I moved to New York City from a small town. Here are 11 things that surprised me.

Erin McDowellMar 4, 2022, 04:02 IST

Many things about living in New York City surprised me when I first moved here, from dating to how much I spend on takeout food.Erin McDowell/Insider; Alexander Spatari/Getty Images

I've lived in New York City for almost three years after moving from a small town in Connecticut.
Many things surprised me when I moved, from navigating public transport to how friendly people are.

Traveling on the subway involves a learning curve and isn't always reliable, but it's still the best way to get around the city.

The Times Square 42nd Street subway.Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images

I was surprised to find it's actually more cost effective for me to pay every time I use the subway, instead of purchasing a monthly unlimited pass like I did when I first moved to the city.

An empty NYC subway car.Roy Rochlin/Getty Images

I was surprised to find it's actually more cost effective for me to pay every time I use the subway, instead of purchasing a monthly unlimited pass like I did when I first moved to the city.

I was also surprised to discover how much I enjoy taking the bus.

People boarding a bus in New York City.Mark Matousek/Business Insider

Each neighborhood — even ones very close to each other — has a distinctly different feel.

West Village.Alexander Spatari/Getty Images

Some people claim Manhattan is the best place to live in the city, but you definitely don't need to live there to enjoy living in New York.

Eating outside in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn.Joey Hadden/Insider

While I definitely expected to pay more going out in a major city like New York versus my small hometown, I was surprised by just how high the prices here can be.

A bar in New York City.Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

Living with roommates is, for most people, simply a reality in an expensive city like New York ... but it won't always be like an episode of "Friends."

Apartment in "Friends."NBC / Contributor/Getty

New Yorkers aren't the aloof, unfriendly people they're criticized for being.

Crowds walk through Times Square.Andrew Kelly/Reuters

I was surprised to find that dating in New York is harder than you might think, even in a city with millions of people.

Close-up of a female using a dating app on a smartphone.Luis Alvarez/Getty Images

Before moving to New York City, I wasn't a very adventurous eater, but my food tastes have expanded significantly since being here.

Spicy miso ramen.Jane P./ Yelp

I've also surprised myself by how much money I spend getting takeout food delivered.

A Doordash delivery person on a bike.Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

I travelled first-class on an Amtrak Acela train and thought the perks were cool — but not worth the $270 price tag

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I moved to New York City from a small town. Here are 11 things that surprised me.

Traveling on the subway involves a learning curve and isn't always reliable, but it's still the best way to get around the city.

I was surprised to find it's actually more cost effective for me to pay every time I use the subway, instead of purchasing a monthly unlimited pass like I did when I first moved to the city.

I was also surprised to discover how much I enjoy taking the bus.

Each neighborhood — even ones very close to each other — has a distinctly different feel.

Some people claim Manhattan is the best place to live in the city, but you definitely don't need to live there to enjoy living in New York.

While I definitely expected to pay more going out in a major city like New York versus my small hometown, I was surprised by just how high the prices here can be.

Living with roommates is, for most people, simply a reality in an expensive city like New York ... but it won't always be like an episode of "Friends."

New Yorkers aren't the aloof, unfriendly people they're criticized for being.

I was surprised to find that dating in New York is harder than you might think, even in a city with millions of people.

Before moving to New York City, I wasn't a very adventurous eater, but my food tastes have expanded significantly since being here.

I've also surprised myself by how much money I spend getting takeout food delivered.