When to Use
User asks about NYC for any purpose: visiting, moving, working, studying, or starting a business. Agent provides practical guidance with current data.
Quick Reference
| Topic |
File |
| Visitors |
|
| Attractions (must-see vs skip) |
visitor-attractions.md |
| Itineraries (1/3/7 days) |
visitor-itineraries.md |
| Where to stay |
visitor-lodging.md |
| Tips & day trips |
visitor-tips.md |
| Neighborhoods |
|
| Quick comparison |
neighborhoods-index.md |
| Manhattan |
neighborhoods-manhattan.md |
| Brooklyn |
neighborhoods-brooklyn.md |
| Queens |
neighborhoods-queens.md |
| Choosing guide |
neighborhoods-choosing.md |
| Food |
|
| Overview & essentials |
food-overview.md |
| NYC classics (pizza, bagels, deli) |
food-classics.md |
| Ethnic neighborhoods |
food-ethnic.md |
| Food halls & markets |
food-halls.md |
| Budget & dietary |
food-practical.md |
| Practical |
|
| Moving & settling |
resident.md |
| Transport |
transport.md |
| Cost of living |
cost.md |
| Safety |
safety.md |
| Weather |
climate.md |
| Career |
|
| Tech industry |
tech.md |
| Students |
student.md |
| Startups |
startup.md |
Core Rules
1. Identify User Context First
- Role: Tourist, resident, tech worker, student, entrepreneur
- Timeline: Short visit, planning to move, already there
- Load relevant auxiliary file for details
2. Safety Context
NYC is one of the safest large US cities. Main concerns:
- Phone snatching (subway doors)
- Pickpocketing in tourist areas
- Package theft
See
safety.md for area-specific guidance.
3. Weather Surprises
| Myth |
Reality |
| "Always cold" |
Summers are HOT and humid (85°F+) |
| "Don't need AC" |
July-August brutal without it |
| "Winters mild" |
Can drop to 20°F, wind makes it worse |
Best weather: September-October (fall), April-May (spring)
4. Current Data
| Item |
Range |
| 1BR rent (Manhattan) |
$4,200-5,600/mo |
| 1BR rent (Brooklyn) |
$3,200-4,100/mo |
| Senior SWE salary |
$220K-300K total comp |
| Student budget |
$2,000-2,700/month |
| Subway single ride |
$3.00 (OMNY caps at $35/week) |
5. Tourist Traps
- Skip: Times Square dining, Madame Tussauds, most of Little Italy
- Do: Free museums (Met, AMNH pay-what-you-wish for NY residents), Staten Island Ferry (FREE Statue views)
- Book ahead: Statue of Liberty crown (3-6 months), Broadway shows, hot restaurants
6. Transit is King
- Subway covers everything 24/7
- OMNY (contactless) = auto fare cap ($35/week)
- Taxis/Uber expensive — subway faster for most trips
- Citymapper app essential
7. Neighborhood Matching
| Profile |
Best Areas |
| Young professionals |
East Village, Williamsburg, LIC, Bushwick |
| Families |
Park Slope, UWS, Astoria, Brooklyn Heights |
| Budget-conscious |
Washington Heights, Jackson Heights, Crown Heights |
| Tech workers |
Flatiron, DUMBO, LIC, Williamsburg |
NYC-Specific Traps
- Times Square dining — Tourist prices, mediocre food. Walk 5 blocks for better.
- Little Italy — 2 blocks of overpriced tourist traps. Arthur Ave (Bronx) is real Italian.
- Airbnb short stays — Mostly illegal since Sept 2023. Use hotels.
- Summer humidity — Heat index makes 85°F feel like 100°F. Subway platforms brutal.
- Phone snatching — Most common crime. Don't use phone at subway doors.
- Dollar pizza — $1.50-2 now. Spend $4-5 for actual quality (Joe's, Scarr's).
1---2name: new-york3description: Navigate New York City as visitor, resident, tech worker, student, or entrepreneur with neighborhoods, transport, costs, safety, and local insights.4---5
6## When to Use
7
8User asks about NYC for any purpose: visiting, moving, working, studying, or starting a business. Agent provides practical guidance with current data.
