Why I moved to NYC from India: To attend Columbia Business School and advance my career in technology
- Sasank left Bangalore to move into university housing with two roommates
- His portion of the rent for the 800-square-foot unit is $1,350 and includes utilities
Columbia has its own process for renting to students—they give preference to those coming from farther locations and who are moving to NYC for the first time, Sasank said.
iStock
Sasank moved from Bangalore, India, to attend Columbia Business School. He navigated his apartment search online, landing in university housing in a very small place shared with two roommates. He loves the Morningside Heights area, with the lack of space and a faulty elevator his only pet peeves. Here’s his story as told to Kelly Kreth.
I was born and raised in Vizag, a coastal city in the southern part of India but prior to coming to New York City, I lived in Bangalore.
I had a 1,000-square-foot, two-bedroom apartment with my best friend from college. We had in-unit laundry and ample closet space. My portion of the rent was INR 30,000, about $320.
I liked that the residential complex had a feeling of community, plus amenities like tennis courts, a swimming pool, and gym, but I disliked the ongoing construction that made nearby streets dusty and filled with potholes.
[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.]
I spent weekends riding my bicycle to nearby breakfast places and lakes—shout out to Arogya Ahaara and Agara Lake. I also spent time at the movies at a Cubbon Park (it’s the Central Park of Bangalore). My roommate and I often had friends over for board games or parties.
I worked remotely for a technology startup as a product manager, so I only used my car for traveling.
Why he decided to move
In early 2025, I was admitted to the MBA program at Columbia Business School. I wanted to advance my career and explore a new city, one at the forefront of advances in technology.
Because I couldn’t visit units in person, prior to my move I looked at floor plans online and checked locations using the street view feature on Google Maps.
I wanted to find the lowest possible rent because I took out a loan for my tuition and the currency exchange rate drastically cut into my savings.
In Bangalore, getting a rental involved a lot of negotiation. Typically you would offer a large security deposit to help convince an owner you would be a good tenant.
In NYC, you have to pounce quickly to get an apartment.
I landed in NYC that August, moving into a Columbia University residential property. Columbia has its own process for renting to students—they give preference to those coming from farther locations and moving to NYC for the first time. I am thankful that my apartment hunt was fairly easy because much of it was handled by the university. It saved me a lot of hassle.
What he likes about his new place
I now rent a three-bedroom unit with two roommates—my bedroom is just about 100 square feet and the whole apartment is just 800 square feet. The building is on Riverside Drive and has an elevator, security, and in-building laundry. It’s close to the subway on 125th St. My portion of the rent is $1,350 and includes utilities.
The apartment is furnished, so I all brought were clothes and few cooking utensils and spices. That’s very Indian—spices are essential to our cuisine.
My biggest pet peeve is the elevator, which is probably older than my grandmom— it sometimes gets stuck and shuts down completely. My second pet peeve is that I grossly underestimated how small a NYC apartment can be. My friends from other places in the U.S. are surprised at how small it is.
What he thinks of the neighborhood
I love that my place is right next to Riverside Park, which looks prettiest in fall, and Sakura Park, which looks prettiest in spring. I like that I can spend my evenings practicing my tennis game at the 116th Street tennis courts. I also love living near the Hudson River.
My favorite place to eat is El Porton, a Mexican restaurant, along with The ExPat and The Craftsman, which are Columbia Business School go-to bars.
I like hitting Target, Trader Joe’s, and Whole Foods at 125th and Amsterdam in Harlem—those are monthly rituals. I rarely order in. I’m a regular at CTown supermarket and the deli nearby for groceries or a quick bagel.
I no longer have a car. I take the bus and subway now. Everyone complaints about the train, but I like that I get home from any area even at 2 a.m. That’s incredible.
I will stay in this area at least for another year. Moving to NYC was a great idea and I would not change living in this neighborhood, but I may want to move to a different apartment.
You Might Also Like
