New York: on the water, expensive and not sorry about it, mostly safe
More of New York
Day viewTL;DRNew York in one sentence
The startup ecosystem in New York is legitimate — this isn't a "digital nomad hub," it's an actual tech city. Practically speaking: you can get by in English, rent runs ~$4281/mo, PR in ~10 years.
The startup ecosystem in New York is legitimate — this isn't a "digital nomad hub," it's an actual tech city. Practically speaking: you can get by in English, rent runs ~$4281/mo, PR in ~10 years.
Considering relocating to New York? Expect rent from $4,281/month, generally safe for expats, English is the primary language. This page covers cost of living, safety, weather, residency options, and everything else settlers want to know before signing a lease.
🌴From Retire Abroad — Warm, safe, affordable — and your pension actually buys something.← back🇺🇸 New York, United States
Mid SWE take-home in New York
$10,945/mo
Median mid Software Engineer · after 31% tax
$7,597
expenses
+$3,348
you keep
Just you against the world. And the rent.
Expenses = rent + food + transport + utilities · Rent alone: $4,281/mo
How the Livability Score is calculatedShow score breakdown ▸
Total: 69.9/120 raw pts → normalized to 58/100 · Full methodology
🌤️ 3:03 PM in New York right now
Data: Numbeo · UNODC · EIU · EF EPI · Ookla · How is this calculated?
Is New York a Good Place to Live?
Is new york a good place to live? It depends on what you're optimizing for. New York has real strengths, but the honest answer requires looking at the data. Here's what the numbers say about settling in New York, United States.
- ›Flawed democracy: Democracy index 7.8/10 — a flawed democracy, which is the polite way of saying 'it's complicated'.
- ›Cost of living: A 1-bedroom in the center runs ~$4281/mo — serious money — hope your salary matches.
- ›Safety: Homicide rate 3.9 per 100k (Numbeo safety index: 49/100) — average safety — normal street-smarts apply.
- ›Language: English proficiency: very high — English is the default language — you're already fluent in the local tongue.
- ›Climate: Summers peak around 28°C, winters dip to -1°C.
Life in New York
✦ Sections reordered for Retire Abroad
What It Actually Costs
Beer $8.0 · Cheap meal $25
What It Actually Costs
Beer $8.0 · Cheap meal $25
What It Actually Costs
One day in New York
$55.70/day
Beer, coffee, two meals, a metro ride.
Monthly
Numbeo
What Paychecks Look Like
Junior $140k · Mid $191k · Senior $248k
What Paychecks Look Like
Junior $140k · Mid $191k · Senior $248k
What Paychecks Look Like
Annual gross in USD — with what United States actually lets you keep
Levels.fyi · as of May 2026
Junior ~ $140k · Mid ~ $191k · Senior ~ $248k — see breakdown
Software Engineer by level
Net = employee rate, your settings
Punch in your actual salary for a personalized breakdown →Weather in New York
Summer 28°C · 15.1h daylight (Jun) · Winter -1°C · 9.3h daylight (Dec)
Weather in New York
Summer 28°C · 15.1h daylight (Jun) · Winter -1°C · 9.3h daylight (Dec)
Weather in New York
Spring
16°C
50% sunny
Summer
28°C
58% sunny
15.1h daylight
Fall
18°C
60% sunny
Winter
6°C
48% sunny
9.3h daylight
Daylight contrast
Winter 9.3h (Dec) vs summer 15.1h (Jun)
+5.8h
Best: Summer, Fall. Avoid: Winter if you dislike extremes.
Source: WeatherSpark
Will You Have a Thursday Night?
Will You Have a Thursday Night?
Will You Have a Thursday Night?
Nightlife & social scene
as of Apr 2026
Scene tags
Source: Numbeo Quality of Life Index
Is New York a Good Place to Live in 2026?
2 pros · 3 cons
Is New York a Good Place to Live in 2026?
2 pros · 3 cons
Is New York a Good Place to Live in 2026?
Derived from cost, safety, weather, democracy, and internet data
For
- +New York: 28°C and the sea. Summer sorted.
- +Hub-level startup scene in New York. Founders everywhere.
Against
- −Rent in New York: $4281/mo. Your biggest line item.
- −3.9/100k in New York. Higher than most of Europe; read up before moving.
