New York guide

Moving to New York

City guide · New York area

Moving to New York

New York City is the largest city in the U.S., with about 8.5 million people across five boroughs. It’s also the most expensive place to rent in the country: one-bedrooms average over $4,000 a month citywide. Residents pay a city income tax on top of state tax, and an 8.875% sales tax. Most people live without a car thanks to a subway that runs 24 hours a day for $3 a ride.

Updated October 13, 2026 · Every number links to its source at the bottom of the page

1-bedroom rent~$4,190citywide average, Q2 2026
City income tax3.1–3.9%on top of state income tax
Subway ride$3max $35 in any 7 days
Sales tax8.875%state, city and transit combined

Start hereMoving to New York? Start hereWhat this New York guide covers, what makes moving to New York different from anywhere else, and how to use the guide before your move.

What do you want to know about New York?

What are the key facts about New York? How expensive is it to live in New York? What should you know before renting? How do you get around New York? What is the weather like? What is the job market like? How do the five boroughs differ? Quick answers to common questions All in-depth New York articles

What are the key facts about New York?

FactNew York City
PopulationAbout 8.5 million (2025 Census Bureau estimate), the largest U.S. city
Boroughs5: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island
Average 1-bedroom rentAbout $4,190 a month citywide (Q2 2026)
Average rent, large buildings$5,453 Manhattan · $4,005 Queens · $3,953 Brooklyn (July 2026)
Income taxNew York State tax, up to 10.9%, plus New York City tax of 3.078% to 3.876%
Sales tax8.875%
Subway fare$3 a ride; never more than $35 in any 7 days with OMNY
January average high / low39.5°F / 27.8°F (Central Park)
July average high / low84.8°F / 70.2°F (Central Park)
Average annual snowfall29.8 inches

How expensive is it to live in New York?

New York is the most expensive big city in the U.S. for renters. Apartments.com ranked it the least affordable U.S. city for renters in the second quarter of 2026, with one-bedrooms averaging $4,188 a month citywide. By borough, average one-bedroom rents were about $3,592 in Queens, $3,064 in Brooklyn and $1,646 in the Bronx. MIT’s Living Wage Calculator estimates a single adult needs $38.21 an hour to cover a basic budget in Manhattan, compared with $25.44 in Chicago’s Cook County.

What taxes will you pay in New York?

  • State income tax: progressive rates up to 10.9% for the highest earners.
  • City income tax: 3.078% to 3.876% for New York City residents, on top of state tax. Commuters who live outside the city don’t pay it.
  • Sales tax: 8.875% on most purchases, combining state, city and a regional transit surcharge.

Go deeper

Cost of livingDo you need a car in New York City?Why most New Yorkers live without a car, what driving and parking really involve, the congestion toll, and how people get around instead.Updated Oct 13, 2026Cost of livingHow much does it cost to live in New York City?What it really costs to live in New York City in 2026: a basic monthly budget, rent by borough, city and state taxes, transit, salaries and how New York compares with Chicago.Updated Oct 13, 2026

What should you know before renting in New York?

The New York rental market moves fast: good apartments are often rented within days, so come ready to apply. Since June 11, 2025, the city’s FARE Act has required whoever hires a broker to pay that broker. In practice, that means landlords now pay the listing brokers they hire, and renters no longer owe fees that used to run 10 to 15% of a year’s rent for brokers they never chose. If you hire your own broker to search for you, you pay that broker.

Expect landlords to check income and credit closely, and expect smaller apartments, walk-up buildings without elevators, and laundry in the basement or down the block.

Go deeper

RentingHow does renting an apartment in New York City work?How renting in New York City works: the 40x income rule and guarantors, what landlords can charge up front, the FARE Act broker-fee rules, rent-stabilized apartments and the local terms to know.Updated Oct 13, 2026

How do you get around New York?

Most New Yorkers don’t own a car. The subway runs 24 hours a day across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx, buses cover the gaps, and commuter rail, ferries and bike share fill in the rest.

  • Fares: $3 for the subway or a local bus, paid by tapping a contactless card, phone or OMNY card.
  • Weekly cap: once you’ve spent $35 in any rolling seven days using the same card or device, the rest of your rides that week are free. Monthly passes no longer exist.
  • The MetroCard has been phased out; OMNY is the way to pay.

Go deeper

Cost of livingDo you need a car in New York City?Why most New Yorkers live without a car, what driving and parking really involve, the congestion toll, and how people get around instead.Updated Oct 13, 2026Getting aroundHow does the New York City subway work?The New York City subway explained for newcomers: how lines are named, uptown vs. downtown, local vs. express, paying with OMNY and the $35 weekly cap, 24-hour service, and the mistakes new riders make.Updated Oct 13, 2026

What is the weather like in New York?

