11 Downsides Of Living In NYC And 12 Reasons Why People Still Do It

The city that never sleeps! Or cleans up their garbage, apparently.

Ah NYC, the land of Broadway, shopping, and rats the size of a small baby.

For some people, New York City is the ultimate dream destination where you can wear anything you want, party every weekend, and hit up some of the best museums in the country.

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For others...let's just say there are thousands of different cities to choose from, so no need to worry about this one. Here are the 12 reasons why you should book that one-way ticket to NYC right now, and 11 reasons why you should maybe just stay home.

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1. Come stay: NYC is the land of *opportunity* and exciting activities around every corner. You'll never be bored here because you can literally throw a rock and hit 15 new places for you to explore.

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Although it may seem overwhelming at first, having everything packed in together so tightly means there's always something new that you haven't even noticed right around the corner waiting for you. You'll always have something to do, and new events are popping up every day for you to enjoy. 

2. Avoid NYC forever: It's loud. There's no other way to say it, but if you're hoping to get that peaceful night's sleep, you probably should start looking elsewhere.

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Nobody comes to NYC because of its relaxing and serene vibes. You're going to have your fair share of sleepless nights until your body figures out how to catch some z's while hearing police sirens. 

3. Come stay: You're sure to meet some really cool people here, as NYC tends to attract a wide variety of people with many different interests.

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While it will probably be scary to make friends at first and may feel like you're even more alone than you were before, once you get the hang of it, you'll be chatting with some of the most interesting people with the wildest stories.

4. Avoid NYC forever: $$$.

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I hope you've got a lot in your savings account... and I mean a lot. You're about to get used to the reality of spending $2,000 a month on an apartment, and non-ironically calling it a steal. Yeah, you'll save money on gas and car insurance, but at what cost? 

5. Come stay: the food! You could probably find four different top-rated restaurants in whichever cuisine you're looking for within in a 15-minute walk of your apartment.

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Hey, you'll be walking everywhere you go so you deserve a little reward in the shape of the best pizza you've ever eaten. And if you follow it up with a black and white cookie, well, that's only best practice. 

6. Avoid NYC forever: the mess. Nobody claimed this city was clean, OK?

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Be ready for that garbage-y stink that's so unique to the hot NYC summer, and the muddy slush that snow immediately turns into during the winters. You're going to walk past hundreds of garbage bags every day, probably have a rat run over your foot at some point, and be dodging cockroaches on the streets. 

7. Come stay: the diversity! No matter the community you're looking for, you'll be able to find it in NYC. When it comes to activities, religious services, food, and more, no need to worry about going without.

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If you feel alone or ostracized in your small hometown, that's something you might be able to solve in NYC. While you can't cure all forms of loneliness here, you can cure a lack of community. You'll be able to find people you click with and who you can relate to since there are so many different races, religions, and backgrounds represented in this city. 

8. Avoid NYC forever: the skyscraper forest. If you're a nature lover who enjoys looking out at some treetops, boy do I have some bad news for you.

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While NYC is home to some beautiful parks and gardens, most of the city is covered in skyscrapers and storefronts. It'll be pretty hard to get in touch with nature when you're looking out your window and all you can see is dirty sidewalks and endless traffic. 

9. Come stay: the amazing history. This city is full of gorgeous historical spots, interesting museums, and cool architecture.

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Want to imagine you're living the romantically tragic tales of The Great Gatsby, Breakfast at Tiffany's, or even The Sun Is Also a Star? Don't worry, you can walk the same streets and feel like a movie star. Sit at the same coffee shop as some of your favorite writers of the past, or just hit up some of the classic Gossip Girl haunts. 

10. Avoid NYC forever: the traffic. If you enjoy driving and aren't a fan of public transportation, then you best leave your things at the door.

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If you have any notion that you will keep your car while living in NYC, then you probably shouldn't be heading in this direction. The bumper-to-bumper traffic, dank and humid subway cars, and endless honking cabs are the bread and butter of an NYC office commute. 

11. Come stay: You'll be able to get your exercise in without even feeling like you're doing it.

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Even if you've got a subway pass, you'll be doing a ton of walking. No matter the time of year, you'll spend most of your time out in the streets getting to know your neighborhoods as you walk through them. Not only will this be great exercise that will feel way more fun than running on a treadmill in a sweaty gym, but you'll be able to see so much of the city and get a feel for the different areas. 

12. Avoid NYC forever: the constant stress. If you're prone to anxiety in social and work environments, be ready for that to never end.

