Why I moved to NYC from D.C: After growing up outside the city, I wanted to make it my own
- She traded a two bedroom shared with a roommate for Greenpoint studio that costs $3,400 a month
“I would have loved to stay within a $2,000 budget. Was that realistic? No,” Grace said.
Grace knew she wanted to move to New York City someday. After living with a roommate in D.C., she decided the time was finally right. In Greenpoint, she pays double for a quarter of the size of her previous place. But she’s happy with her studio’s floor-to-ceiling view of Manhattan and her new life—for now. Here’s her story as told to Kelly Kreth.
I was adopted from Cambodia and raised in New Rochelle. I went to college in Syracuse and then moved to Washington, D.C., where I lived for the past two years.
I lived in Mt. Vernon Triangle with a roommate, a friend from my sorority at college who grew up in the DMV area—that’s what locals call the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia.
Our apartment was great and had everything we wanted. It was a 1,345-square-foot, two-bedroom, two-bath unit with a massive kitchen counter, two balconies and a very comfortable living area. The bedrooms could easily fit king-sized beds. The primary bedroom, which was my roommate’s, had three walk-in closets and was large enough for a small sitting area. Our rooms were on opposite sides of the apartment, which gave us more privacy.
[Editor's note: Brick Underground's series The Newcomers features first-person accounts about why a renter or buyer decided to take a chance on NYC.]
In terms of amenities, we had in-unit washer/dryers and air conditioning. The building had a co-working space, media room, roof deck with two pools, grills, and enough space that you were never truly on top of anyone. This was all included in the rent.
We split our rent of $3,450. The only thing I paid extra for was parking, which was $225 a month.
I loved the area for its convenience. It was a 10-minute walk to my office. For most of my time in D.C., I was a food and beverage publicist with clients primarily in the mid-Atlantic region. We also lived a 10-minute walk from the Capital One Arena so we went to a few basketball/hockey games. There were so many great restaurants and bars in the area.
Why she decided to move
Most of my family and many of my friends are in NYC and I was traveling up to New York by car or plane about every other weekend. I always knew I wanted to end up back in NY, but wasn’t fussy on a timeline. Then D.C. started to feel like a layover: I would get home, do laundry, and a day later I was back on the road.
By August 2025, I knew I was going to move to New York. My lease in D.C. didn’t end until December, but I was officially moved out by November. I moved home for those two months and was in my new apartment by January 5th.
Wanted: A one bedroom for $2,000 (in my dreams)
Ideally I would have loved to be in a one bedroom to have separate work and living spaces, but I knew that might not be possible. I also would have loved to stay within a $2,000 budget. Was that realistic? No. Once I started looking to get a feel for prices, my budget shifted to $3,000-$4,500 a month.
I zeroed in on Brooklyn and then the Williamsburg/Greenpoint area pretty quickly. I considered trying to focus on a quick commute into Manhattan, but because NYC is so accessible by mass transit, I decided not to be too picky about my commute time. I saw a total of eight properties that I found by using Google.
I toured my apartment, accepted the next day, filled out my application, and was approved within three weeks. No bidding war, no interview. I used a guarantor, so it took a little time to gather documents from them, but nothing crazy.
What she likes about her place
I’m now living at the tip of Greenpoint in a studio with a den. It’s about 420 square feet and the rent is $3,400 a month. I have a washer/dryer in the unit and dishwasher.
I use the den as a sleeping area and it fits a full-sized bed with two slim night stands on either side. The living room area has room for a two-seat dining set, small couch and large tv on the wall. The entire back of the apartment has floor-to-ceiling windows. I'm on the 26th floor, so the view of Manhattan is phenomenal.
The building has amenities that cost an additional $125 per month if you want to use them, including a gym, co-working areas, spaces to entertain, and an outside area. I do not pay for those amenities. In the summer, there is the option of paying $700 for the season if you want access to the pool. Since I did not use the pool much in D.C. and that cost was included, I do not intend to pay an exorbitant amount to barely use one in NYC.
I love the ease of getting in and out of the building. With only one entrance, it feels safe, especially with a 24/7 concierge.
What she thinks of the area
I love getting my nails done at Honey Nail Salon. I love Enerugi Ramen and Zenzo Sushi. This winter was so cold that I wasn't able to explore much but when I do get outside, it’s nice to walk around the waterfront and stroll around Williamsburg.
I work remotely now and if I have to go to Manhattan, the ferry that takes me to 35th Street is the easiest option. I’m keeping my car in New Rochelle and take MetroNorth if I need it.
My friends love my place but I’m still treating it like a layover, since I love to make travel plans for nearly every weekend. As long as I’m happy, they’re happy.
Dating here is a bit daunting. I feel fortunate that I’m someone who forces myself to make conversations with people where and when I can.
I think being on my own is really the greatest part of being here. Growing up just outside NYC and having grandparents in Midwood, I was always around the city, but now I get to make it my own.
I love living in Brooklyn, however I think the goal is to keep moving and have more experiences. I’m open to other possibilities when they present themselves.
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