New York has been given a myriad of names: The Big Apple, the city that never sleeps, the city where dreams are made of, the center of the universe, and countless other hyperbolic descriptors. People like to say that if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere, and it's probably true.
If you can bear the unwelcoming people, the unbecoming smell, the filthy subways, and your cramped one bedroom apartment without losing your sanity, then you've probably fell for the rhapsodic promise of New York. We pity you, mostly because we are you. Whether you've recently moved to the city of lights from a flyover state, or were born and raised here, here are a few facts that may inspire you to pack your bags and head back home. Like, tomorrow. If you can't hack it, don't worry; not many can.
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New York has been given a myriad of names: The Big Apple, the city that never sleeps, the city where dreams are made of, the center of the universe, and countless other hyperbolic descriptors. People like to say that if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere, and it's probably true.
If you can bear the unwelcoming people, the unbecoming smell, the filthy subways, and your cramped one bedroom apartment without losing your sanity, then you've probably fell for the rhapsodic promise of New York. We pity you, mostly because we are you. Whether you've recently moved to the city of lights from a flyover state, or were born and raised here, here are a few facts that may inspire you to pack your bags and head back home. Like, tomorrow. If you can't hack it, don't worry; not many can.
RELATED: How to Go to NYC Museums Free, From Monday to Sunday
RELATED: Detroit Homes You Could Buy for Two Months Rent in NYC
RELATED: 10 Cheap Cities to Move to After College
RELATED: Four Pins - What I Learned During My First Month in NYC
20. New York City has one of the highest homeless populations in the United States.
Homeless people are an unfortunate fact of urban life, and even the most hardened New Yorker feels a pang of sadness when they see a stranger sleeping on a street corner. And considering that New York has highest homeless population in the nation, that sting is especially frequent.
You will see homeless people in the streets, the subway, the alleys, and your neighborhor's stoop. And while you'll eventually come to a point where you nearly tune out their pleading for spare change, that's not necessarily a good thing.
19. Sarah Lawrence and New York University are some of the most expensive colleges in America.
While many high school grads have dreams of coming to the Big Apple to attend college, their starry-eyed aspirations and sweet naiveté make most ignorant to the true cost of a college education.
According to Business Insider, New York University ranked No. 1 among America's most expensive colleges, with a whopping $61,977 price tag on just a year's tuition. Unless you majored in engineering or plan on going to medical school, enjoy paying off student loans until you're 45.
18. New Yorkers are more heavily taxed that most people in the United States.
There is only two things certain in life: death and taxes. And with your low minimum wage, you just might prefer the former before the latter. According to Huffington Post, New York ranked No. 7 among cities with the highest taxes. Prepare to give almost half of every dollar you make back to the government. Big brother isn't just watching, he's creeping on your wallet.
17. Minimum wage in New York is still $7.25.
Despite the high cost of living in New York, minimum wage is still $7.25. Although Obama has proposed an increase to $9, it would take over four years to actually implement. Until then, it's street meat for dinner every. single. night.
16. New York is one of America's most miserable cities.
New York has gained a reputation of being a dog eat dog world where ruthless, overly ambitious individuals step on each other in an effort to get to the top—and remain there. If you haven't acquired a hard shell of detachment and nonchalance, your ego is sure to be quickly bruised.
Even if you're tough enough to hack it, it's probable many other people are not. New York ranked No. 10 on Forbes' list of America's most miserable cities in 2013.
15. New York takes the crown for America's rudest city.
From cursing at pedestrians who step in their path, to just generally acting as if they're the only person among the millions who live here, New Yorkers have aquired a mostly accurate reputation for being, well, not so nice. In fact, on Travel + Leisure's list of the rudest cities in America, NYC took the top honors. Pole hoggers and fast walkers, welcome home.
14. New York is one of the dirtiest cities in America.
Pollution won't be the only thing you'll smell in the midnight air. Stepping out of your apartment complex, you will be often met with a myriad of smells ranging from two-day old Thai food, to fresh urine, to cabbies who haven't showered in days...maybe weeks. These regular assaults to New Yorkers olfactory systems might be why New York City took the crown on Travel+Leisure's list of America's dirtiest cities.