- −-1°C winter lows in New York. Heavier coat incoming.
Can You Ditch the Car?
Can You Ditch the Car?
Cost to Land
1-bed centre: $4281/mo
Cost to Land
1-bed centre: $4281/mo
Cost to Land
The price of showing up (before real life starts)
$19,823one-time
Then it's ~$7,597/mo to actually live here.
Can you afford it?
Enter your salary in the sidebar to see how far it stretches here.
Numbeo
Local tenancy law
IKEA estimate
USCIS fee schedule
Local insurance rates
Based on local rental laws & Numbeo prices
How Hard to Find a Place?
4/5 · 2–8 weeks in Manhattan, fierce competition
How Hard to Find a Place?
4/5 · 2–8 weeks in Manhattan, fierce competition
How Hard Is It to Actually Find a Place?
The part Numbeo doesn't tell you
Brace yourself. The system has opinions about your creditworthiness.
What stands between you and a lease
- •Income requirement: 40× monthly rent annually
- •Guarantor required if income insufficient (70–80× rent)
- •Broker fee: 12–15% of annual rent (one-time)
- •Credit check + employment verification
StreetEasy, NYC Rent Guidelines Board 2025 · 2026-Q1
Tax on Savings
Capital gains 20% · Dividends 23.8% · No wealth tax
Tax on Savings
Capital gains 20% · Dividends 23.8% · No wealth tax
Tax on Savings
What United States takes from your investments, not your paycheck
Source: PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries / IRS · 2025 rates · tax-resident individuals
Freelancing in New York
Freelancing in New York
Living Here as a Freelancer
What it takes to invoice clients from New York without an employer holding your hand
How the government sees you
Getting paid
Cost of doing business
Source: IRS · SSA · rates as of 2025–2026
Is New York Safe?
Homicide rate: 3.9 per 100k
Is New York Safe?
Homicide rate: 3.9 per 100k
Is New York Safe?
Generally safe, but not carefree. Read the details below before picking a neighborhood.
Residents report moderate concern about everyday crime. Watch your phone and bag in crowded areas.
Homicide: FBI UCR / OpenCrime
data resolution: city-level
Peace index: IEP Global Peace Index
world avg ~5.8 per 100k
Neighborhood breakdown
We don't have an official neighborhood-level crime feed wired for New York yet. The figures above are still citywide or regional.
Settling the family in New York
PISA 489 · Daycare $3390/mo · Partner work rights are very limited
Settling the family in New York
PISA 489 · Daycare $3390/mo · Partner work rights are very limited
Settling the family in New York
Schools, daycare, healthcare, and spouse work rights on one page
Schools
PISA 489Public schools run in English and children on residence permits can enroll: Yes.
International options: 15 schools · low $28k/yr · mid $45k/yr · high $69k/yr
Highly competitive; testing and interviews required
Kindergarten / Daycare
$3k/moPrivate full-day preschool: $3k/mo.
Public-availability rules and waitlist length are not tracked in the current city dataset yet, so treat this as the private-price floor, not the full childcare story.
Family Healthcare
Private-firstNo public option for immigrants; employer insurance or ACA marketplace required
No public healthcare for non-citizens. Emergency rooms must stabilize you (EMTALA law), but the bill can be financially devastating. Private insurance essential from day 1 (~$350/mo for basic). Employer-sponsored insurance is the norm — negotiate it before you move.
Dependents on temporary status: plan on private coverage first.
Pediatric/specialist reality: 2–6 weeks.
CHIP covers children in low-income families; otherwise depends on employer plan
Spouse / Dependent Rules
Partner work rights are very limitedPartner work rights are very limited
H-4 spouse can work only if H-1B principal has approved I-140. EAD processing takes 6–12 months (standalone), no auto-extension since Oct 2025.
Child benefits, family allowances, and parental-leave entitlements are not part of the structured city dataset yet, so check the country-level residency rules before assuming those offsets are in your budget.
Sources: isd_tuition, Numbeo, OECD Health at a Glance 2025, National health ministry websites, OECD Health at a Glance 2025, https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/temporary-workers/h-1b-specialty-occupations/employment-authorization-for-certain-h-4-dependent-spouses
Crossing the Street
14.2 road deaths/100k · ↑ worsening
Crossing the Street
14.2 road deaths/100k · ↑ worsening
Crossing the Street
Road traffic deaths — country-level data; city-specific rates not available
Traffic is genuinely dangerous here. Plan your commute like you plan your health insurance. You're 4× more likely to die crossing the street than being murdered here.
