The Pros and Cons of Choosing the NYC Area for Your Retirement

By: ROS Team

New York City is one of the world’s most exciting cities and one of the best places to retire. Still, it’s not for everyone: there are pros and cons to consider before deciding whether New York City is right for you.

In this article, we’ll examine these pros and cons with an eye toward helping you decide if NY is right for your retirement years—or if another city might be better suited to your needs.

Pros

• New York City is a great place to live. The city has access to world-class healthcare facilities, and it’s easy to find specialists if you need them.

Plus, there are lots of things to do in the city–there are museums and theaters, as well as great restaurants and bars.

• Public transportation is excellent in New York City; you can get around on foot or by using buses or subways if necessary. This makes it easy for seniors who don’t drive their own cars or those who don’t want their own vehicles in the city (parking spaces are limited).

• There are plenty of cultures here: there’s history everywhere you look! You’ll also find diverse populations from all over the globe living together peacefully, thanks largely due this being such an international hub of commerce over many decades now.

• The city is also very safe. There’s a low crime rate, and the police force is quite large (which helps keep crime down). In fact, New York City has some of the lowest violent crime rates in the country.

• The city offers plenty of opportunities to socialize. There are many senior centers (like The Bristal Assisted Living, Stein Senior Center, Senior Center on the Square, etc.) in the city where you can socialize with your fellow pensioners.

• The city is full of entertainment. To spend your leisure time, you can visit a bar, attend art classes, enjoy live music, and go to a spa.

• The Big Apple is a walkable and bicycle-friendly neighborhood. Being a senior, you will want to keep yourself as mobile as possible, and there’s no better way to keep yourself active than walking through the city and riding a bicycle.

Cons

The cons of choosing the New York City area for your retirement include:

• Weather extremes and natural disasters. The climate in this region is unpredictable, and it can change quickly.

During the winter, temperatures can drop below freezing at night while daytime highs are still above 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius).

In the summertime, temperatures regularly climb into the 90s F (30s C) during July and August–not exactly ideal if you’re not accustomed to hot weather!

• High cost of living: Compared with other large U.S. cities such as Los Angeles or Chicago, living expenses tend to be higher here due in part to high taxes on goods sold within city limits.

• Noise Pollution: If you want a quiet place to spend your post-retirement life, then NYC may not be the ideal option for you. Being a financial hub, the city remains crowded 24/7, and you can expect vehicle noise even at midnight and on weekends.

Other Factors to Consider

In addition to the above-mentioned considerations, there are a few other factors that you should consider before making your decision.

One is the availability of quality senior services in your area. If you’re moving out of state or across the country, it’s important that you have access to facilities like assisted living communities and nursing homes that can help keep your loved one safe and healthy as they age.

Another thing to consider is tax implications: if they move somewhere else, will they be subjecting themselves to higher taxes?

If so, this could be an issue worth taking into account when deciding where they might want their post-retirement home base located–it might make sense financially for them not only because they would have less income coming in each month but also because their overall cost-of-living expenses would decrease by moving somewhere cheaper than New York City (or wherever else).

Final Thoughts

The New York City area is a great place to live for retirees. Its proximity to everything makes it easy to get around, and there are plenty of activities for seniors who want to be active in their retirement years.

However, if you’re looking for peace and quiet away from the hustle and bustle of city life, then this might not be the ideal spot for you. Especially if you have mobility issues or other health problems that require special attention at all times, like oxygen tanks or wheelchairs.

Related Article:

Pros and Cons of Living in New York City
What to Know Before Moving to New York City
Reality of Living in New York City