Culture and Attractions
- Theater Venues
- Broadway (42nd St), Lincoln Center, Apollo Theater (Harlem).
- Must-See Landmarks
- Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Times Square.
- Museums & Art Venues
- The Met ($30), MoMA ($30), Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum ($30).
- Historical Sites
- 9/11 Memorial, Federal Hall, Ellis Island, Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace.
- Religious Sites
- St. Patrick's Cathedral, Temple Emanu-El, Islamic Center of NY.
- Annual Events
- NYC Marathon (Nov), Pride (June), Macy's Thanksgiving Parade.
- Cultural Districts
- Harlem (Jazz/Soul), Chinatown, Little Italy, Bushwick (Arts).
- Local Markets
- Union Square Greenmarket, Chelsea Market.
- Music Scene
- Blue Note Jazz Club, Bowery Ballroom, Madison Square Garden.
- Street Art
- The Bushwick Collective (Brooklyn), First Street Green (Manhattan).
- Cooking Classes
- The Chopping Block, League of Kitchens (immigrant-led classes).
- Art Galleries
- David Zwirner (Chelsea), Gagosian, Hauser & Wirth.
- Historic Buildings
- Chrysler Building, Flatiron Building, Woolworth Building.
- Local Heritage
- The Statue of Liberty representing the immigrant history of Liberty Island.
Essentials
- City
- New York City, New York, United States
- Population
- Approximately 8.3 million
- Internet Speed
- Average 250-500 Mbps (Verizon Fios, Spectrum)
- Currency & Banking
- US Dollar (USD). Major banks: Chase, Bank of America, Citibank.
- Tap Water
- Drinkable, high quality (sourced from Catskill Mountains)
- Power
- 120V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets
- SIM Card
- T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon. eSIMs via Airalo or Holafly are recommended.
- Banking for Expats
- Wise, Revolut, Monzo, or traditional Chase/HSBC with SSN/ITIN.
- Accommodation
- StreetEasy (long-term), Blueground (furnished), Outsite (coliving).
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, Apple Pay and credit cards accepted almost everywhere.
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb (restricted to >30 days), Sonder, Juno Homes.
- Budget Accommodation
- HI New York City Hostel (Upper West Side) approx. $70/night.
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Midtown Manhattan or West Village for central access.
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Williamsburg (Brooklyn), Long Island City (Queens), or Astoria.
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- WeWork (various locations) approx. $29/day; The Farm SoHo ($299/mo).
- Best Cafe for Work
- Devoción (Williamsburg) or Variety Coffee Roasters (Bushwick).
- Networking Events
- TechDay NY, NYU Tandon Future Labs events, Meetup.com (NY Tech Meetup).
- Social Events for Expats
- Internations NYC, New York British/French Expats Facebook Groups.
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber, Lyft, Revel (Tesla fleet), and Curb for yellow cabs.
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Citi Bike ($4.79/ride or $205/year), Lime/Bird (Bronx/Queens only).
- Best Beach Nearby
- Rockaway Beach (Queens) - 1 hour via A-train or NYC Ferry.
- Top Regional Airline
- JetBlue Airways, Delta Connection.
- Top International Airline
- United Airlines (Newark hub), Delta, American Airlines (JFK).
- Highway Access
- I-95, I-87 (Major Deegan), I-495 (LIE), Brooklyn-Queens Expressway.
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Penn Station (Amtrak/LIRR/NJT) and Grand Central Terminal.
- Public Transport Passes
- OMNY (Tap-to-pay). Weekly cap: $34 (12 rides, then free).
- Regional Travel
- Amtrak (to DC/Boston), Metro-North (Upstate), NJ Transit.
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital (Upper East Side), NYU Langone Health.
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Sky Ting (Chinatown), Humming Puppy (Chelsea), AIRE Ancient Baths.
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Equinox ($250+/mo), Blink Fitness ($30/mo), Crunch Fitness.
- Laundry Services
- Delivery.com for wash & fold (approx. $1.50/lb), local laundromats.
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- DoorDash, UberEats, Grubhub, Caviar (high-end spots).
- Best Local Dish to Try
- New York Slice (Joe's Pizza), Pastrami on Rye (Katz's Delicatessen).
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Eleven Madison Park (fine dining), Planta Queen (Chelsea).
- Best Dessert Spots
- Dominique Ansel Bakery (SoHo - Cronut), Levain Bakery (Cookies).
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Trader Joe's, Essex Market (Chinatown/LES), Costco.
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon (Same-day delivery available), Best Buy, Walmart.com.
- Grocery Delivery
- FreshDirect, Instacart, Amazon Fresh.
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Lower East Side, Greenwich Village, Williamsburg, Bushwick.
- Local Brewery
- Brooklyn Brewery (Williamsburg), Other Half Brewing (Brooklyn/Manhattan).
- Wine Bars
- The Ten Bells (LES), Aldo Sohm Wine Bar (Midtown).
- Street Food Stalls
- Halal Guys (53rd/6th Ave), Smorgasburg (Williamsburg food market).
- Popular International Cuisine
- Ippudo (Ramen), Xi'an Famous Foods (Chinese), Russ & Daughters (Jewish Deli).
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- The Hudson Valley (Cold Spring/Beacon), Pelham Bay Park (Bronx).
- National Parks Nearby
- Gateway National Recreation Area, Statue of Liberty NM.
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Hudson River Park Greenway (13 miles), Central Park Loop.
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Top of the Rock, Summit One Vanderbilt, Brooklyn Heights Promenade.
- Birdwatching Locations
- Central Park (The Ramble), Prospect Park (Brooklyn).
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Ferry Point Park (with permits), Fire Island (Long Island).
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- UPS, FedEx, USPS, DHL. Amazon Hub lockers widely available.
- Tech Repair Services
- Apple Store (Grand Central/5th Ave), Rossmann Repair Group.
- Table Tennis Spots
- SPIN (Flatiron/Midtown), Bryant Park (Seasonal/Free).
- Language Classes
- ABC Languages, Alliance Française de New York.
- Libraries & Study Spots
- The New York Public Library (Stephen A. Schwarzman Building).
- Community Centers
- 92NY (92nd St Y), Manny Cantor Center.
- Gaming Lounges
- OS NYC (Chinatown), BrookLAN (Bushwick).
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Resorts World NYC (Queens), Jake's 58 (Long Island).
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $18,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $720,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $8,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $340,000 in outer Queens/Bronx)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $16,500 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $990,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $7,500 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $450,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $15,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $1,200,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $6,800 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $544,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 21% Federal + 6.5% NY State + 8.85% NYC (varies by business type)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 30% (subject to tax treaties for non-residents)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for citizens/residents.
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- Approx. 50% (Combined Federal, State, and NYC City tax)
- VAT
- N/A (Sales tax: 8.875% in NY City)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (GILTI) rules apply.
- Property Tax
- Yes, calculated based on assessed value and property class.
- Property Transaction Tax
- Real Estate Transfer Tax: 1% - 1.425%; 'Mansion Tax' of 1-3.9% for properties >$1M.
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- None (No nomad visa; high tax burden compared to other states).