Resources > Orientation

City Spotlights

Introduction
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www.fusia.net/nyc

Where to live?

While Manhattan is where the majority of New Yorkers work, most choose to live and commute from other places for lower cost of living.

Residents of the outer boroughs (Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx) can take the subway or (Staten Island) the ferry. Long Islanders can use the LIRR for commuting, while New Jersey residents rely on the PATH train and upstate New Yorkers can use MetroNorth to travel and work in the city.

Exchange visitors who choose to reside in Manhattan should budget at least $3,000 per month for rent. If you live in the outer boroughs, allocate at least $1,500 per month for rent. For less expensive options, consider sub-leasing, sharing an apartment with others, or outlying areas. Examples of neighborhoods outside of Manhattan include the following.

• Astoria & Long Island City (Queens, NY): Right across the river from Manhattan, these are up and coming neighborhoods that are seeing lots of development in the coming decades. Initially a Greek area, it is now a melting pot of cultures. Note: Long Island City is not the same as Long Island.

• Flushing & Brooklyn Chinatown Areas (Queens/Brooklyn, NY): With a large East Asian population, these neighborhoods are densely populated and accessible to the rest of the city. Not only do they have vast public transit options, but they also feature many stores that cater to the local East Asian culture.

• Williamsburg & Bushwick (Brooklyn, NY): These neighborhoods are centers of arts and culture in NYC. The night life in both is unlike anywhere else in the city, with bars and related establishments being open well into the night. You will also find an abundance of creative expression, from art galleries to street performances.

• Forest Hills & Rego Park (Queens, NY): Being located closer to Manhattan than Flushing, this area features numerous large shopping centers (QCM, Rego Center). With countless restaurants and outdoor eateries, the food options in this area are endless. The population is mixed, with young and old families alike choosing to reside here.

• Jersey City & Hoboken (NJ): Many young professionals have chosen to make this area their home. With new high-rise buildings popping up, prospective residents will have a great view of Manhattan. Keep in mind, however, that prices here can be higher than Brooklyn and Queens.

www.fusia.net/nyc

How to get around?

As the busiest city in the nation, New York City has a plethora of public transportation options. Alongside featuring the busiest and only 24-hour transit system in the state, it is also a major hub to nearby coastal cities.

New York City’s public transportation system is run by the Metropolitan Transportation Agency (MTA). Within the city, one can navigate the five boroughs easily without the use of a personal vehicle. In addition to walking, one can ride with the bikeshare service Citibike.

Most buses and subways use MetroCard or OMNY (tap to pay), with a standard fare of $2.75 (note: this does not apply to interborough express buses, which charge $6.75, and regional rail like the LIRR and MetroNorth). Keep in mind that MetroCard is being phased out in favor of OMNY, thus we recommend using tap to pay if you ride the MTA.

• Download the LIRR or MetroNorth Traintime official apps for LI or Upstate NY schedules
• Download the unofficial Citymapper or Transit apps for NYC transit realtime updates
• MTA: Subway/Bus ($2.75) – Click HERE
• Citi Bike: A privately owned public bicycle sharing system serving the NYC – Click HERE

Many people live around the city, e.g., New Jersey, Upstate New York, and Long Island, and commute to NYC to work. From/to NYC and NJ, take a PATH or NJTransit train or NJ bus at Port Authority Bus Terminals located from 40th to 42nd Streets, between Eighth and Ninth Avenues. From/to NYC and Connecticut and Upstate New York, take Metro-North Railroad at the Grand Central Terminal on 347 Madison Ave (east side of Manhattan). From/to NYC and Long Island, take a LIRR from Penn Station.

• Metro North: Take a train from Grand Central to upstate NY and Connecticut – Click HERE
• LIRR: A commuter rail system to/from Manhattan/Brooklyn and Long Island – Click HERE
• PATH: A rapid transit system in the northeastern New Jersey cities – Click HERE
• Staten Island Ferry: A free ferry to/from Staten Island and Lower Manhattan – Click HERE

New York City is known for its yellow taxi cabs, which can be seen in large numbers throughout the city. Other options include Uber, Lyft, and car service. To nearby coastal cities such as Boston, DC, and Philadelphia to which one can easily access using interstate buses or Amtrak trains. For commute and sightseeing, New York Water Taxi offers both. There are also discount intercity shuttle buses that run among the three main Chinatowns in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Flushing, Queens.

• Yellowcab: Flat rate to Manhattan of about $50 – Click HERE
• New York Water Taxi: Fast vessels along the East River and Hudson River – Click HERE
• Interstate bus: A ride to DC is around $18-30, to Boston is around $30, and to Toronto is around $90 - Check out Greyhound, Megabus, Flixbus, and Peter Pan
• Interstate train: Check out Amtrak for service along between DC, NYC and Boston
• Budget car service: 24/7, from Flushing to JFK costs about $28+, e.g., HERE
• Chinatown vans: $5 Flushing/Brooklyn, $4 Flushing/Manhattan, $3 Brooklyn/Manhattan