i was offered a job in both NYC and in DC (georgetown) and i dont know which one to take. NYC seems more edgy but DC seems more polished. currently i am a single 23 year old with no children, so bars and nightlife are still aspects of my life i consider important. if i moved to DC i would be living with 2 of my close girlfriends from college. if i moved to NYC i would either live by myself or with a random roomate. i have friends in both locations and the job is relatively the same. so i dont know what to base this decision on.
i was wondering if anyone has any experience with living in one or both of these cities. i really would appreciate some possible insight in making this decision easier. thanks!! :)
Hrmmmmm flip a coin! I'd do NYC myself. Seems to be more to do and live there.
will your salary allow to live on your own in NYC?
sorry it's an obvious question but not everyone realizes how expensive even a tiny apartment can be if you intend to live in manhattan - even in Queens it's pretty steep for a single person
having two roommates in DC would appear to give you a significant financial incentive to choose that job
both are excellent cities -- i'd probably lean more to NYC but both have excellent cultural and recreational offerings
I'm biased since I grew up here. I would pick DC.
I lived in the DC area straight out of college, and loved every minute of it. I have never lived in NYC but I grew up in upstate New York. DC I would say is better if you like outdoor activities, and it's obviously a lot cheaper. It's also a quick train or bus ride between the two cities so you can visit the other one often! I would agree that DC is more conservative and "polished" and NYC is more edgy, hip.
If I were in your position, cost would probably be the deciding factor. And DC wins that battle, hands down. Do some research into rents and what you actually get for the money, before you make your decision. It's mind-blowingly expensive in NY (Manhattan, Queens, Jersey, etc. - all crazy rents). DC area is still high cost of living but a lot cheaper than NYC.
I rented a town house with 2 of my college friends in northern VA, when I moved to that area. And I took the metro to my job in downtown DC.
as far as salary, i'd be working as a registered nurse. my offer was more in NYC but i figured that had to do with the cost of living. also, in NYC i wouldnt bring a car, but if i moved to DC i'd buy a new one. i thought the expenses would kind of even out, since my rent in NYC would be equalivant to my rent plus car payment and insurance in DC.
I have lived in both! Directly out of college (at 22 years old) I moved to NYC with 2 of my best friends. A year later (I was working on an election there) I moved to DC for a job. I then spent 2 and a half years in DC until just recently, March of this year. I moved back to Milwaukee where I grew. I moved back because my brother became sick, not because I didn't like East Coast living.
Here are the things to keep in mind:
NYC is very expensive, even more so than DC.
Everything is accessible by the Subway, not always true of the Metro.
More culture in NYC, more history and politics in DC.
Religious life is more active in DC, not so much in NYC.
Almost everyone in DC is there temporarily, you will find very few people that are actually from there and friends move frequently.
No one really follows any sports teams in DC, in NYC it's important
Though money is important in both cities, in NYC it's about how much you make. In DC it's about how much you "came from"
I have more, let me know if you need them!
my best friend has a studio apt in forest hills that he pays 1800/month for and that's a steal - it's 2 blocks from the subway and 3 blocks from LIRR
in manhattan that would be at least 3500/month
brooklyn used to be the go-to cheaper place but it's gotten pricey there too
it's just an expensive area
you might check on craigslist or check with the hospital to find out if there are other nurses that might need a roommate -- i'd hate to be looking for a random roommate in NYC
good luck!
either way - you're going to land in a good spot!
:)
i've lived in nyc, and i live close to dc and i frequently go there. i can see why you're having trouble with this! i would say, if you can afford the life you want to lead in nyc, you should give it a go. if you can afford the rent, the bills, the food, the clothes you want, the dinners/nights out with friends you'll make, you should definitely take the job in new york. but if all you'll be able to do with your paycheck is keep the lights on and not get evicted, you'd be missing the entire point of living in nyc, and not get to experience everything.
that said, dc is no consolation prize. yes, it's expensive, but not as expensive as nyc. plus, you said you'd have 2 girlfriends you'd be living with. built in help with the bills, and built in party buddies. and dc is a great place to have fun. yes, everyone is a transplant, but that just means you'll have something in common w/ most of the people you'll meet.
either decision would be a terrific one. sorry i wasn't of more help!
from my experience, i think it'd be a waste if you bought a car if you're living within dc limits. the traffic/parking is a nightmare. but i haven't lived there, just hung out a bunch. maybe someone who has should chime in on this issue.
NYC (I've grown weary of the DC area...)
If you are into bars and nightlife, I'd recommend NYC. DC does have some of that going on, but NYC has so much more variety - whatever your special tribe happens to be, there will be lots more people just like you. If you didn't already have friends in NYC, I'd recommend DC because it's important to have contacts when living in a new city. But since you have friends in both... and don't let the rents scare you, if you look around enough you will find something doable. Start with the daily news classifieds, online. Rents are going down, what with the housing slump.
I do not envy your choice! I have lived and worked in both NYC and DC.
First of all, congratulations!!! What a position to find yourself in
!
The above posters are all correct with the fabulous info they gave you. I found that I never ran out of places to go, things to do, etc, in NYC, but really found myself becoming more routine and predictable in DC-not in a bad way-more caught up in the conservative, familiarity of Georgetown and its surroundings.
Have you spent time in each city? Also, you said you have friends in both places; which set of friends are 'most' like you or in the same situation (age, job, etc.)? As an RN your hours may be longer than normal and late, is safety a factor with transportation? And many more I'm sure you have thought of already......
Tough call! Best of luck! You will make the right choice!!! Trust in yourself
!
I live in DC. If you choose to move here I would strongly suggest that you do not buy a car. You really don't need one (especially if you're in good shape and can handle walking a little from the metro to your apartment and so on). Parking here seems bad (i don't have a car, but have borrowed a friend's before) and I always see cars that have been broken into over night...i don't even live in a bad neighborhood. When we moved here, our U-haul's window was smashed overnight.
Good luck!
Got chased out of DC myself by neighbors who decided to break into my apartment...
I'm born and raised in NYC so I am biased but I have been to DC a few times and its ok but I dont think it can even compare to NY. NY can tough though and expensive so you have to consider that. Im not sure where your from but some people feel its a great time but is too much for them to handle. Im 24 and I have a great time there and its perfect for someone our age but I have my friends that I can go out with so Im lucky...theres a lot to be said that you will be living with two good friends in DC and Im sure youll have fun but NY is once in a lifetime!
I currently live in NYC, so i'm very biased, but I would have to go with NYC :) Don't let the idea of living arrangements scare you. If you're willing to really put some effort into looking for a place, you can find a fantastic place for a very reasonable rent. I currently pay $800 per month and live in a large 3br apartment with two of my friends. I live in manhattan in a very safe and lively area very close to transportation (2 subway lines and multiple bus lines) and I am living off of a straight-out-of-college starting salary. If you're looking to live by yourself, the search may be a little more difficult, but you can always find something to fit your budget provided you look hard enough. I have a lot of experience looking for apartments in NYC, so should you decide to go with that position, feel free to contact me and I would be more than glad to help you find a place or give you some pointers.
-D
With Groups - you're not alone.Get the experience and support
of others who succeeded.