Who dies on the road
Data year: 2016
Will You Survive Getting Sick?
No public option for immigrants; employer insurance or ACA marketplace required
Will You Survive Getting Sick?
No public option for immigrants; employer insurance or ACA marketplace required
Will You Survive Getting Sick?
Healthcare quality, access, and what settlers actually face
Score = 50% outcomes + 30% access + 20% perception. Missing components are re-weighted.
No public healthcare for non-citizens. Emergency rooms must stabilize you (EMTALA law), but the bill can be financially devastating. Private insurance essential from day 1 (~$350/mo for basic). Employer-sponsored insurance is the norm — negotiate it before you move.
No public option for immigrants; employer insurance or ACA marketplace required
Kids: CHIP covers children in low-income families; otherwise depends on employer plan
Good healthcare system. You'll find competent doctors, modern equipment, and only the normal amount of waiting-room existential dread.
Sources: OECD Health at a Glance 2025, Numbeo, National health ministry websites, OECD Health at a Glance 2025
For the Kids
15 international schools · PISA 489
For the Kids
15 international schools · PISA 489
For the Kids
Schools, childcare costs, and whether your children can actually enroll
15 international schools · $28k–$69k/yr · A handful. Start researching early.
Schools are middling. Your kids won't flunk out, but expat parents lean on international schools for a reason. Check the list below.
Sources: isd_tuition, oecd_pisa, wikipedia_intl_schools, Numbeo
What You're Breathing
PM2.5 13.2 μg/m³ · 2.6× WHO limit
What You're Breathing
PM2.5 13.2 μg/m³ · 2.6× WHO limit
What You're Breathing
Invisible particles in every breath
Sources: WHO Air Quality Database V6.1, OpenAQ
Will You Find Your Dance Nerds?
Lindy hop 5/5 · ~10 weekly socials
Will You Find Your Dance Nerds?
Lindy hop 5/5 · ~10 weekly socials
Will You Find Your Dance Nerds?
Swing dance scene intel
Schools
Festivals
Source: swingplanit.com, community research · Updated Mar 2026
Who Has Offices in New York?
Google, Meta, Amazon + 5 more
Who Has Offices in New York?
Google, Meta, Amazon + 5 more
Who Has Offices in New York?
✓ visa = known to sponsor non-EU work visas
Notable employers with offices in the city. Not exhaustive.
How Fast Is the Wi-Fi, Really?
162↓ / 21↑ Mbps
How Fast Is the Wi-Fi, Really?
162↓ / 21↑ Mbps
How Fast Is the Wi-Fi, Really?
Median speeds across all connection types · Ookla Speedtest Global Index
Download is the city median across all connection types — DSL, cable, fiber, and mobile. Upload is the country-wide average. If you're on a modern fiber or 5G plan, expect 300–1,000 Mbps down.
Source: Ookla Speedtest Global Index
Can Your Mom Visit?
Can Your Mom Visit?
United States, the Country
Can You Actually Live Here?
PR in ~10 yrs · Citizenship in 13 yrs · Partner work rights are very limited
Can You Actually Live Here?
PR in ~10 yrs · Citizenship in 13 yrs · Partner work rights are very limited
Can You Actually Live Here?
Visa difficulty, time to residency, and what it takes to stay
For a US citizen passport: Easy
H-1B lottery → EB-2/EB-3 green card (current for most nationalities; 12–20+ yr backlog for India/China), then 5 yr residency before citizenship. Requires English proficiency and passing a 128-question civics test (12/20 to pass).
Spouse & dependents
H-4 spouse can work only if H-1B principal has approved I-140. EAD processing takes 6–12 months (standalone), no auto-extension since Oct 2025.
Updated May 2026 · Source
What You Can Actually Do Here
Tech jobs very high · Sponsorship hard · Startup hub · finance, media, tech
What You Can Actually Do Here
Tech jobs very high · Sponsorship hard · Startup hub · finance, media, tech
What You Can Actually Do Here
Industries, employers, and how startup-friendly this place is
Employment
Tech job density Very high (90/100)ⓘ
Open tech roles ~24k(est.)
