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

Inwood

37 Payson Avenue

$2,434 base rent

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Inwood

109 Seaman Avenue

$2,000 base rent

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Inwood

1793 Riverside Drive

$2,300 base rent

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Inwood

624 West 207th Street

$1,550 base rent

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Manhattan Valley

57 West 105th Street

$2,400 base rent

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Central Harlem

300 West 144th Street

$2,323 base rent

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Fort George

1 Bogardus Place

$1,920 base rent

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Washington Heights

545 West 156th Street

$2,000 base rent

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Hudson Heights

4469 Broadway

$2,350 base rent

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Inwood

17 Vermilyea Avenue

$2,100 base rent

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Inwood

530 Isham Street

$2,250 base rent

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Inwood

153 Vermilyea Avenue

$2,050 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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Midwood

1202 Avenue K

$2,483 base rent

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Flatbush

346 East 29th Street

$2,200 base rent

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Stuyvesant Heights

807 Quincy Street

$2,195 base rent

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Homecrest

1745 East 16th Street

$1,891 base rent

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Prospect Park South

590 Ocean Avenue

$2,156 base rent

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Weeksville

1487 Sterling Place

$2,450 base rent

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Bushwick

486 Central Avenue

$1,999 base rent

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Clinton Hill

104 Washington Avenue

$2,500 base rent

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Flatbush

169 Lott Street

$2,400 base rent

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Bay Ridge

1 74th Street

$2,125 base rent

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Crown Heights

487 Saint Johns Place

$1,900 base rent

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Bushwick

1153 Broadway

$2,500 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

2-26 50th Avenue

$4,217 base rent

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Ridgewood

59-13 67th Avenue

$1,700 base rent

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Astoria

31-29 47th Street

$2,760 base rent

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Fresh Meadows

61-24 185th Street

$2,450 base rent

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Oakland Gardens

61-30 220th Street

$2,375 base rent

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Woodside

43-25 52nd Street

$4,444 base rent

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Briarwood

86-11 139th Street

$1,995 base rent

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Ridgewood

16-80 Madison Street

$3,500 base rent

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Woodside

43-25 52nd Street

$3,644 base rent

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Astoria

30-85 Vernon Boulevard

$3,800 base rent

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Astoria

41-15 31st Avenue

$3,500 base rent

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Long Island City

30-16 38th Avenue

$2,650 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.

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Hudson Heights

76 Pinehurst Avenue

$2,200 base rent

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Soundview

875 Boynton Avenue

$2,168 base rent

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Weehawken

59 46th Street

$1,600 base rent

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Inwood

37 Payson Avenue

$2,434 base rent

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Midwood

1202 Avenue K

$2,483 base rent

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Kew Gardens

118-80 Metropolitan Avenue

$1,850 base rent

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Paulus Hook

1 Greene Street

$2,400 base rent

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Ditmars-Steinway

23-29 33rd Street

$1,950 base rent

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Kew Gardens

118-80 Metropolitan Avenue

$2,500 base rent

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Flatbush

346 East 29th Street

$2,200 base rent

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Stuyvesant Heights

807 Quincy Street

$2,195 base rent

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Woodside

61-15 43rd Avenue

$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.