13. It is difficult to find a one bedroom apartment under $2500.
It's competitive out on these streets, and that doesn't end when your 9-5 does. Finding a suitable apartment (ie: has a working bathroom and is more than 150 sq. ft) means scour cragslist for weeks trying to find an affordable apartment. Gotham hopefuls, know this: expecting to find anything below $1,000 is nearly an impossibility, as most one bedroom apartments cost upwards of $3,000. The insane cost of housing is likely why New York took second place on CBS News' rankings of the priciest cities in the U.S. to rent an apartment.
12. New York has the highest cost of living.
According to NY Daily News, New York City has the highest cost of living in the U.S. for families. While you may be enjoying your single life of one night stands, drunken rendezvous, and returning home to an empty apartment after working 8 hours at your mediocre job, chances are you won't in the near future. If you plan on building a family and making the Big Apple your permanent residence, you may want to move somewhere else. Like, Mississippi. Even with a $93,000 salary, you won't be living that luxe life.
11. You'll binge drink every weekend because there's no reason not to.
With a 10 hour workday quickly becoming the norm, it's no wonder why the festivities (and by festivities, we mean binge drinking) begin on Thursday. Thanks to plentiful taxis and public transportation, finding a designated driver is no longer an obstacle, which means you'll be tempted to test the limits of sobriety on every day that ends in y. It may seem like a perk at first, but eventually those sleepless nights will take a toll on your looks, your health and your general outlook on life. Three cheers to depression and alcoholism!
10. There will always be someone one step ahead of you.
New York City didn't get the name "city of dreams" for nothing. Everyone here is on a mission to make a name for themselves, and many of them will be better at doing so (read: more ruthless and/or able to go 72 hours without sleep. Turns out, you're not so special after all.
9. Cyclists act like they own the road.
See those cyclists not heeding stop lights, taxi cars and pedestrians? Those are the unfortunate individuals who probably woke up late to their alarm and were forced to hop on a Citi Bike and pedal 20 blocks only to arrive at their destination smelly and sweaty. Don't blame them when they almost hit you; they haven't had their coffee yet.
8. New York has the most construction sites.
7. New York is really the city that never sleeps.
Taxi car horns and the endless banter of inebriated locals will become your lullaby. 8 hours of sleep will be a long lost dream you quickly abandon.
6. Everywhere, everything and everyone smells.
No matter where you go, you will never be able to escape the innumerable offensive smells you will encounter on a daily basis ranging from urine, vomit, those leftover curry noodles your neighbor just cooked, and that one guy on the subway who smells like body odor all the time. You may gain a tolerance for it after a while, but that's not neccesarily a good thing.
5. Space is a commodity, so 240-Square Foot Apartments Exist.
It is an undeniable fact that New York is one of the most cramped cities in the United States. And if being unable to walk anywhere without accidentally touching a stranger wasn't enough, micro apartments now exist. Say hello to this 240-square foot apartment, and goodbye to your personal space.
4. There will be rats. Lots of them.
According to Animal Planet, of the ten worst rat cities in the world, New York City ranked first. Don't expect to cross the street or enter the subway without seeing a stampede of rats crossing your path.
3. New York is one of the worst cities to drive in.
Despite the bikers and the naive tourists, there are also the taxis. Between whipping through side streets 80 MPH and never staying in their lane, NYC taxi cabs are notorious for quickly getting from point A to point B in any way possible.
It should come to no surprise then that Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan made the top three on CNN's list of the ten worst cities for driving. Between that, and idiots opening their taxi doors into incoming traffic, it's probably best you stay on the sidewalk.
2. Times Square is only filled with tourists.
One of the few reasons why you may have moved to New York was because of Times Square. Who could blame you? The glitz and galvanizing portrayal by movies and T.V. shows made it seem pretty promising. After living in New York for three years, Times Square will lose its luster, becoming the congregation of thousands of obnoxious tourists.
1. You have to share the NYC Subway with 5.4 million other riders.
Subways are always packed in NYC and elbow space is unheard of. However, they seem to be getting more crowded each year. According to the MTA, weekday subway ridership reached 5.4 million in 2012, the highest since 1950.