Top university ranked #19 globally
Non-EU sponsorship Hard (46/100)ⓘ
Startup Scene
Ease of doing business: #55
Sources: StartupBlink · scraper-owned tech clusters · country visa sources
Who's Running the Show
Democracy index: 7.8/10
Who's Running the Show
Democracy index: 7.8/10
Who's Running the Show
Politics, freedom, and press independence
Source: EIU Democracy Index
Peace: IEP Global Peace Index
Also: Freedom House · RSF Press Freedom Index
How is this calculated?What Will Break 6 Months In
The system works. It just works on its own schedule. Government offices close early, queues are real, and patience is mandatory.
Outages happen often enough to notice. A UPS for your router isn't paranoia — it's planning.
LGBTQ+ Rights & Reproductive Access
Rainbow 68/100 · Marriage legal
LGBTQ+ Rights & Reproductive Access
Rainbow 68/100 · Marriage legal
The Fine Print on Being Yourself
LGBTQ+ protections, reproductive rights, and who the law actually covers
Moderate protections
Reproductive Health Access
Post-Dobbs (2022): varies dramatically by state. Fully banned in ~14 states, protected in ~20 states.
Source: ILGA-Europe / Equaldex
Reproductive: Center for Reproductive Rights
How Rainbow Index works: ILGA-Europe's Rainbow Europe index (0–100) weights recent legal changes heavily — countries that passed rights early but haven't added new protections since score lower than countries still actively legislating. This is why Amsterdam (59) scores below Madrid (76): the Netherlands did everything first but Rainbow Europe rewards momentum, not just outcomes.
Jewish Safety
Antisemitic attitudes, hate crimes, and community presence
Jewish Safety
Antisemitic attitudes, hate crimes, and community presence
Will You Feel Safe Wearing a Magen David Here?
Antisemitic attitudes, hate crime incidents, and Jewish community presence
Very low prevalence
ADL Global 100 (2024) — % agreeing with 6+ of 11 antisemitic stereotypes
Includes threats, verbal harassment, vandalism, propaganda, and physical assaults reported across United States — not just violent attacks. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting.
How to read this: These three metrics are shown separately because they measure different things. ADL measures attitudes (what people believe), OSCE counts reported incidents (what gets filed), and synagogues show community presence (not safety). A country can have high attitudes and low incidents (Saudi Arabia) or low attitudes and high incidents (UK). No single number captures "Jewish safety" — read all three together.
English in New York
Very High
English in New York
Very High
English in New York
Work, hiring, and meetings default to English.
Doctors, landlords, and city paperwork usually start in English too.
Primary local language is English, so office and street English are treated as native-level.
Language distance: Slavic: manageable · Romance: manageable · Germanic: easy
Source: manual
Will the Lights Stay On?
Grid 83/100 · 25% renewable · Outages: occasional
Will the Lights Stay On?
Grid 83/100 · 25% renewable · Outages: occasional
Will the Lights Stay On?
Grid stability, energy mix, and outage risk
Sources: IEA, World Bank (SAIDI), national grid operators
New York — FAQ
10 questions answered
New York — FAQ
10 questions answered
New York — Things You'll Want to Know
How safe is New York, really?▾
Homicide rate: 3.9 per 100,000 (UNODC). World average is 5.8, so New York is generally safe — about what you'd expect. Numbeo Crime Index sits at 51.1/100 (lower = safer) — that's what residents actually say about walking home at night, not what the tourism board says. Learn the neighborhoods before signing a lease — every city has blocks you'll love and blocks you won't.
What's the real cost of living in New York?▾
A 1-bed in the centre runs about $4281/month (Numbeo). Day-to-day: a cheap restaurant meal: $25.00, monthly transit pass: $133. All in — rent, food, getting around, keeping the lights on — budget $4681–$5081/month depending on whether you cook or eat out. That's the settler number, not the tourist number.
What's the weather actually like in New York?▾
New York: Summers reach around 28°C with about 15.1 hours of daylight in Jun, winters drop to around -1°C and 9.3 hours of daylight in Dec. Comfortable summers — the kind where you argue about whether to open the window or not.
Can you get by in New York without the local language?▾
Very High English proficiency (EF EPI). But that one word hides two very different realities: office English 100/100 (can you work in English?) and street English 100/100 (can you argue with your landlord in English?). The office is usually easier. The landlord is the real test.
