Three years ago, I lived in Manhattan with a roommate, then spent a year at my aunt's place in Palisades Park, and now I've moved to Jersey City.

At first, to be honest, leaving New York felt like being pushed out of the center, but now I think it's a more comfortable place where I can live longer than in New York. I've come to realize that a place where I can live comfortably for a long time is more important than a 'cool place' to live.

When I lived in New York, it was completely normal for rent to increase every year. But after moving to Jersey City, I was able to find a much larger and better condition home within the same budget. The kitchen is spacious, there's plenty of storage space, and just having a washing machine in the house has improved my quality of life.

And New York is always noisy. When I was younger, I enjoyed that energy. There was a feeling that the lights were on late into the night and that you could do something at any time. But I didn't realize how comfortable a quiet neighborhood could be. Jersey City has the city vibe while being relatively calm.

In fact, many people think living in New Jersey would make it inconvenient to go to New York. However, taking the PATH train, it only takes about 10 to 15 minutes to get to Manhattan. Some days, it feels faster than moving from Brooklyn to Manhattan.

Commuting to work in New York is easy, and there's no burden when meeting friends. The big appeal of Jersey City is that you can enjoy the advantages of New York while living more comfortably.

Living in Jersey City means not only lower housing costs but also less burden when grocery shopping. 

There are large supermarkets nearby, and I can do my shopping comfortably in one go, which has stabilized my daily routine. Jersey City has many families living here, and the neighborhood feels more stable. There are more Koreans living here than I expected, making it easy to share information and feel at ease.

Of course, New York still has its unique charm. The culture, performances, restaurants, and the energy of the city are hard for Jersey City to match.

But enjoying New York occasionally and living comfortably in Jersey City every day seems to create a balance that is surprisingly good.

In the past, just living in New York felt like a point of pride, but my perspective has changed. I've come to understand that how you live is more important than where you live.

I believe living in Jersey City is not a choice to give up New York, but rather a choice to better utilize New York while finding more leisure in my life.