10 (Honest) Pros & Cons of Living in New York City

Musings from five blissful (and exhausting!) years, here's what I share with my own family and friends when they ask about daily life in New York.

We spent a lot of time working out of Central Park last summer, perks of NYC living.

There’s no denying that living in New York City is an extraordinary feat. A dream for many, the city is a study in endless trade-offs. From world-class culture and unmatched career opportunities to sky-high rents and a grueling daily pace, this special place is both exhilarating and relentless—often at the same time!

I have a reputation for being pragmatic (for better or worse), and I wanted to share my personal list of the pros and cons of calling New York home from an objective perspective—without sugarcoating anything.

This is one of the most in-depth articles I’ve written because I wanted it to be as thorough as possible. True to form, it’s straight to the point—designed to be a practical and informative guide for anyone considering a move to the Big Apple.

Let’s dive in.

“New Yorkers are born all over the country, and then they come to New York City and it hits them: Oh, that’s who I am.” -Delia Ephron

When we first moved to New York, we saw Caroline Kennedy on this stretch of the reservoir. Four years later, here I am pregnant with our little Caroline in the same spot.

Let’s start with the biggest perks of living in New York City