Living in New York City

Local Guides

The New York City Lifestyle

While living in the Big Apple is expensive, there are few cities around the world that offer as much history, culture, employment, shopping, dining, and nightlife as New York City. NYC is also the largest city in the U.S., which is incredible given that it only takes up about 306 square miles. There’s so much packed into this East Coast city that it’s divided up into five major boroughs: The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island. There are tons of distinct neighborhoods within these NYC boroughs, too!

New York City Demographics

New York City is recognized as one of the most racially diverse cities in the U.S. The city’s multicultural population influences its art, music, food, and more, and festivals held all throughout the year celebrate a wide range of ethnicities, religions, identities, and cultures. NYC also has a long LGBTQ history and a thriving queer community, with many historic locations that have been fundamental in the fight for LGBTQ rights and recognition. Ultimately, New York City is home to people of all backgrounds and lifestyles from young professionals to families and beyond!

Jobs in New York City

Looking for a job in New York City? The Big Apple has many top employers and industries and a lower unemployment rate than the other top two-largest cities in the U.S., Los Angeles and Chicago. Financial services, healthcare, education, real estate, media and publishing, and information technology are all industries deeply rooted in the city. Residents looking for jobs in NYC can choose between established Fortune 500 companies and up-and-coming startups. Additionally, NYC is recognized as one of the top cities in the U.S. for internships. Students looking for internships in NYC will find a variety of opportunities ranging from NBCUniversal to Google.

Best Employers

• NVIDIA
• Bain & Company
• eXp Realty
• Box
• BCG

Education in New York City

With dozens of universities and colleges, New York City is a great place to further your education. Study at Columbia University in Morningside Heights, New York University in Manhattan and Brooklyn, Fordham University in The Bronx, or Yeshiva University in Upper Manhattan—all four are recognized as top 100 universities. NYC also has some of the world’s most famous fashion and art schools, including Fashion Institute of Technology, Parsons School of Design, LIM College, and Pratt Institute. Whether you’re interested in studying at a liberal arts college or earning an advanced law degree, The Big Apple has the school for you!

Get to Know NYC’s Boroughs

Find the Best NYC Neighborhoods

Dining

With over 23,000 restaurants, New York City is one of the most restaurant-dense cities in the U.S. So what are some of the best food spots in NYC? Enjoy no-frills Ukrainian food 24 hours a day at Veselka. Or order the Legendary Mutton Chop or the King’s Cut of Prime Rib of Beef at Keens Steakhouse. Looking for a classic New York slice? Dine on delicious over-the-counter slices of the award-winning cheese pizza or specialty burrata pizza at NY Pizza Suprema. It won’t be long after you move to New York City that you’ll find your go-to place for New York bagels, your favorite New York deli, and the best slice of New York pizza.

Nightlife

Whether you’re looking for a low-key night with friends or you’re ready to dance the night away, you’ll find no shortage of nightlife options in NYC. Sit down and watch standup at the Comedy Cellar. Sip on a glass of wine while you take in the night sky at 230 Fifth Rooftop Bar. Grab a local craft beer with friends in Nowadays‘ minimalist taproom, which has a big backyard and late-night DJs. Order Prosecco on tap while you hit the dance floor at Rumpus Room. Slip through a phone booth to enjoy cocktails at speakeasy Please Don’t Tell. Order a mini-bathtub Rub-A-Duck punch bowl at The Honey Well. Head to Grimm Artisanal Ales, where limited-edition brews push the style and boundary of typical flavors. Revel in the exclusivity of the beaded curtains at Dear Irving Gramercy cocktail lounge, as you sip on one of their time-honored drinks like Grove Groove, Tropic Tilt, or Pearl Collins. Or try your hand at vintage arcade games at Barcade.

