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

Manhattan Valley

209 West 104th Street

$2,450 No Fee

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1

Sutton Place

160 East 55th Street

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Washington Heights

920 Saint Nicholas’s Avenue

$1,895 No Fee

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1

Carnegie Hill

123 East 90th Street

$2,395 No Fee

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1

Hudson Heights

225 Bennett Avenue

$2,200 No Fee

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1

Lenox Hill

435 East 74th Street

$2,295 No Fee

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1

Central Harlem

215 West 145th Street

$2,150 No Fee

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1

Yorkville

1729 First Avenue

$2,475 No Fee

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1

Gramercy Park

305 East 21st Street

$2,300 No Fee

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1

West Chelsea

409 West 24th Street

$2,450 No Fee

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1

Washington Heights

1224 Saint Nichlas Avenue

$1,879 No Fee

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1

Upper West Side

108 West 81st Street

$2,470 No Fee

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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

Homecrest

3315 Nostrand Avenue

$1,675 No Fee

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1

Stuyvesant Heights

1110 De Kalb Avenue

$2,314 No Fee

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1

Borough Park

905 43rd Street

$1,963 No Fee

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1

Dyker Heights

6705 Twelfth Avenue

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Park Slope

558 11th Street

$2,450 No Fee

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1

Stuyvesant Heights

84 Chauncey Street

$2,252 No Fee

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1

Prospect Heights

755 Dean Street

$2,295 No Fee

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1

Marine Park

1487 East 31st Street

$1,500 No Fee

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1

Fort Greene

253 Cumberland Street

$2,100 No Fee

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1

Prospect Park South

522 Ocean Avenue

$1,820 No Fee

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1

Stuyvesant Heights

261 Bainbridge Street

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Kensington

430 Ocean Parkway

$2,399 No Fee

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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

Ridgewood

1822 Putnam Avenue

$2,350 No Fee

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1

Astoria

31-67 37th Street

$2,299 No Fee

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Woodhaven

84-25 85 Road

$1,850 No Fee

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1

Astoria

25-82 37th Street

$3,200 No Fee

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1.5

Astoria

41-06 34th Avenue

$3,000 No Fee

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1

Kew Gardens

84-16 127th Street

$2,650 No Fee

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1

Hunters Point

22-22 Jackson Avenue

$5,395 No Fee

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2

Astoria

34-46 Vernon Boulevard

$2,430 No Fee

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1

Astoria

23-20 Broadway

$2,000 No Fee

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1

Ozone Park

87-12 Pitkin Avenue

$2,050 No Fee

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1

Ditmars-Steinway

22-60 24th Street

$2,800 No Fee

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Astoria

25-26 44th Street

$1,899 No Fee

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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

Greenwich Village

226 Thompson Street

$2,000 No Fee

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1

Sunnyside

43-17 48th Street

$2,100 No Fee

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1

Kingsbridge Heights

68 West 238th Street

$2,450 No Fee

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1

Inwood

5008 Broadway

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Ridgewood

1822 Putnam Avenue

$2,350 No Fee

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1

Homecrest

3315 Nostrand Avenue

$1,675 No Fee

Studio |

1

Manhattan Valley

209 West 104th Street

$2,450 No Fee

Studio |

1

Stuyvesant Heights

1110 De Kalb Avenue

$2,314 No Fee

Studio |

1

Borough Park

905 43rd Street

$1,963 No Fee

2 |

1

Astoria

31-67 37th Street

$2,299 No Fee

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1

Woodhaven

84-25 85 Road

$1,850 No Fee

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1

Dyker Heights

6705 Twelfth Avenue

$2,500 No Fee

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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.