Living In NYC and Working In NJ – can it work?

While NYC is without a doubt one of the most expensive cities to live in, everyone can say it has its perks. Every New Yorker can vouch for that. Just the feeling you get just from walking the streets makes it all feel special. However, living in NYC and working in NJ can prove to be a difficult task for many. If you are still on the fence about moving from NY to NJ, this article can help you. We’re going to talk about some of the good sides and some of the bad sides of the NYC to NJ commute, and hopeful it will help you decide if that’s something you want for yourself.

Bad sides to living in NYC and working in NJ

There are pros and cons of living anywhere in the world. And New York City is definitely not an exception. Depending on who you ask, you will either hear that NYC is the greatest city to live in or an absolute nightmare. Sure, there are two sides to every story. Because of that, we are going to go over a few of the most commonly mentioned bad sides of living in NYC and working in NJ. Now, we are not trying to talk you into contacting moving companies Montclair NJ, and moving to the New Jersey suburbs. We simply believe that informed decisions are the best ones. And who better to help you with that than us?

Rent prices

This is probably the first bad side everyone thinks of about living in NYC. The rent prices. During the last year, rents increased drastically. The average rent of a Manhatten apartment reached a record high of $4.000 in June. Finding affordable apartments to rent in New York City has become near impossible. And projections have it becoming even harder in the upcoming months and years. If you are a renter rather than an owner, it really makes you think if living in NYC and working in NJ is even affordable anymore, which is why many residents are hiring household movers NJ, and finding more affordable living elsewhere.

And of course, the first thought you might have is what about rent-stabilized apartments? Unfortunately, you might be taking a hit as well if you live or hope to live in one. This year, rent in the rent-stabilized homes will increase by 3.25% for one-year leases and 5% for two-year leases. This decision comes after an almost unanimous vote by the Rent Guidelines Board. The increase New Yorkers are facing is usually explained by inflation, but many renters and officials disagree. Whatever may be the reason, the reality is that if you live in New York, your rent will continue to increase dramatically.

Taxes

If you are living in NYC and working in NJ, the most difficult part will be figuring out the taxes. Of course, taxes are hard to figure out either way. But this situation makes things exponentially harder. First, differentiating between city tax and state tax is key here. To simplify it, you will have to pay taxes both in New York, where you live and in New Jersey, where you work. If you are already thinking about just hiring furniture movers NJ and relocating before you make your head spin with taxes, we don’t blame you. 

However, if you are intent on staying in New York City (which is entirely understandable), we can go over some basic taxes you will need to pay.

• First, you need to pay a city tax on your income earned. Your income, wherever made, is taxed at around 3%, which isn’t really that high as a resident in NJ.
• Second, since you work in NJ, you would have to pay a state income tax there as a nonresident, with the rate fluctuating all the way up to 8.9%, depending on your income
• Third, and last, you file a tax return in NY with the credit from paying the state and city income tax.

Now, if your mind isn’t set on hiring All Season Movers NJ and moving to NJ, then the taxes might be worth it if living in NYC is important to you. It may be slightly more difficult than living and working in New Jersey, but it’s important to follow your heart.

Commuting to NJ

The most important thing when you are living in NYC and working in NJ is the commute. Not only will it take you time to get to your job, but it costs as well. While commuting is something most Americans do, it is still a lot of time to spend traveling every day from and to your job. So how long would it take and how much would it cost?

There are many lines you can see to go from NYC to NJ and back. The most common one is, of course, the PATH Subway. The ride would cost you around $2.75, with parking an additional $25. However, a monthly subway ticket will cost around $130.  While the monthly cost is not a small sum, at least you won’t be spending too much time commuting as this ride is 20 minutes one way. Depending on where you need to go, NYC to NJ subway rides can last up to an hour. If that doesn’t seem like too much time wasted, you can use it to be productive by reading or listening to a podcast.