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People in NYC work hard and play hard, so if you like to lay back and relax, you're going to quickly feel out of your depth. It's going to feel like you never get a break in between running up and down the city on errands for your boss, and racing to the happy hour you've already planned with your friends. 

13. Come stay: Night owls rejoice; everything is open all the time, and you'll never have to wait until the next morning to get your garlic bread fix.

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Oh, you suddenly want to bake cookies? No worries, the bodega across the street is open until 4:00 a.m. You wish you had Indian food right now? Luckily your favorite restaurant delivers until 2. 

14. Avoid NYC forever: those hot, hot summers. You may have heard that heat rises, so you can only imagine how great that feels in your apartment on the 18th floor of a city full of heat-trapping cement and endless energy use.

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If you get trapped in the subway during the summer, I'll send out prayers for you because I don't think you'll ever be the same. Many apartments won't have AC available, and to avoid blackouts, the city urges everyone to limit their energy usage in the summer anyway. Who doesn't love a fun city-wide group project that could end in you sweating from every part of your body? 

15. Come stay: the culture and nightlife. Are you ready to go out to the most exciting bars, meet unique people, and attend once-in-a-lifetime events?

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There's always something new happening in NYC; parties and events that will make great stories and will remind you why you moved here in the first place. You'll see celebrities out at your local rooftop bar, or know a friend of a friend who can get you a spot in one of those velvet-roped lounges. 

16. Avoid NYC forever: Claustrophobia is real, people, and you'll certainly find it in the packed streets of NYC. You'll be living in a shoebox apartment on top of 50 other shoebox apartments and will be lucky to have a bathroom big enough to close the door when you sit on the toilet.

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If you need wide open spaces to feel comfortable, you better have a really big bank account, or better yet, a plan to relocate. You're going to be used to squeezing onto a full subway car, dodging dozens of people as you walk down the street, and sleeping in an apartment with four other roommates. Be ready to share your space. 

17. Come stay: the art. Whether it be music, theater, painting, or writing, this city is full of creatives and the incredible work they have to display.

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New York has some of the best theater, museums, and artwork for you to peruse at your leisure, and you'll probably get the opportunity to meet some of the people behind the amazing work. New York has always attracted creatives, and the people and their work make the city one-of-a-kind. 

18. Avoid NYC forever: The socioeconomic gap will make you physically ill. You'll watch billionaire businessmen walk past homeless people like they're nothing.

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Money is a driving force in NYC, and due to its massive costs, the city is home to the incredibly rich and those who cater toward them. Some people have second homes in the Hamptons, while others spend their days on a two-hour long commute to a run-down apartment so they can get to their minimum-wage job.  

19. Come stay: Nobody is judging you. Wear what you want, do what you want, and be who you want because everyone in NYC follows one golden rule: Mind your own business.

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Walk down the street in stilettos and a ballgown and most people will probably just look right past you. There's not a lot you can do in NYC that will actually draw attention to you and startle New Yorkers, so unless you're screaming nonsense at the top of your lungs (and even then, people may just ignore it), people tend to mind their own business. 

20. Avoid NYC forever: grocery shopping, or really any errands in general. If you know, you know.

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Oh, you accidentally forgot that one spice at the store when you were shopping the other day? Guess you're ordering takeout because by the time you walk to the store, wait in the 45-minute-long checkout line, and walk home, dinnertime would be over. Do you need to drop off a package to mail to your mom, a task that should take five minutes to complete? Cool, I'll see in two hours. 

21. Come stay: Whatever field you're trying to break into for your career, NYC probably has some great opportunities for you.

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New York City is a great place to be if you're interested in building your résumé and establishing a career in any field. Not only will you have amazing chances to network, but you will be able to work in some of the top companies in the world. 

22. Avoid NYC forever: the dating scene. Yes, NYC may be home to some really cool date destinations, but finding the right person to go to those places with is a downright nightmare.

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Nobody really wants to be single anywhere when they're looking for a partner, but people in NYC seem to hate it just that little bit more. You'll meet your fair share of NYC stereotypes when playing the dating field, and you'll probably find it pretty hard to meet someone in person rather than on a dating app since New Yorkers tend to keep to themselves when out and about. 

23. And finally, come stay: "If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere."

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The iconic Frank Sinatra song lyric isn't wrong. If you make it in NYC, anywhere else you go will seem like a walk in the park. Rent will seem cheap, every apartment will seem gigantic, and traffic will be manageable. You'll deal with everything life can throw at you in New York, so you'll be ready to take on the world.