Is New York actually worth settling in long-term?▾
United States scores 7.8/10 on the EIU Democracy Index. Solid democracy. Not perfect, but the courts work and the press is free. You can build a life without worrying about the next election too much. Rent from $4281/month.
What's the job market really like in New York?▾
Unemployment: 4.2%. Translation: competitive but not hopeless — the right skills open doors. If you're planning to job-hunt locally, research your industry before booking a one-way ticket. If you work remotely, this number matters less — but your visa type might not let you.
Who's actually hiring in New York?▾
Companies with real offices here (not just a registered address): Google, Meta, Amazon, JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, Bloomberg. Check their career pages — a company on this list isn't a guarantee they're hiring right now, but it means the talent pipeline exists.
Is New York any good for expats?▾
Depends what kind of expat you are. Key facts: rent from $4281/month; US Employment-Based Green Card (complex process); English is widely spoken, reducing the language barrier significantly. The numbers above — livability score, safety, cost of living — tell you whether the city works on paper. Whether it works for you depends on what you're optimizing for. Take the quiz if you want a more honest answer than "it's great for expats."
How do you actually get a visa to live in United States?▾
United States has the US Employment-Based Green Card program. Duration: Permanent residence. Requirements: Employer sponsorship (EB-1 to EB-3) or investor visa (EB-5, $1.05M / $800K in targeted areas). Current for most nationalities, 12–20+ yr backlog for India/China. Complex enough that an immigration lawyer earns their fee. Don't DIY this one. Always verify with the official government portal — immigration rules change faster than this page updates.
How long until you get permanent residency in United States?▾
Permanent residency typically takes 10 years of legal residence; citizenship eligibility after 13 years total. The usual prerequisites: proof of income, a clean criminal record, and sometimes enough local language to prove you're serious. Rules change — check with an immigration lawyer before building your five-year plan around a Reddit thread.
Can you actually move abroad?
Check real visa paths based on your passport, profession, and savings. Not the tourist visa — the one that lets you stay.
Find visa paths that actually work for you →Other cities in United States
See all →▸Show full data table
🇺🇸 New York
$7,597/ mo
Rent: $4281 · Rest: $3317
🎵 That's 634 Spotify subs/mo
79/100
128th
10y
13y
🌞 28°C
🥶 -1°C
161↓ / 20↑ Mbps
Median · Ookla
United States
Economics · World Bank / IMF
GDP per capita (PPP)2024
$85,810
GDP Growth2024
+2.8%
Inflation2024
2.9%
Boringly steadyUnemployment2025
4.2%
Gini Index2024
41.8
Population2024
8,478,072
Politics · EIU / Freedom House
Democracy Index
7.8→29th
Regime
Flawed democracy
Freedom House
80/100
Press Freedom
55th
Safety · UNODC / Numbeo
Homicide per 100K
3.9
Safety Index
48.9/100
Residency Path · uscis.gov
Visa Difficulty
Time to Permanent Residency
10 years
Path to Citizenship
13 years
Work Permit
complex
Career
Industries
finance, media, tech
Startup Scene
hub
Connectivity · Ookla Speedtest
Median downloadNew York
161.5 Mbps
Avg uploadUnited States
20.8 Mbps
Avg downloadUnited States
207.2 Mbps
Median across all connection types (DSL, cable, fiber, mobile). Fiber and 5G plans in major cities typically deliver 300–1 000 Mbps.
Language · EF EPI
Languages
English, Spanish (I)
English Proficiency
Very High1th
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Data sources
Open-Meteo Air Qualityadl_global100osce_hatecrimeosm_overpass_synagoguesCareer MetricscomputedFBI UCR / OpenCrimegovernmentDiaspora DataUS Census Bureau (ACS)WikidataWorld BankmanualNumbeoTownleap (Curated)Ookla SpeedtestJob Market DataWikipediaILGA-Europe / EqualdexEIU Democracy IndexIEP Global Peace IndexCenter for Reproductive RightsOECD ITFWHO Road SafetyLevels.fyiISD (Tuition Data)OECD PISAWikipedia (Intl. Schools)Travel AdvisoryTownleap (Computed)Numbeo Quality of LifecompiledPeopleForBikesderived_daylightWeatherSpark