NYC vs. Paris
When I first moved to New York, I was constantly comparing the city to Paris, which had previously been my home. Frankly, I wouldn't shut up about it. I missed this, I missed that. I liked this, I didn't like that. Paris was still MY city, and I wasn't sure how I felt about big, intimidating, hectic NYC.
Today it's a few months down the line, and I'm pleased to admit that NYC has grown on me. I like it, maybe just as much as Paris, or maybe even more (shh, I never said that).
NYC and Paris are both incredible cities that you should live in at some point in your life. As cosmopolitan cities, it's natural that they have many things in common. There are, however, distinct differences. Paris is not for everyone, and neither is NYC. The cities are as different as bagels and baguettes.. iced coffee and espresso.. subway and metro.. I love NY vs. Paris je t'aime.. You get the gist.
When comparing the city that never sleeps to the city of light, I've often asked myself, what does each city do best? After 3+ years in Paris, and 9 months and counting in NYC, here's what I can conclude:
DINING: PARIS
This is a tough one. My budget, in both of these cities, has not allowed me to try the best, finest, most luxurious restaurants that each respective city has to offer. I have, however, tried many (and I mean many) great spots in Paris, and am slowly doing the same in NYC. When it comes to getting a decent meal for a decent price, Paris takes the crown. Quality over quantity, my friends.
It's as simple as this: food is better in France. To me, nothing beats a delicious 4 euro sandwich, or a pain au chocolat on your way to work that's still warm and buttery, or some charcuterie during happy hour. However, NYC has much to offer, especially when you're willing to pay the bucks. The city is larger, it's more international, and there's a LOT to explore. The longer I live here, the more I discover, the happier I am. So I have absolute faith in the NYC culinary scene, and maybe I'll change my mind six months down the line. You just can't overlook the variety of food here, coming from each end of the earth.
Today, however, if given the choice, I would pick Paris's nutella banana crepe over NYC's Magnolia cupcake. I would choose a fresh baguette over a bagel. I would choose charcuterie over bacon. At the end of a night out, I would choose a kebab with french fries drizzled in Algerian sauce over a New York slice of pizza. I'm sorry, but I would choose French food over American food.
Paris, you have my tummy's heart. But hey, to each his own. In either city, you can't go wrong.
COFFEE: NYC
New York wins by a few points. For starters, there's American cawfee... which I won't deny, I actually did miss a tiny bit when I lived abroad. I'm not talking about the craft/hipster black coffee you can find in BOTH cities. It literally tastes the same. I'm talking about classic American coffee. It's what I want when I wake up, and yes that makes me biased. I'm also not a fan of espresso that tastes like dirt... French espresso, for the most part, has a distinct burnt taste to it. New York also appears to be innovative when it comes to the art of coffee. Recently I stumbled across a lavender latte, or a latte made with lavender milk. Did I like it? Not really, but points for being unique!
If you desire a good espresso or a proper cappuccino, you can find that here too. I had one the other day at The Regency Hotel, and to my delight, I noticed café viennois on the menu, which is essentially dessert served in a coffee mug (think cappuccino plus a lot of whipped cream).
If we're talking about the EXPERIENCE of drinking coffee, then that's another story. Paris wins by a long shot. You just can't find the same café culture in America that exists in France, where there's nothing wrong with sitting at a terrace of a café for a few hours while reading the paper and sipping slowly.
But if we're being perfectly honest, neither New York nor Paris is MY city for coffee. For that, we must head to Italy!
GREEN SPACES, WATER, & THE GREAT OUTDOORS: NYC
Mountains
NYC has a lot in its own backyard. You can easily take a trip to the Catskills, the Poconos, the Adirondacks, the Berkshires, the Shawangunks, the Appalachian Mountains... shall I go on? There are a ton of hiking options around here, many that you can do within a day!
Beaches & Water
In the summer, you can take the ferry to Rockaway Beach, which is also accessible by metro. You can also go to Long Beach, Brighton Beach, a number of other beaches... and let's not overlook the Hamptons! On the contrary, the closest beach to Paris is a two-hour train ride away, to Deauville. That doesn't sound too bad, but the downside: the train isn't cheap. It's much easier, cheaper, and faster to access beaches in New York.
