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

West Harlem

408 West 130th Street

$2,429 No Fee

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Carnegie Hill

165 East 87th Street

$2,450 No Fee

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Central Harlem

17 West 125th Street

$2,395 No Fee

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Hamilton Heights

345 West 145th Street

$2,500 No Fee

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Hudson Heights

295 Bennett Avenue

$1,880 No Fee

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East Harlem

161 East 99th Street

$2,395 No Fee

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Washington Heights

150 Haven Avenue

$1,500 No Fee

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East Village

73 First Avenue

$2,500 No Fee

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Lenox Hill

1446 First Avenue

$2,150 No Fee

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Fort George

64 Wadsworth Terrace

$1,850 No Fee

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Inwood

121 Post Avenue

$2,058 No Fee

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Upper West Side

485 Columbus Avenue

$2,500 No Fee

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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

190 72nd Street

$2,325 No Fee

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Stuyvesant Heights

698 Willoughby Avenue

$2,350 No Fee

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Borough Park

1525 60th Street

$1,800 No Fee

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Crown Heights

1037 Bergen Street

$2,177 No Fee

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Borough Park

6408 New Utrecht Avenue

$1,350 No Fee

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Flatbush

1248 New York Avenue

$2,190 No Fee

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Sunset Park

4112 Fourth Avenue

$1,950 No Fee

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Bath Beach

8684 20th Avenue

$1,800 No Fee

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Fort Hamilton

9602 Fourth Avenue

$2,300 No Fee

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Flatbush

2911 Albemarle Road

$2,181 No Fee

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Flatbush

319 Lenox Road

$2,450 No Fee

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Weeksville

1633 Sterling Place

$1,755 No Fee

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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.

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

Ditmars-Steinway

20-25 24th Street

$2,700 No Fee

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Hunters Point

25-21 43rd Avenue

$3,349 No Fee

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Astoria

25-52 33rd Street

$3,150 No Fee

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Sunnyside

51-25 Queens Boulevard

$2,900 No Fee

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Long Island City

38-27 32nd Street

$3,850 No Fee

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Hunters Point

5-42 51st Avenue

$4,200 No Fee

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East Flushing

196-08 42 Road

$2,800 No Fee

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Astoria

33-07 29th Street

$3,300 No Fee

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Forest Hills

107-31 Metropolitan Avenue

$1,695 No Fee

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Forest Hills

104-12 Metropolitan Avenue

$2,600 No Fee

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Ditmars-Steinway

20-30 49th Street

$3,200 No Fee

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Long Island City

36-20 Steinway Street

$3,877 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

Central Harlem

137 West 137th Street

$2,300 No Fee

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Hell’s Kitchen

331 West 43rd Street

$2,500 No Fee

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McGinley Square

669 Bergen Avenue

$2,300 No Fee

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McGinley Square

669 Bergen Avenue

$2,200 No Fee

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McGinley Square

669 Bergen Avenue

$2,250 No Fee

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McGinley Square

669 Bergen Avenue

$2,125 No Fee

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Astoria

25-20 42nd Street

$2,195 No Fee

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Briarwood

140-21 Burden Crescent

$2,000 No Fee

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Briarwood

140-35 Burden Crescent

$2,100 No Fee

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Coney Island

2828 West 16th Street

$2,500 No Fee

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Yorkville

336 East 90th Street

$2,269 No Fee

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Historic Downtown

325 7th Street

$2,250 No Fee

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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.