shopping on Facebook marketplace. Another obvious option for many people is to rummage through thrift stores or consignment shops in search of lightly used furniture at a low cost.

While this is always an option, technology has also provided avenues for online thrift shopping in the form of Facebook Marketplace. With this tool, you can not only look at and purchase furniture that is for sale in your hometown, but you can also see what is available in NYC even before you move there. Spend the weeks ahead of your move searching through the furniture listed on Facebook Marketplace in NYC and make offers if you see anything you are interested in. In my experience, most sellers are willing to hold on to items for a few days until you can move into your apartment! This will also save you space and trouble as you move your belongings into the city.

Getting Around

Fellows enjoying the NYC subway

Public Transportation

Now that you have moved into your apartment, spend some time exploring your new neighborhood! Look around the shops, find a restaurant or cafe to take a break in, walk through your local park, do all that you can to make the most of your time living in this new area. But, also, take this time to familiarize yourself with your local bus and train stops. Like most New Yorkers, public transportation will quickly become a major part of your everyday life!

FAO Schwarz Fellow, Jacob Jeong, also encourages people to rely on apps such as Google Maps to get around: “Navigating a new transit system can be hard and that means relying on apps like Google maps to get around until you’re more familiar [with the city].”

Commuting

When planning your commute to work, I recommend waking up extra early on the first day. This way, you can get a sense for when the trains or buses come in the morning and how much time it will actually take you to get to work with rush hour traffic and delays.

Paying for transportation

There are two ways that you can pay for public transportation in NYC. The first are “OMNY taps”, a form of payment in which you tap your phone or debit/credit cards to pay the train or bus fare.

The second is a MetroCard, a prepaid card that you swipe at the turnstiles to get to a subway platform or that you insert on a bus to pay the fare. If you choose to go the OMNY route, you do not have to do anything aside from present your card or phone to the “tap” screen found at turnstiles. If you want to use a MetroCard, you must purchase it from one of the kiosks found at every subway station. Simply follow the instructions on the screen to purchase a new card and load it with a month of unlimited swipes! If you are unsure about anything, you can ask the MTA attendant that is usually sitting in the help booth.

Pro-tip: Try your best to not lose your MetroCard as you have to pay a fee for new cards!

Budgeting & Money Management

Budgeting

Moving to New York City can cause a lot of anxiety, especially when it comes to managing finances and trying to live comfortably in this notoriously expensive city. However, balancing necessary spending and exploring the city is possible! It just takes a bit of planning and dedication. Creating a budget is a great way to get on the path of financial confidence.

Where to begin: When thinking about your budget, consider what length of time you want to budget for. Most find it useful to budget their monthly expenses as this format can be easily adjusted for changes in expected spending such as gift buying for the holidays or higher electric bills in the heat of the summer.

Deciding on your tools: To create a budget, explore the many options out there for tracking your spending. You may want to use a pen and paper, an excel sheet, or a budget tracking app. Feel free to try out different methods if the one you are using does not work for you!

Calculating spending: Your next step is to calculate your spending by assessing your monthly income as well as what you generally spend on monthly expenses such as laundry, groceries, and rent. This process may be easier once you have lived in NYC for a few weeks and know how much you can expect to spend. However, it is also possible to create a budget based on estimations which you can then refine to more closely fit what you actually spend. Regardless of when you make it, you should begin by estimating, or calculating, how much you will be making in a month which you then subtract by the amount you spend on necessities. If you end up with a positive number, you have money to do what you please! If you have a negative number, you should reassess your spending and see where you could save money to cover your expenses.

Fun things to do

Art and culture

New York City is known for its art scene. On any given day, there are hundreds of museums, galleries, concerts, and performances to explore and enjoy. If you haven’t already, check out major NYC museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim, and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). However, do not overlook smaller museums such as the American Folk Art Museum, the Museum of the Moving Image, and Poster House! If you are interested in learning more about new art exhibitions in the city, keep up to date with the articles posted by HyperAllergic as they often release a “must-see” list of exhibitions each month! You should also take advantage of live theatre and music at places such as the Metropolitan Opera, Lincoln Center, and smaller institutions such as the Irish Arts Center.

Travel hungry

When exploring these new neighborhoods, make sure you do so with a bit of an appetite! There are thousands of restaurants throughout NYC ranging in price and cuisine. If you do a bit of research beforehand, you will be able to find some delicious and affordable places. But don’t be afraid to walk around and stop in at a spot you’ve never heard of. Sometimes the best meals are the ones you least expect to have!

Exploring new neighborhoods

For the price of only a subway or bus fare, you can be transported to parts of the city that make you feel like you are in a different part of the world! After you have explored the blocks around your apartment, journey to other parts of the city by taking the subway to a new area of your borough or to a new borough altogether. If you are unsure where to start, take a walk around the area in which your host nonprofit is located! If your role allows you to travel around the city for site-visits, take a few minutes on your commute back to walk around the surrounding streets! You never know what you will find.

Need a friend?

If you are looking to find people to explore the city with, FAO Schwarz Fellow Shraddha Patel recommends using the Bumble for Friends app! Shraddha says that it “…is a great way to explore the city even if you don’t make any lasting friendships from the app. The people you meet will likely show you different parts of the city!” She also wants people to remember that “it can be uncomfortable to try to meet new people especially if you are an introvert but in the long run, it is worth that initial discomfort!”

Final Thoughts

But what next?

If you are unsure where to find your next adventure, take some time to talk with your coworkers and ask them for suggestions! Not only does that provide you with new ideas of what to do outside of work but it also helps form connections with the people you will be working with for the next two years!

You have done the hard part of graduating college and starting your career, or being accepted as one of the new FAO Schwarz Fellows—now, you just need to make the transition to the city that will be your home! If you are an incoming Fellow and have any further questions about this big move, do not hesitate to ask Priscilla, who can connect you with other Fellows who have made it through this change.

You got this, and welcome to New York!