The city provides a constant sense of adventure for newly minted New Yorkers. Where else can you ogle world-famous art, nosh on soup dumplings, then beeline to the beach to watch the sunset with your toes in the sand? But if all you know about NYC comes from binge-watching TV shows and movies, you may be a little worried about how it is in real life. The big question: which NYC neighborhoods are right for you to stake your flag in? We chatted with real estate experts and longtime New Yorkers for advice on finding the best NYC neighborhood for you, depending on your preferences and lifestyle.

Photo credit: From a listing at 695 First Avenue #36F

Manhattan Rentals under $2,500 On Streeteasy Article continues below

Carnegie Hill

161 East 96th Street

$2,450 base rent

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East Harlem

318 East 126th Street

$1,900 base rent

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Carnegie Hill

1596 Third Avenue

$2,495 base rent

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Chelsea

327 West 21st Street

$2,350 base rent

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Hamilton Heights

580 Saint Nicholas’s Avenue

$2,400 base rent

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Yorkville

1848 Second Avenue

$2,400 base rent

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Manhattan Valley

953 Amsterdam Avenue

$2,300 base rent

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Central Harlem

19 West 129th Street

$2,150 base rent

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East Harlem

234 East 106th Street

$2,375 base rent

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Inwood

502 West 213rd Street

$1,900 base rent

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Central Harlem

165 West 127th Street

$2,000 base rent

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Hamilton Heights

469 West 147th Street

$2,075 base rent

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Explore Different Neighborhoods

There are — wait for it — hundreds of NYC neighborhoods to choose from. For people who have a hard time making decisions, that’s more intimidating than selecting a coffee at Starbucks. Try to narrow your NYC neighborhood search by focusing on a borough first. There are just five. Indeed one will feel like home, whether you want to steep yourself in historic Manhattan or live on the frothy Atlantic Ocean in Brooklyn or Queens.

“If someone is completely new to the city, the best advice I give them is to first reach out to any family or friends and get some guidance from them,” says Nora Ali, a licensed real estate salesperson for Corcoran. “The next thing I always recommend is for them actually to go and spend time in areas of interest.”

If you haven’t arrived in NYC yet, don’t fret. There are plenty of local press sites that will give you taste, such as the Queens Gazette, Brooklyn Eagle, Staten Island Advance, Bronx Times, and Manhattan papers like The Villager. You can also visit the NYC Life section on StreetEasy Reads for an even more granular look at neighborhoods.

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Kensington

58 Dahill Road

$2,500 base rent

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Stuyvesant Heights

407 Chauncey Street

$2,400 base rent

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Ocean Hill

342 Marion Street

$1,850 base rent

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Ditmas Park

297 East 16th Street

$1,495 base rent

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Flatbush

1209 Rogers Avenue

$2,395 base rent

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East Flatbush

906 East New York Avenue

$2,500 base rent

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Crown Heights

959 Carroll Street

$2,250 base rent

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Sheepshead Bay

615 Avenue Y

$2,300 base rent

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Prospect Park South

45 Tennis Court

$1,750 base rent

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Flatbush

1207 Rogers Avenue

$2,400 base rent

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East Flatbush

104 East 53rd Street

$2,256 base rent

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Bensonhurst

1365 West 7th Street

$1,850 base rent

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Find Out How Much It Costs To Live in NYC

According to the Economist Intelligence Unit, Tel Aviv, Paris, and Singapore now top the world’s most expensive cities list. But New York is in sixth place. So, of course, your pocketbook may be a deciding factor regarding which NYC neighborhoods you’re considering. (Don’t worry, plenty of the more affordable NYC neighborhoods offer many perks.) “Things like budget always play a part on where to live,” Ali says. “Once my clients lock in on a budget, that in itself will narrow down neighborhoods for them.”

It’s easy to see median asking prices for rent and home sales on the StreetEasy Data Dashboard. For example, the median asking rent in Long Island City, Queens, is $3,700 as of December 2021. Over in Manhattan, the median asking rent on the Upper East Side is even less: $3,300. But remember, a “median” is just that — you can find steals way less than that and splurges that cost way more, too. Finds tips for your rental search here.

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Astoria

32-38 36th Street

$2,700 base rent

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Astoria

32-38 36th Street

$3,500 base rent

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Rockaway All

122-20 Ocean Pm

$2,550 base rent

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Ridgewood

1721 Menahan Street

$4,000 base rent

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Bayside

36-07 213rd Street

$2,595 base rent

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Hunters Point

47-05 Center Boulevard

$3,707 base rent

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Ridgewood

17-21 Menahan Street

$5,200 base rent

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Astoria

34-46 Vernon Boulevard

$2,737 base rent

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Oakland Gardens

75-08 Bell Boulevard

$2,300 base rent

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Woodhaven

86-22 98th Street

$2,050 base rent

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Kew Gardens

84-17 Austin Street

$2,349 base rent

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Ditmars-Steinway

23-12 Steinway Street

$2,600 base rent

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Public Transportation Is a Big Part of the Decision

New Yorkers are movers and shakers by definition. So when you’re weighing the pros and cons of NYC neighborhoods, you will want to familiarize yourself with the local subway and bus lines. Are there express stops nearby, or only local ones? Does it take you not just to work but also to see friends or catch a show? Is the nearby station scheduled for a lengthy shutdown in the near future?

Do You Need Lots of Greenery and Open Spaces?

Even the most die-hard residents of NYC enjoy some green space occasionally. Others need it often. Be realistic about where you fall on that spectrum and evaluate accordingly. (The good news is that NYC is home to many world-famous parks, both old and new, including Central Park, Prospect Park, Hudson River Park, and Brooklyn Bridge Park.)

Note that what qualifies as a “park” in the city can vary widely. One might be a vast green expanse that invites you to lounge and picnic. Another might be a series of benches on a boulevard. The best advice is to visit your nearest parks in person if green space is essential to you.

Bronx Rentals Under $2,500 on StreetEasy Article continues below

Concourse

721 Walton Avenue

$1,600 base rent

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Bushwick

8 Palmetto Street

$2,214 base rent

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Marble Hill

170 West 225th Street

$2,500 base rent

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Ditmas Park

646 Argyle Road

$2,060 base rent

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Ditmas Park

646 Argyle Road

$2,110 base rent

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Central Harlem

166 West 129th Street

$1,895 base rent

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Astoria

49-10 30th Avenue

$2,500 base rent

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Carnegie Hill

161 East 96th Street

$2,450 base rent

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Kensington

58 Dahill Road

$2,500 base rent

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Stuyvesant Heights

407 Chauncey Street

$2,400 base rent

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Union City

2315-2317 New York Avenue

$1,300 base rent

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Ocean Hill

342 Marion Street

$1,850 base rent

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Do You Crave Nightlife or Shopping?

Maybe your weekend doesn’t begin until you’ve sipped a craft cocktail at a stylish spot, or you’re addicted to hunting through the racks at high-end consignment boutiques. Keep those needs in mind when searching for where to live in NYC. “People think you need to be able to walk to work or have a very short commute,” says Doron Zwickel, licensed real estate broker with CORE real estate. “For me, it’s more about where your social circle is and your favorite restaurants and retail. That’s more valuable to me than an easy commute to the office.”

Above all, do not settle. The promise of New York is that there’s a surprise around every corner. And there usually is. So go ahead, walk down all the streets, try all the bodegas, slice joints, and coffee shops you can. It’s the best way to discover the best place for you to live.