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 West Side

116 West 87th Street

$2,492 base rent

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Central Harlem

2647 Frederick Douglass Boulevard

$2,450 base rent

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Fort George

608 West 190th Street

$1,925 base rent

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Inwood

251 Seaman Avenue

$1,850 base rent

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Central Harlem

210 West 133rd Street

$1,700 base rent

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Central Harlem

210 West 133rd Street

$2,400 base rent

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Washington Heights

540 West 157th Street

$2,250 base rent

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South Harlem

307 West 111st Street

$1,800 base rent

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Central Harlem

470 Lenox Avenue

$2,031 base rent

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Central Harlem

210 West 133rd Street

$2,050 base rent

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Yorkville

239 East 84th Street

$2,300 base rent

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Inwood

13 Cummings Street

$2,100 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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Flatbush

39 Lenox Road

$2,495 base rent

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Midwood

1801 Ocean Avenue

$2,395 base rent

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East Flatbush

835 Maple Street

$2,350 base rent

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Marine Park

4017 Avenue U

$2,100 base rent

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Midwood

1730 Ocean Avenue

$2,150 base rent

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Bushwick

61 Schaefer Street

$2,461 base rent

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Bay Ridge

616 67th Street

$2,250 base rent

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Ocean Hill

17 Somers Street

$2,500 base rent

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Midwood

1717 E 8th Street

$2,000 base rent

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Stuyvesant Heights

90 Marion Street

$2,376 base rent

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Midwood

416 Foster Avenue

$2,400 base rent

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Prospect Lefferts Gardens

1767 Bedford Avenue

$2,400 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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Far Rockaway

20-30 Elk Drive

$2,450 base rent

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Hunters Point

43-22 Queens Street

$4,862 base rent

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Sunnyside

43-23 42nd Street

$3,250 base rent

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Kew Gardens

123-60 83rd Avenue

$2,750 base rent

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Forest Hills

104-40 Queens Boulevard

$4,783 base rent

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Astoria

11-32 30 Road

$2,750 base rent

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Hunters Point

46-09 11th Street

$3,124 base rent

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Woodside

43-25 52nd Street

$3,289 base rent

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Astoria

27-10 30th Avenue

$3,988 base rent

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Astoria

26-25 28th Street

$3,250 base rent

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Ditmars-Steinway

22-30 47th Street

$2,699 base rent

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Ditmars-Steinway

23-80 24th Street

$4,200 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

North Bergen

1118 85th Street

$2,000 base rent

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Far Rockaway

20-30 Elk Drive

$2,450 base rent

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Bedford Park

225 East 202nd Street

$1,795 base rent

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Upper West Side

116 West 87th Street

$2,492 base rent

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North Bergen

126 75th Street

$2,300 base rent

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Jersey City

213 Gates Avenue

$2,000 base rent

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Flatbush

39 Lenox Road

$2,495 base rent

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Midwood

1801 Ocean Avenue

$2,395 base rent

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East Flatbush

835 Maple Street

$2,350 base rent

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North New York

480 Concord Avenue

$2,500 base rent

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Central Harlem

2647 Frederick Douglass Boulevard

$2,450 base rent

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Far Rockaway

20-40 Seagirt Boulevard

$1,950 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.