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

Upper East Side

126 East 83rd Street

$2,500 base rent

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East Harlem

126 East 101st Street

$2,200 base rent

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Lenox Hill

1277 Third Avenue

$2,470 base rent

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Yorkville

406 East 83rd Street

$2,449 base rent

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Washington Heights

1224 Saint Nicholas’ Avenue

$2,099 base rent

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Washington Heights

106 Fort Washington Avenue

$2,495 base rent

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Inwood

72 Vermilyea Avenue

$2,100 base rent

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Upper West Side

936 West End Avenue

$2,300 base rent

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Manhattan Valley

109 West 106th Street

$2,495 base rent

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East Harlem

1630 Madison Avenue

$2,450 base rent

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Central Harlem

136 West 129th Street

$2,400 base rent

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East Harlem

418 East 119th Street

$2,200 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.

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

Bay Ridge

15 Mackay Place

$1,700 base rent

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Bushwick

317 Eldert Street

$2,050 base rent

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Greenwood

275 23rd Street

$2,490 base rent

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East Flatbush

3301 Farragut Road

$1,912 base rent

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Prospect Lefferts Gardens

85 Clarkson Avenue

$2,100 base rent

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Flatbush

667 Ocean Avenue

$1,700 base rent

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Dyker Heights

6718 14th Avenue

$1,995 base rent

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Flatbush

2816 Church Avenue

$2,195 base rent

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Fort Hamilton

9220 Third Avenue

$2,200 base rent

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Flatbush

184 Clarkson Avenue

$1,990 base rent

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Ditmas Park

400 Argyle Road

$2,125 base rent

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Bedford-Stuyvesant

461 Greene Avenue

$2,350 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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Hunters Point

42-22 27th Street

$3,760 base rent

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Woodside

41-48 70th Street

$3,850 base rent

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Forest Hills

67-12 Yellowstone Boulevard

$2,449 base rent

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Ridgewood

1861 De Kalb Avenue

$4,500 base rent

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Ridgewood

66-91 60 Place

$3,100 base rent

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Jackson Heights

37-51 79th Street

$1,950 base rent

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Hunters Point

43-10 Crescent Street

$4,204 base rent

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Astoria

12-22 30th Avenue

$3,100 base rent

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Forest Hills

109-05 Queens Boulevard

$2,795 base rent

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Ditmars-Steinway

42-20 23rd Avenue

$2,700 base rent

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Astoria

31-56 44th Street

$3,300 base rent

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Ditmars-Steinway

21-01 73rd Street

$2,900 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

Kips Bay

251 East 32nd Street

$1,500 base rent

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Financial District

20 Pine Street

$1,500 base rent

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Murray Hill

80 Park Avenue

$1,500 base rent

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Upper East Side

126 East 83rd Street

$2,500 base rent

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Forest Hills

67-12 Yellowstone Boulevard

$2,449 base rent

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Soundview

1404 Noble Avenue

$1,595 base rent

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Jackson Heights

37-51 79th Street

$1,950 base rent

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Bayonne

28 West 37th Street

$2,000 base rent

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East Harlem

126 East 101st Street

$2,200 base rent

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Bay Ridge

15 Mackay Place

$1,700 base rent

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Lenox Hill

1277 Third Avenue

$2,470 base rent

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Astoria

34-50 41st Street

$2,200 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.