Good sides to living in NYC and working in NJ

There are some circumstances that make living in New York City worth any challenging situation. Ask any New Yorker, and they will vouch that New York is the greatest place on Earth. So, before you think about switching jobs or even moving, we are going to talk about a few upsides of living in The City That Never Sleeps. By the end of it, you will have either decided that all the challenges are worth it or not.

NYC is where it all happens

Of course, this is the city that feels like the center of the Earth. There is something happening not every day or every night, but every hour and minute. The most serendipitous city you can find in the US. You can walk down the street, and you will find an event, a play, and an exhibit you will have to see every time. The cultural scene is amazing and incredibly diverse, giving the city an aura of a true melting pot.

The food scene is incredible, with more than plenty to explore each night, even for the most specific of tastes. With 69 Michelin Star restaurants, you can find fine dining enough for every Friday night dinner throughout the year, and you’ll have weeks to spare. However, New Jersey is not lagging behind by much. This is because many businesses have been moving out of New York to NJ, which is why commercial movers NJ has more and more clients each month. This is turning NJ into a city similar to New York in regards to job opportunities, cultural scene, and overall quality of life.

NYC offers many opportunities

“If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere.” New York City is truly the epitome of the American Dream. While it may be expensive, it considerably makes it up by being the land of opportunity. You can easily find a job there or a side job or a gig. There are endless opportunities not only when it comes to making money but to saving money as well. You can find almost anything online through Craigslist. From furniture to old books or clothes. Anything you might need, you can definitely find it there. While you can find stuff online in other cities, New York is special when it comes to the variety of online market items. You can find any sort of service you need and offer it as well.

It is one of the biggest and safest cities in the world

With a population of over in NYC, you are never alone. What may surprise you is that New York City has been declared one of the top 5 safest large cities in the United States. Now that might sound weird but not f you consider a few things. The first is that the population is large, so the ratio of crime per capita is low. Secondly, since it has that many people living there, it rightly earned its nickname, The City That Never Sleeps. As a popular tourist spot, you will rarely find the streets empty. Of course, the pandemic was an exception. All of this contributed to the overall safety of the city. Sure, no one would recommend going for a midnight stroll through Central Park since that might not be as safe.

What if living in NYC and working in NJ isn’t for you?

To many New Yorkers, New Jersey is not good enough. It is a city most people will never consider moving to. However, if you are working there, you might think of giving it a second chance. While living in New York City offers plenty of opportunities and upsides, it may be too much to commute every day. Especially considering the rising cost of living. When you factor in the utilities, the monthly rent, the cost of your commute, and time lost, you may realize it is simply not worth it.

In that case, it might be time to start looking for a place in NJ or finding another job. If you decide on the former, then the first thing you should do is look for an apartment in New Jersey (which will be without a doubt cheaper than in New York). After that, the only thing left to do is contact a moving company for moving quotes NJ, and move somewhere where the cost of living will be significantly lower.

Where to live in New Jersey

New Jersey might have a bad reputation among New Yorkers. However, if the cost of living seems too much for you there are some places you can live in New Jersey. After all, living in NYC and working in NJ is not always easy or affordable. And, not to mention that NJ has some wonderful places where you can live. One of them is Maplewood. This is a great place with a population of around 25,000. It offers a dense suburban feel, perfect for raising a family. If it’s not far from where you work, this might be a perfect solution for you. And, to top it off, moving there won’t be a problem because there are professional movers Maplewood NJ who will transfer you safely in the blink of an eye.

Final thoughts

So, in conclusion, is it really difficult working in NJ and living in NYC? Kind of. Navigating the tax laws might be the most difficult thing, but once you figure it out, it’s smooth sailing. Other than that, living in NYC can be expensive. If you don’t have a high-paying job, it may prove to be incredibly difficult. However, with a nice job, New York City can be great.

The commute, however, is not one of the upsides. While you wouldn’t be the only one commuting, it will still take you some time to get to your job and back. You can spend your time more efficiently if you simply live and work in New Jersey alone. New Jersey has a lot to offer as well.  To sum up, living in NYC and working in NJ might not be the easiest, but if you are determined, we are sure you can make it work.