New York has four distinct seasons. Winters are cold but milder than Chicago’s, and summers are hot and humid. These are the National Weather Service’s 1991–2020 averages for Central Park.

MonthAverage highAverage low
January39.5°F27.8°F
April61.8°F45.6°F
July84.8°F70.2°F
October64.5°F51.4°F

Snowfall averages about 30 inches a year but varies a lot from winter to winter. Spring and fall are mild and are many residents’ favorite times of year.

Go deeper

WeatherWhat is the weather like in New York City?New York weather month by month: official Central Park averages, how cold winters and how hot summers get, snowfall, the heat season law, and how New York compares with Chicago.Updated Oct 13, 2026

What is the job market like in New York?

New York has the largest job market in the country, led by finance, tech, media and advertising, health care, education, law, real estate and fashion. Salaries are among the highest in the U.S., but so is the cost of living, so it’s worth comparing offers against rent in the neighborhoods you’d consider.

Go deeper

JobsWhat is the New York City job market like?The New York City job market in 2026: unemployment and job growth, the biggest employers, typical salaries, and how your pay affects where you can live.Updated Oct 13, 2026

How do the five boroughs differ?

  • Manhattan: the densest and most expensive borough, home to most of the city’s offices, with neighborhoods from the Financial District to Harlem.
  • Brooklyn: the most populous borough, with brownstone neighborhoods, waterfront high-rises and a huge range of rents.
  • Queens: the most diverse borough, with neighborhoods like Astoria and Long Island City popular with newcomers for their quick commutes into Manhattan.
  • The Bronx: the most affordable borough on average, with large parks and neighborhoods well connected by subway.
  • Staten Island: the most suburban borough, connected to Manhattan by the free Staten Island Ferry rather than the subway.

Go deeper

NeighborhoodsWhat are the best New York neighborhoods for newcomers?Where newcomers to New York often start: borough-by-borough rents, popular neighborhoods in Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan, the subway lines that serve them, and how to choose.Updated Oct 13, 2026

Frequently asked questions about moving to New York

How much is rent in New York City?

About $4,190 a month for a one-bedroom on average citywide, according to Apartments.com’s Q2 2026 data. Rents vary widely by borough, from about $1,650 in the Bronx to well over $4,000 in much of Manhattan.

Do you pay a broker fee in New York?

Not if the landlord hired the broker. Under the FARE Act, in effect since June 2025, whoever hires the broker pays the fee. You only pay if you hire your own broker.

Does New York City have a city income tax?

Yes. City residents pay 3.078% to 3.876% on top of New York State income tax.

Do you need a car in New York City?

Most residents don’t. The subway runs 24 hours a day for $3 a ride, with a $35 weekly cap.

What is the sales tax in New York City?

8.875% on most purchases.

What have we written about New York so far?

Moving logisticsHow do you move to New York City? A step-by-step checklistA step-by-step checklist for moving to New York City: budgeting and the 40x rule, building move-in rules and COIs, utilities, and what to do in your first weeks.Updated Oct 13, 2026JobsWhat is the New York City job market like?The New York City job market in 2026: unemployment and job growth, the biggest employers, typical salaries, and how your pay affects where you can live.Updated Oct 13, 2026WeatherWhat is the weather like in New York City?New York weather month by month: official Central Park averages, how cold winters and how hot summers get, snowfall, the heat season law, and how New York compares with Chicago.Updated Oct 13, 2026Cost of livingDo you need a car in New York City?Why most New Yorkers live without a car, what driving and parking really involve, the congestion toll, and how people get around instead.Updated Oct 13, 2026Cost of livingHow much does it cost to live in New York City?What it really costs to live in New York City in 2026: a basic monthly budget, rent by borough, city and state taxes, transit, salaries and how New York compares with Chicago.Updated Oct 13, 2026NeighborhoodsWhat are the best New York neighborhoods for newcomers?Where newcomers to New York often start: borough-by-borough rents, popular neighborhoods in Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan, the subway lines that serve them, and how to choose.Updated Oct 13, 2026RentingHow does renting an apartment in New York City work?How renting in New York City works: the 40x income rule and guarantors, what landlords can charge up front, the FARE Act broker-fee rules, rent-stabilized apartments and the local terms to know.Updated Oct 13, 2026Getting aroundHow does the New York City subway work?The New York City subway explained for newcomers: how lines are named, uptown vs. downtown, local vs. express, paying with OMNY and the $35 weekly cap, 24-hour service, and the mistakes new riders make.Updated Oct 13, 2026

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