Business · Economy · 1 day ago
Australian family’s New York move brought high costs and lasting regrets
In 2014, a woman moved from Australia to New York City with her husband, their two young sons and their cat.
They expected to stay for a year, but she is still there 12 years later.
The family left a three-bedroom home near Bondi Beach for a two-bedroom loft in Tribeca that cost $8,000 a month.
They moved about 10 times as their needs changed, rents rose and other housing problems arose.
New York public schools gave both boys an education she valued, though one attended a language-immersion school that cost about $30,000 a year.
She also found college costs difficult to accept, but gives no further details.
Despite the expense and upheaval, she says she is ultimately glad her family moved to New York.
An Australian family moved to New York City in 2014, intending to stay for a year, and the mother says she is still there 12 years later.
The move brought high housing costs, repeated moves and regrets, though she says she is ultimately glad they came.
The family swapped a three-bedroom cottage near Bondi Beach for a two-bedroom Tribeca loft that cost $8,000 a month.
The mother says she has moved about 10 times since coming to the US, amid rent increases, changing family circumstances and children outgrowing apartments.
She says her sons received a strong public-school education, but one attended a language-immersion school that cost about $30,000 a year.
- Who
- Natasha Silva-Jelly, her husband, their two sons and their Bengal cat moved from Australia.
- What
- The family moved to New York City for what they expected to be a one-year adventure; Silva-Jelly describes the high costs and regrets.
- When
- They moved in 2014, when Silva-Jelly was nearing 40.
- Where
- From Australia to New York City; their first home was a two-bedroom loft in Tribeca.
- Why
- Silva-Jelly says living in New York City had been her lifelong dream.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
I am ultimately glad I moved my family from Australia to New York City many years ago.
We told ourselves we'd come for a year, for an adventure.
The math didn't add up, and the risk of owning freaked us out.
Silva-Jelly says her desire to live in New York grew as she watched shows such as Friends and Sex and the City.
Nearing 40, Silva-Jelly moved to New York City with her husband, their two sons and their Bengal cat.
The family left their first Tribeca loft in under a year and later moved again after another building was condemned.
Silva-Jelly says she has moved about 10 times.
- Move
- Australia to New York City in 2014
- First New York home
- Two-bedroom loft in Tribeca
- Monthly rent
- $8,000
- Children at time of move
- Ages 2 and 9
- Moves since arriving in the US
- About 10
- Language-immersion school
- About $30,000 a year
Sources
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