Both cities have water, however. NYC is surrounded by it, and Paris has the Seine that runs through it. Nothing compares to sipping wine along the quais of the Seine as the sun sets... except the New York City skyline.
Parks
In Paris you can get lost in Buttes Chaumont, wander around Tuileries, or explore les Bois de Vincennes or les Bois de Boulogne (preferably during the day)... but NYC is massive, and Central Park itself is probably the size of Paris. It feels like a forest in there! And there's also Prospect Park in Brooklyn. The green space here in NYC is abundant, so much so that I can hear the birds chirping when I wake up.
NYC, you win.
TRANSPORTATION: PARIS
I've honestly been pretty miserable commuting in both cities. Commuting is never fun, am I right? It's crowded, it's dirty, and you're more often than not shoved into a metro car with sweaty strangers breathing down your neck. However, my commute in NYC is treacherous. People are always pushing and shoving, rushing past you while you navigate the MILES of underground, and giving you attitude. I've found myself in more than one subway quarrel. All in all, it's enough to spoil my morning.
There's also this fun thing here in NYC called local vs. express trains. Don't ask me to explain it. I cannot tell you how many times I've accidentally found myself on an "express train" that should have been local, and ended up in Harlem or somewhere miles from where I was supposed to be. And don't get me started on weekends, the NYC metro is best avoided. Trains will run on different tracks, they'll switch directions, no one really understands it. I definitely don't.
So although the Paris metro may not run all night, smells eternally of piss, and you'll often find yourself next to a homeless person, or accompanied on your journey by a unique musical interlude... despite these many flaws, I prefer it just ever so slightly. Emphasis on the slightly.
APARTMENTS: PARIS
Finding an apartment in NYC is NOT easy, so much so that I wrote a post about it. On the contrary, in Paris for 1,000 euros you can get a nice one bedroom, in a lovely quartier. In NYC for 1,000 dollars, you can find an apartment with 3 roommates. You may or may not have a closet, you definitely won't have a laundry machine, and whether or not you have a window is questionable. You can however choose to live further away from the city, where you'll find better apartments, even some nice modern ones, for lower rent. But don't expect to score a one-bedroom costing less than $2,000.
Side note: credit scores don't exist in France. That's another hurdle that you don't have to deal with.
Paris takes this one, hands down.
SHOPPING: NYC BABY
This is obvious. Shopping and fashion in Paris is amazing, but if you want to snag a deal, NYC is the place to be. The phrase shop till you drop IS an American idiom, after all.
FITNESS: NYC
Americans are obsessed with fitness. And although Paris is slowly catching up, the amount of gyms, classes, etc. available to you in NYC is incomparable. When you take a class here, there's a good chance that you're being instructed by the best of the best... an aspiring Broadway dancer, a professional boxer, a cycling champion, who knows! And because there are just so many fitness options available to you in NYC, the competition is fierce. Studios cannot afford to offer low-quality fitness, and for that reason, they're constantly developing new ideas and techniques to stand out amongst the masses.
You got this, NYC.
JOBS: NYC
There are more job opportunities here. Less job security, sure, but more opportunities. If you want something part-time, you got it. Something temporary? Why not.
No, it's not easy here. New Yorkers are ambitious, and there are many of them. But if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere! Head to NYC to build your career.
WALKING & BIKING: PARIS
If there's something that everyone must do in Paris, it's walk. Walk everywhere. No city is better for it. When I lived here, I would walk for hours sometimes, just getting lost and taking it all in. You won't fully understand until you go.
As for biking, it's also better in Paris. There, I was worried about getting hit by a bus. Here, I wouldn't be surprised if it actually happened.
Vélib', the Parisian version of Citi Bike, is around 30 euros per YEAR. In NYC, it's $15 per MONTH. Moreover, there are infinitely more bike lanes in Paris. And you just can't replace biking along the Seine, especially in the evening. Add this to your bucket list, please.
THE CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS: NYC
NYC, this one screams your name. Whether it's 2 AM on a Monday, or 8 PM on a Friday, there is always something to do. And there's something for everyone, literally. In NYC, you'll never be alone or bored, if you don't want to be. The amount of random, cool, wonderful things that this city has to offer... it's what makes New York City, NEW YORK CITY.
And that's definitely something that's growing on me.