9
10## Quick Reference
11
12| Topic | File |
13|-------|------|
14| **Visitors** | |
15| Attractions (must-see vs skip) | `visitor-attractions.md` |
16| Itineraries (1/3/7 days) | `visitor-itineraries.md` |
17| Where to stay | `visitor-lodging.md` |
18| Tips & day trips | `visitor-tips.md` |
19| **Neighborhoods** | |
20| Quick comparison | `neighborhoods-index.md` |
21| Manhattan | `neighborhoods-manhattan.md` |
22| Brooklyn | `neighborhoods-brooklyn.md` |
23| Queens | `neighborhoods-queens.md` |
24| Choosing guide | `neighborhoods-choosing.md` |
25| **Food** | |
26| Overview & essentials | `food-overview.md` |
27| NYC classics (pizza, bagels, deli) | `food-classics.md` |
28| Ethnic neighborhoods | `food-ethnic.md` |
29| Food halls & markets | `food-halls.md` |
30| Budget & dietary | `food-practical.md` |
31| **Practical** | |
32| Moving & settling | `resident.md` |
33| Transport | `transport.md` |
34| Cost of living | `cost.md` |
35| Safety | `safety.md` |
36| Weather | `climate.md` |
37| **Career** | |
38| Tech industry | `tech.md` |
39| Students | `student.md` |
40| Startups | `startup.md` |
41
42## Core Rules
43
44### 1. Identify User Context First
45- **Role**: Tourist, resident, tech worker, student, entrepreneur
46- **Timeline**: Short visit, planning to move, already there
47- Load relevant auxiliary file for details
48
49### 2. Safety Context
50NYC is one of the safest large US cities. Main concerns:
51- Phone snatching (subway doors)
52- Pickpocketing in tourist areas
53- Package theft
54See `safety.md` for area-specific guidance.
55
56### 3. Weather Surprises
57| Myth | Reality |
58|------|---------|
59| "Always cold" | Summers are HOT and humid (85°F+) |
60| "Don't need AC" | July-August brutal without it |
61| "Winters mild" | Can drop to 20°F, wind makes it worse |
62
63**Best weather:** September-October (fall), April-May (spring)
64
65### 4. Current Data
66| Item | Range |
67|------|-------|
68| 1BR rent (Manhattan) | $4,200-5,600/mo |
69| 1BR rent (Brooklyn) | $3,200-4,100/mo |
70| Senior SWE salary | $220K-300K total comp |
71| Student budget | $2,000-2,700/month |
72| Subway single ride | $3.00 (OMNY caps at $35/week) |
73
74### 5. Tourist Traps
75- Skip: Times Square dining, Madame Tussauds, most of Little Italy
76- Do: Free museums (Met, AMNH pay-what-you-wish for NY residents), Staten Island Ferry (FREE Statue views)
77- Book ahead: Statue of Liberty crown (3-6 months), Broadway shows, hot restaurants
78
79### 6. Transit is King
80- Subway covers everything 24/7
81- OMNY (contactless) = auto fare cap ($35/week)
82- Taxis/Uber expensive — subway faster for most trips
83- Citymapper app essential
84
85### 7. Neighborhood Matching
86| Profile | Best Areas |
87|---------|------------|
88| Young professionals | East Village, Williamsburg, LIC, Bushwick |
89| Families | Park Slope, UWS, Astoria, Brooklyn Heights |
90| Budget-conscious | Washington Heights, Jackson Heights, Crown Heights |
91| Tech workers | Flatiron, DUMBO, LIC, Williamsburg |
92
93## NYC-Specific Traps
94
95- **Times Square dining** — Tourist prices, mediocre food. Walk 5 blocks for better.
96- **Little Italy** — 2 blocks of overpriced tourist traps. Arthur Ave (Bronx) is real Italian.
97- **Airbnb short stays** — Mostly illegal since Sept 2023. Use hotels.
98- **Summer humidity** — Heat index makes 85°F feel like 100°F. Subway platforms brutal.
99- **Phone snatching** — Most common crime. Don't use phone at subway doors.
100- **Dollar pizza** — $1.50-2 now. Spend $4-5 for actual quality (Joe's, Scarr's).
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