If you're contemplating a move to the state of New York, there's a big difference between living in New York City and upstate. You'll want to carefully make your decision based on the pros and cons of each, for example, if you choose the city, the housing market is unlike any other in the country which means you'll probably be renting one of the New York apartments rather than buying a home.
Some of the latest data, as revealed by ValuePenguin, found that a little over two-thirds of residents rent in NYC and just one-third live in places they own. But many find that even living in a tiny apartment is worth it to enjoy access to all that the city offers. To help you make your decision, we'll take a closer look at living in the city vs. living upstate.
Career Opportunities
There are more than 50 Fortune 500 companies in New York City, the most of any city in the U.S. It's also home to some of the biggest names in tech, marketing, apparel, sports, journalism, and just about every other industry you can think of. Plus the networking opportunities for entrepreneurs are hard to beat. That said, with more than 8 million people living here, competition is a lot more fierce than it is in upstate New York.
Job opportunities in upstate depend on the town, some are booming and ready to accept new business yet others have high unemployment with few jobs available, and some have become virtual ghost towns.
Cultural Attractions
New York City is home to around 100 museums across its boroughs, including one of the world's largest, the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It's also home to one of the biggest and most beautiful libraries, botanical gardens, and countless historic sites. There's a performance to be found on every night of the week, both on Broadway and Off-Broadway which offers fantastic musicals and other shows for a fraction of the price.
That's not to say upstate New York is without culture as there are many cool towns with art districts that are fun to explore, interesting museums, and plenty of great restaurants. Plus music festivals are hosted annually in many places throughout the region.
Diversity
There are over 200 languages spoken in New York City and the food, dress and other aspects reflect that. No matter who you are, you're likely to fit in and you'll have opportunities to meet people from around the world.
While the population of the state as a whole is dynamic and growing, upstate New York isn't nearly as diverse as the big city. That diversity also results in the opportunity to dine on foods from across the globe with everything from cheap and tasty street foods to gourmet meals at more than 60 Michelin-starred restaurants.
Public Transport
There's no need for a car when you live in the city which means no paying for gas, maintenance, repairs, or making those monthly payments. Public transport is both efficient and affordable.
Although Albany and Buffalo do have a fair amount of options, generally, living in upstate New York means you'll need to have a car to easily get from place to place.
Personal Space and Quiet
There's no doubt if you're the kind of person that needs your personal space and a quiet setting that upstate New York is going to offer more of that. While there are lots of parks in the city that can provide a tranquil oasis, crowds and noise are just the way of life.
The Cost of Living
New York City is one of the most expensive places to live in the country, and in fact the world. That means living here may not even be realistic for many. For example, the cost of living in Manhattan is 135.5 percent higher than in Albany, with not only rent much higher but groceries, health care, and other typical expenses.
