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

215 West 145th Street

$2,100 base rent

1 |

1

Inwood

124 Sherman Avenue

$2,300 base rent

3 |

1

Hell’s Kitchen

457 West 46th Street

$2,495 base rent

Studio |

1

Central Harlem

1856 Park Avenue

$2,333 base rent

Studio |

1

Central Harlem

1856 Park Avenue

$2,195 base rent

Studio |

1

South Harlem

152 West 124th Street

$2,073 base rent

1 |

1

Hamilton Heights

76 Saint Nichlas Place

$2,350 base rent

1 |

1

East Harlem

306 East 119th Street

$2,350 base rent

1 |

1

Washington Heights

529 West 158th Street

$2,450 base rent

2 |

1

Hamilton Heights

452 West 145th Street

$1,925 base rent

Studio |

1

Lower East Side

90 Rivington Street

$2,395 base rent

Studio |

1

Upper West Side

200 West 81st Street

$2,318 base rent

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

703 Rogers Avenue

$2,338 base rent

1 |

1

East New York

2840 Atlantic Avenue

$2,300 base rent

Studio |

1

East New York

2840 Atlantic Avenue

$2,300 base rent

Studio |

1

Ditmas Park

2102 Beverly Road

$2,050 base rent

1 |

1

Flatbush

2201 Beverley Road

$2,500 base rent

Studio |

1

Bushwick

594 Bushwick Avenue

$2,400 base rent

Studio |

1

Mapleton

1974 51st Street

$2,200 base rent

1 |

1

Stuyvesant Heights

653 Hancock Street

$2,200 base rent

Studio |

1

Crown Heights

425 Saratoga Avenue

$2,300 base rent

2 |

1

Crown Heights

2372 Pacific Street

$2,100 base rent

1 |

1

East Flatbush

1655 Flatbush Avenue

$2,399 base rent

1 |

1

Prospect Lefferts Gardens

300 Lincoln Road

$2,200 base rent

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

Ditmars-Steinway

21-41 78th Street

$3,000 base rent

2 |

1

Ditmars-Steinway

20-37 Steinway Street

$3,150 base rent

1 |

1

Flushing

133-27 Sanford Avenue

$2,125 base rent

1 |

1

Elmhurst

83-30 Vietor Avenue

$1,821 base rent

Studio |

2

Ditmars-Steinway

21-17 Shore Boulevard

$3,500 base rent

2 |

1

Jackson Heights

80-08 35th Avenue

$2,350 base rent

1 |

1

Oakland Gardens

224-60 Horace Harding Expressway Sr S

$2,495 base rent

2 |

1

Oakland Gardens

221-08 64th Avenue

$2,950 base rent

3 |

1

Astoria

30-40 21st Street

$4,450 base rent

2 |

1

Forest Hills

110-20 71st Avenue

$2,750 base rent

1 |

1

Ditmars-Steinway

42-16 23rd Avenue

$2,800 base rent

1 |

1

Astoria

25-32 30 Drive

$3,650 base rent

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

Inwood

124 Sherman Avenue

$1,795 base rent

1 |

1

West Side

734 West Side Avenue

$2,500 base rent

Studio |

1

Concourse

1011 Carroll Place

$2,000 base rent

1 |

1

Bushwick

105 Vanderveer Street

$2,450 base rent

1 |

1

Astoria

32-42 41st Street

$2,350 base rent

1 |

1

Jersey City

151 Sip Avenue

$2,000 base rent

1 |

1

Flatbush

2708 Cortelyou Road

$1,995 base rent

1 |

1

Williamsburg

126 Boerum Street

$2,499 base rent

1 |

1

Crown Heights

423 Lincoln Place

$2,500 base rent

Studio |

1

Spuyten Duyvil

2395 Palisade Avenue

$2,287 base rent

Studio |

1

Sunset Park

889 Fifth Avenue

$2,200 base rent

2 |

1

Washington Heights

1224 Saint Nicholas Avenue

$1,955 base rent

Studio |

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.