The Pink Tax Return — How I Moved To New York City Alone At Twenty Two For Less Than $5,000
New York, New York — November 10, 2025
At 22 years old, I packed up my life in Washington State and moved across the country to New York City completely alone.
No car. No furniture. No plan B.
Just a savings account and an unreasonable amount of belief that I’d figure it out.
Everyone says moving to New York is expensive. And they’re right.
But it’s not impossible.
I did it for under $5,000 — and here’s exactly how.
✈️ The Flight: $136
I got lucky. Between airline miles I’d saved and a budget red-eye flight deal, my one-way ticket to New York cost $136 total, including one carry-on and two free checked bags. (I stole my brother’s checked bag).
Pro tip: Don’t waste money on aesthetic luggage. I thrifted my suitcases for $33 and used vacuum-seal bags so my entire wardrobe could compress into four pieces of luggage.
Looking back? I still brought too much.
Before I left, I sold nearly everything I owned — clothes, decor, random “just in case” items. If it didn’t fit in these suitcases or serve a real purpose, it went.
The biggest financial win?
🚗 Selling My Car: +$1,600 Cushion
I sold my car for $1,600 right before moving.
In New York, a car isn’t freedom, it’s a monthly bill with nowhere to park. That money became my moving cushion and erased future expenses like gas, insurance, and maintenance.
I know not everyone has a car to sell or miles to use. I got lucky in some ways. But the mindset of “what can I liquidate to buy my freedom?” made a huge difference.
I originally got a quote from CarMax for my car, and my first appraisal came in around $2,200. But I quickly learned that every time you request a new quote, the price can drop — especially as time passes or market conditions shift.
Lesson learned: wait until you’re actually ready to sell before locking in an appraisal.
By the time I was preparing to move, my offers had dipped. I ended up selling my car to a Mercedes-Benz dealership for $1,600.
Considering my 2006 Hyundai Elantra had alignment issues and a steering wheel that shook at high speeds… I took the deal and ran.
🏠 The Apartment: $3,600 Upfront
I found a tiny furnished apartment in Brooklyn through and had 1 FaceTime call with the landlord before I signed a 3 month minimum lease to live with two women whose names I did not know.
Terrifying? Yes. Stupid? Yes.
Worth it? Absolutely.
I paid $3,600 total for:
- First month’s rent
- Last month’s rent
- Security deposit
Choosing a furnished apartment saved me hundreds (if not thousands) in upfront furniture costs. No bed frame shopping, no emergency IKEA trip, no delivery fees. How did I find a furnished apartment? Spareroom.
If you’re moving on a budget, furnished is the cheat code. Spareroom is a great app that connects people to landlords and those trying to fill a vacant space.
🚇 Transportation: $136
My first monthly MetroCard cost $136 — and it became my golden ticket.
No Ubers. No cabs. Just me, my headphones, and the MTA.
I walked more than I ever had in my life and learned the city by moving through it instead of around it.
🛍️ The “I Just Moved Here” Expenses
Once I landed, the spending didn’t stop.
Towels. Bedding. Toiletries. Groceries. Laundry detergent. Shower curtain. All the tiny things you don’t think about until you’re standing in Target holding a cart of “life supplies.”
Add in a few emotional-support purchases and my total cost to get settled came to about:
$4,870
💰 What It Cost Me to Move to NYC
- Flight: $136
- Luggage: $33
- Apartment move-in costs: $3,600
- MetroCard: $136
- Groceries + household setup: ~$1,000
Total to move: ≈ $4,905
Total to move and survive my first month ≈ 5,700
By the end of my first full month in New York, with a lot of touring and eating, and drinking I had spent about $5,700 total to start my life here.
Conclusion
I cried my first night in my new room, and every night for two weeks.
Not because I regretted it.
Because I had actually done the thing I’d been scared to do.
Everything I owned was in four bags. The one thing I knew was that I didn’t know anything.
If you’re older, have a full apartment of furniture, pets, or financial responsibilities, this probably isn’t your blueprint.
But if you’re fresh out of college, a little delusional, and willing to live in a tiny room with roommates while you build your life?
This could absolutely work for you.