Shopping

NYC is the top fashion city in the U.S. Around 900 fashion businesses are headquartered in New York City, marking it as a home to top designers, stylists, photographers, and fashion publishers like Vogue. Watch international designers’ collections modeled on the runway during New York Fashion Week. Lace up your comfiest fashion trainers before taking on Fifth Avenue—”one of the most luxurious stretches of retail in the country“—to shop at stores like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Armani, Valentino, and Saks Fifth Avenue. Head to SoHo to peruse boutiques like Totokaelo and Flying Solo or high-end designers like Alexander Wang and Balenciaga. Visit the flagship Macy’s in Herald Square. Look through a variety of vintage shops like L Train Vintage in East Village. Get trendy home decor at stores like abc Carpet & Home, Herman Miller, and Fishs Eddy in The Flatiron District. Or browse bookstores, record stores, and knick-knack shops in Greenwich Village.

Entertainment

The Empire City is known for many things, and its entertainment scene is one of them. For music, get tickets to see DJs, indie bands, and electronic music artists at Elsewhere, a 24,000-square-foot warehouse nightclub in East Williamsburg. Or attend a show at Forrest Hills Stadium, the original home of the U.S. Sports lovers living in NYC will be happy to hear The Big Apple has more professional sports teams than any other metropolitan area in the country. Head to Citi Field in Queens to watch the New York Mets (MLB). See the World Series champion New York Yankees (MLB) at iconic Yankee Stadium. And there are always events going on at Madison Square Garden (MSG), known as “The World’s Most Famous Arena.” The venue is home to the New York Knicks, New York Rangers, and the BIG EAST Men’s Basketball Tournament. But that’s not all you can find at MSG! This event center has hosted all kinds of bands and musicians, as well as events like boxing matches, circuses, and graduation ceremonies for years.

Art & Culture

NYC theatre is a big deal. The Theatre District, often referred to simply as Broadway, is one of the most well-known areas of New York City. There are 41 Broadway theaters with 500 seats or more. Catch the longest-running show The Phantom of the Opera at Majestic Theatre, or see the revolutionary Hamilton at Richard Rodgers Theatre. There are a number of Off-Broadway theaters to keep in mind as well. Off-Broadway includes theaters with fewer than 500 seats or outside of the geographically defined Broadway area. Museums are another major aspect of arts and culture in New York City. You’ll find about 100 different museums to visit in NYC. Spend a day viewing some of the two million collections at The Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET), the largest museum in the U.S. Explore the awe-inspiring pieces within Frank Lloyd Wright’s seashell-inspired museum, Guggenheim. (Both the MET and Guggenheim are part of the Museum Mile, a mile-and-three-blocks of land that offers the most diverse art-viewing opportunities in the country.)

Festivals

NYC entertainment doesn’t end at sports, museums, and concerts—there are plenty of other New York City events to fill your social calendar! See indie rock, classic soul, funk, and hip-hop artists at BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! at the amphitheater in Prospect Park. Jam out with the biggest names in rap, rock, and electronic dance music at The Governors Ball Music Festival. Mark your calendar for Tribeca Film Festival, featuring a red carpet event, discussions with filmmakers, and a collection of short films. Explore the Metaverse, connect with fellow fans, and debate fan theories at New York Comic Con. Or sample foods from around the world at Ninth Avenue International Food Festival, one of New York City’s longest traditions that celebrates cultural diversity through food.

Family-Friendly Activities

Believe it or not, New York City has plenty to offer for families. If you’re looking for kids activities in New York City, visit one of several museums guaranteed to be fun for the whole family! Learn, climb, and explore the indoor and outdoor play areas at Brooklyn Children’s Museum. Enroll the kiddos in an after-school or art camp program at Manhattan’s Children’s Museum of the Arts, which features rotating art displays and sculpture classes geared toward young audiences. Experience the art exhibits, storytelling series, workshops, performances, and more at Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Arts & Storytelling. Or explore outer space, play with robots, use a 3D printer, and more to bring science, technology, and math to life at New York Hall of Science. Got animal lovers in the family? See some live animals in the heart of the concrete jungle. Spend the day at Bronx Zoo, one of the largest zoos in the U.S., which spans 265 acres and has over 700 different species. Or get some hands-on learning at the Discovery Center at Prospect Park Zoo.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT NEW YORK CITY