Jersey City is often overlooked against the shine of New York City. Jersey City is one of those unexpected cities that holds lots of opportunities, high quality life, cultures and arts. Jersey City and Hoboken are often referred to as the “sixth borough” of New York City. The Covid 19 Pandemic has given a new opportunity for Jersey City to have an identity of its own aside from being close to Manhattan. Many people found refuge in Jersey City when New York City shut down during the Pandemic. According to New York Times, many people have addresses in Jersey City but their livelihoods are in New York City. There are many reasons that make Jersey City a great place to live:
Affordable housing
Although Jersey City is the “sixth borough” of New York City, when you compare Real Estate Rates, you will get more bang for your buck in Jersey City. Not only can you get a bigger place, but you can even get a condo with the most marvelous views of Manhattan at a much better price than what you would’ve paid in NYC.
According to Zumper, the average monthly rent of a studio apartment in Jersey City is $1,700 while that in NYC is $2,500. Jersey City will allow you to rent a luxurious studio for a fraction of the price of a mediocre studio. You can still enjoy your life in NYC while living in a spacious house with luxury amenities.
Great Views of Manhattan
You have probably heard this before, “the best views of Manhattan are from Jersey City!” I mean just take a look at this beautiful view from Newport Area
The Liberty State Park offers some of the gorgeous panoramic views of Manhattan skyline, Ellis Island, and the Statue of Liberty. Downtown Jersey City also has many Rooftop bars with breathtaking views of Manhattan. Jersey City offers you an opportunity to enjoy the hustle and bustle of NYC while being able to come back home to a quiet place.
Short Trip to Manhattan
As mentioned before, you are basically living in New York City! The PATH will take you from pretty much anywhere in Jersey City with a short 20 minute ride to Lower Manhattan. Many Jersey City residents who work across the Hudson River in Manhattan, take PATH for their commute for $2.75.
Apart from PATH, there are also many bus services available for easy commute to and from Manhattan. You can also travel fancy on a ferry which takes you from Jersey City to Lower Manhattan in about 6 minutes.
A Foodie’s Paradise
If you are someone who would devour all the food places in the city, Jersey City will keep you on your toes. This Gold Coast city offers diverse choices when it comes to wining and dining options. Downtown Jersey City’s Grove St offers a great variety of bars and restaurants with cuisines from all over the world. And if you are a fan of Indian Food, take a walk down the Indian Street in Journal Square, you will fall in love! You can’t forget Washington Street in Hoboken when talking about food and drinks. Washington Street is a weekend spot for any individual living in Hoboken.
Jersey City is Fun Too
We all know that New Yorkers love their nightlife. NYC is filled with Clubs, Bars and all the Nightlife activities. To your surprise, Jersey City likes to have fun as well! The Downtown area has many clubs and bars with great views and cheaper drinks. Well established bars in Jersey City often offer cheaper drinks than a well established bar in New York City.
Tax Friendly
In Comparison to New York City, Jersey City is way cheaper in terms of taxes which is why many millennials from NYC have taken over Jersey City by storm. All NYC residents pay the city tax which is from 2.9 to 3.9 percent of your income. NJ Tax rate is also less than that of New York State which is about 4% but in NJ you will pay as low as 1.4%.
By living in Jersey City you are pretty much saving about 3% of your income tax!
