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

Central Harlem

211 West 146th Street

$1,950 No Fee

Studio |

1

East Village

188 East 3rd Street

$2,300 No Fee

Studio |

1

East Village

98 Saint Mark’s Place

$2,500 No Fee

2 |

1

East Village

314 East 6th Street

$2,395 No Fee

Studio |

1

East Harlem

419 East 117th Street

$2,295 No Fee

Studio |

1

Central Harlem

112 West 138th Street

$2,000 No Fee

1 |

1

Washington Heights

920 Riverside Drive

$2,166 No Fee

1 |

1

Hudson Heights

867 West 181st Street

$2,300 No Fee

Studio |

1

Carnegie Hill

1257 Park Avenue

$2,450 No Fee

Studio |

1

Carnegie Hill

138 East 96th Street

$2,350 No Fee

Studio |

1

Yorkville

307 East 93rd Street

$2,429 No Fee

Studio |

1

Manhattan Valley

67 West 109th Street

$2,500 No Fee

Studio |

1

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.

Brooklyn Rentals Under $2,500 On StreetEasy Article continues below

Flatbush

2718 Church Avenue

$2,499 No Fee

1 |

1

Bedford-Stuyvesant

57 Herkimer Street

$1,873 No Fee

1 |

1

Flatbush

2734 Snyder Avenue

$2,300 No Fee

1 |

1

Stuyvesant Heights

1064 Myrtle Avenue

$2,400 No Fee

Studio |

1

Prospect Lefferts Gardens

41 Clarkson Avenue

$1,999 No Fee

1 |

1

Stuyvesant Heights

82 Marion Street

$2,500 No Fee

1 |

1

Crown Heights

1164 Pacific Street

$2,355 No Fee

Studio |

1

Greenpoint

189 Norman Avenue

$2,200 No Fee

Studio |

1

Greenwood

150 29th Street

$2,200 No Fee

1 |

1

Greenwood

150 29th Street

$2,500 No Fee

1 |

1

Prospect Park South

60 East 17th Street

$1,950 No Fee

1 |

1

Williamsburg

358 Broadway

$2,000 No Fee

Studio |

1

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.

Queens Rentals Under $2,500 On StreetEasy Article continues below

South Richmond Hill

103-62 103rd Street

$3,500 No Fee

3 |

1

Rego Park

63-68 Austin Street

$3,250 No Fee

2 |

2

Lindenwood

81-08 153rd Avenue

$3,000 No Fee

2 |

1

Astoria

30-45 32nd Street

$2,700 No Fee

1 |

1

Astoria

25-45 49th Street

$2,500 No Fee

2 |

1

Ditmars-Steinway

22-73 Steinway Street

$2,400 No Fee

1 |

1

Astoria

26-25 Fourth Street

$4,062 No Fee

2 |

2

Ditmars-Steinway

18-11 21 Road

$4,500 No Fee

3 |

1

Kew Gardens

83-80 118th Street

$2,495 No Fee

1 |

1

Oakland Gardens

67-22 224th Street

$2,600 No Fee

2 |

1

Oakland Gardens

67-29 223 Place

$3,100 No Fee

3 |

1

Fresh Meadows

69-01 197th Street

$2,150 No Fee

1 |

1

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

Sunset Park

322 61st Street

$1,900 No Fee

1 |

1

University Heights

2170 University Avenue

$1,950 No Fee

1 |

1

Highbridge

917 Ogden Avenue

$2,395 No Fee

2 |

1

Astoria

25-45 49th Street

$2,500 No Fee

2 |

1

Concourse

1504 Sheridan Avenue

$2,400 No Fee

2 |

1

Pelham Parkway

2157 Wallace Avenue

$1,750 No Fee

1 |

1

Ditmars-Steinway

22-73 Steinway Street

$2,400 No Fee

1 |

1

Weeksville

187 Rochester Avenue

$1,895 No Fee

1 |

1

Sheepshead Bay

2282 East Seventh Street

$2,250 No Fee

1 |

1

Washington Heights

946 Saint Nicholas Avenue

$1,900 No Fee

1 |

1

Hell’s Kitchen

448 West 55th Street

$2,395 No Fee

Studio |

1

Kew Gardens

83-80 118th Street

$2,495 No Fee

1 |

1

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.