AD| My friends and I once planned to move to New York City for a year or so. We were in our early 20’s, we hated our jobs and thought it would have been the perfect time for us to spend a year in the big apple. I have previously lived in France for one year and it was such a great experience!

Though we never did end up moving to New York, I still wanted to write a post about how to save money when living in NYC. Did you know that, according to Zumper, the average house price for a 1-bedroom apartment in NYC is currently $3,272? This is a 28% increase compared to the previous year.

That equals about £2400! And we complain about rent prices in London. As you can see, if you are going to live in NYC you will want to know how you can save money on living costs.

Venture further out

If you live a bit further out, then you can find somewhere to live a bit cheaper. This would mean a commute if you plan to work in the centre of New York, but could be worth it if it saves you a lot of money.

Consider a studio flat

I was looking on Zumper and I found a studio flat that was $1000. It was a room with a kitchen, then a separate bathroom. A studio would be a great choice if you are planning on staying in New York City for only a year or so as you will not have many belongings anyway.

Look for house shares

I found a room on the outskirts of New York for only $750 a month! Again, this is great if you’re not planning on being in New York for a long time as you won’t have to buy furniture. Also, having housemates is a great way to make some friends. You could be moving in with a real-life Rachel and Monica across the hall from Chandler and Joey!

Use public transport

I know flagging down an iconic yellow cab by yelling ‘TAXI’ in the middle of Manhatten seems like something you should do when you live in New York at least once – using public transport is much cheaper. New York’s public transit network even services both airports in New York, so it really will fulfil all your needs

As you’re using pubic transport – you won’t need a car either! This saves even more dollar.

Use Citibike

Just like in over in England, New York has public bikes you can use and drop off at various locations around New York. Citibike is only around $15 a month, so is great value for money.

Get healthcare insurance

Getting health insurance is a must in America – so make sure you get healthcare insurance or travel insurance that will cover you for any trips to the hospital. Medical care can get expensive!

Drink tap water

New York water is safe to drink. So there is no need to waste money on water. Save your money and save plastic by getting a reusable flask and keep topping it up.

Take advantage of Happy Hour

Of course we want a few cocktails in New York! But save some money by finding out when the Happy Hours are and hitting the bars then.

Visit free attractions

There’s a lot of free things to do in New York. Many of the musemns are free and you can walk the Brooklyn Bridge, visit Central Park, visit the World Trade Centre memorial and more.

Use thrift stores

Rather than buying new things, get second hand clothes and other items from thift stores (or online apps such as Facebook Marketplace) – another great way to save money when living in NYC.

Take pack lunches

Whether you are going on a day trip or just going to work – take a packed lunch with you to save costs on eating out.

There are so many ways to save money in New York so you can live there without breaking your bank account!

Do you have any tips on how to save money in New York? If you want. to make a bit of extra money, check out these side hustles.