Note: Everyone’s budget and circumstance is different so this is not meant to be financial advice

 

I am going to split my expenses into a few categories to be able to follow easier since there really are so many things you would not think of. When moving to NYC, I would always make sure you have extra beyond what you have calculated it is going to cost because my oh my it is not a cheap process.

 

1. Getting an apartment.

This category is defentifyly the biggest and most stressful. This does not include furnishing or anything that is needed once you move but only the crazy amount required to even have a place to step into once you get to the city. I was much more fortunate than most in this category because I have a roommate, do not live in downtown Manhattan, and moved during the summer of 2020 when rent prices were extremely low, broker fees were not being charged, and inventory was high. Despite being a first time renter in the friendliest rental market NYC has to offer I still had to pay (this is only my half because my roommate and I split the security deposit and first months rent):

• Rental Application fees: $20 each –> $40 total
  • For each place you apply you have to pay $20 per application which means if you have roommates or a guarantor everyone has to pay $20 each to see if you can even possibly rent that apartment
  • For me, I luckily only applied for one apartment but me and my roommate are both graduate students and neither of us make 40x our rent  (which is a nice little requirement in NYC) so we each had to pay $20 for our application and $20 for our guarantors application
• Security Deposit: $1200
  • Security deposit is capped at one months rent and so for my apartment was $2400 and I paid half. If a realtor/property manager/landlord is trying to charge you more than one month’s rent for a security deposit run away.
• First Month’s Rent: $1200
  • Some places will require first and last but mine only required first mainly because of the high vacancy rate causing my apartment to have second month free which is sadly no longer a thing
• Renter’s Insurance: $60
  • Most places will require you to send over a renters insurance policy before they accept your signed lease, I used lemonade and for my one year policy it cost $60 up front. I really like lemonade and still use it.
• Broker’s Fee: none
  • Again, I got a COVID deal but now most places are charging a brokers fee which will normally equal one months rent

Total to get my apartment: $2500

I would warn this is on the very very low end and typically you can expect to have to have $5K or more in order to get keys

 

2. Getting from ATL to NYC

I chose the only bring a few suitcases and leave a lot behind method and while stressful is economical and also easier in some ways

• Buying the biggest suitcase I could find: $150
  • I got a really good deal on a london fog set
• One way flight from ATL to NYC: $100
• Checking 4 overweight suitcases: free
  • This would have cost me between $200 and $400 but my dad has delta platinum status and the delta credit card so he flew with me and we each got two complementary bags which was really nice
• Lyft from LGA to my apartment: $65 + $20 tip
  • crazy how the lyft was almost as much as my flight but I tipped $20 since the driver helped me get my four giant suitcases in and out of the car

Total to actually move me and my stuff:  $335

 

3. Making My Apartment Functional

This is not at all what I spent decorating and since I had my apartment but I took the approach get the bare minimum to function during the first month and make it a home over time. It was also during fall 2020 so I ordered everything online.

• Mattress: $400
  • I got an excellent deal on a Serta mattress and really love it, I saw some horror stories of people getting fiberglass everywhere from amazon bed in a boxes so I didn’t go that route but I have friends who did and loved their bed in a box
• AC Unit: $500
  • I got a giant one that would keep my entire apartment cool instead of getting one for each room but you can get these for ~$150 and honestly I recommend getting a medium sized one because the large one is awful to install and also hard to store in the winter
• Dresser: $100
• Desk: $130
  • I LOVE my desk, I have kept it through two moves and it has been perfect for me
• Desk chair: $75
  • I hated my chair and traded it for one I found free on the street
• Living room furniture: $300
  • thankfully my roommate was moving with a moving truck so before the move she was able to get a bunch of deals from facebook marketplace that we split the cost of

Total for the basic furnishings: ~$1500 but I will say if you move to nyc with nothing join your local buy nothing facebook group, be patient, and you would be shocked at how much you can get for free.

 

I am now on my third nyc apartment and I will say post-covid the market has gotten much worse and both times I moved after this I paid a hefty brokers fee.