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

Hamilton Heights

612 West 137th Street

$2,395 No Fee

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Central Harlem

150 West 140th Street

$1,600 No Fee

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Morningside Heights

160 Claremont Avenue

$2,300 No Fee

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Lincoln Square

140 West 71st Street

$2,500 No Fee

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Yorkville

326 East 85th Street

$2,350 No Fee

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Lenox Hill

1273 Third Avenue

$2,375 No Fee

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Marble Hill

2 Adrian Avenue

$2,500 No Fee

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Fort George

4520 Broadway

$2,100 No Fee

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Washington Heights

509 West 159th Street

$2,450 No Fee

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Fort George

11 Fort George Hill

$1,975 No Fee

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Greenwich Village

183 Thompson Street

$2,500 No Fee

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Lenox Hill

344 East 61st Street

$2,300 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

Weeksville

1320 Sterling Place

$2,400 No Fee

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Kensington

430 Ocean Parkway

$2,399 No Fee

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Bushwick

663 Central Avenue

$2,399 No Fee

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Midwood

1620 Avenue I

$2,299 No Fee

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Bushwick

769 Hart Street

$2,495 No Fee

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Crown Heights

24 Rogers Avenue

$2,285 No Fee

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Cypress Hills

3059 Fulton Street

$2,350 No Fee

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East Flatbush

333 Linden Boulevard

$2,382 No Fee

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Canarsie

734 Snediker Avenue

$2,200 No Fee

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Sunset Park

752 60th Street

$1,950 No Fee

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Fort Hamilton

305 95th Street

$1,200 No Fee

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Wingate

741 Fenimore Street

$2,200 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

Flushing

131-03 40 Road

$3,000 No Fee

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Forest Hills

77-44 Austin Street

$2,500 No Fee

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Astoria

35-19 33rd Street

$2,400 No Fee

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Hunters Point

44-41 Purves Street

$3,771 No Fee

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Ridgewood

1662 Woodbine Street

$2,699 No Fee

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Astoria

41-25 Newtown Road

$2,799 No Fee

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Astoria

31-52 34th Street

$1,949 No Fee

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Astoria

31-17 34th Street

$2,400 No Fee

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Ditmars-Steinway

21-38 Crescent Street

$2,138 No Fee

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Kew Gardens

83-44 Lefferts Boulevard

$2,300 No Fee

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Astoria

35-50 Crescent Street

$3,700 No Fee

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Ridgewood

1679 Madison Street

$4,194 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

Prospect Lefferts Gardens

433 Rogers Avenue

$2,300 No Fee

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Crown Heights

1421 Dean Street

$2,395 No Fee

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Crown Heights

24 Rogers Avenue

$2,199 No Fee

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East Harlem

228 East 116th Street

$2,150 No Fee

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Bronx

660 East 242nd Street

$2,003 No Fee

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East Harlem

413 East 114th Street

$2,450 No Fee

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East Harlem

102 East 116th Street

$1,750 No Fee

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East Flatbush

333 Linden Boulevard

$2,399 No Fee

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Lenox Hill

410 East 74th Street

$2,495 No Fee

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North New York

462 East 134th Street

$2,200 No Fee

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Stuyvesant Heights

441 Hart Street

$2,300 No Fee

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East Harlem

102 East 116th 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.