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

Washington Heights

500 West 170th Street

$2,400 base rent

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Carnegie Hill

188 East 93rd Street

$2,470 base rent

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Yorkville

317 East 91st Street

$2,383 base rent

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East Harlem

124 East 107th Street

$2,300 base rent

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East Harlem

238 East 116th Street

$2,300 base rent

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Yorkville

308 East 83rd Street

$2,450 base rent

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Central Harlem

2461 Fredric Douglas Boulevard

$2,295 base rent

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Inwood

72 Vermilyea Avenue

$2,200 base rent

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Yorkville

308 East 80th Street

$2,395 base rent

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Yorkville

223 East 82nd Street

$2,375 base rent

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Turtle Bay

953 Second Avenue

$2,500 base rent

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East Harlem

340 East 105th Street

$2,395 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.

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

East Flatbush

3900 Kings Highway

$1,900 base rent

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East New York

20 Doscher Street

$2,500 base rent

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Prospect Lefferts Gardens

10 Maple Street

$1,950 base rent

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Crown Heights

377 Montgomery Street

$2,215 base rent

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Kensington

240 Ocean Parkway

$2,200 base rent

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Flatbush

219 Lenox Road

$2,499 base rent

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Prospect Lefferts Gardens

105 Lincoln Road

$1,599 base rent

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Gravesend

388 Avenue X

$1,789 base rent

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Fort Hamilton

35 Gelston Avenue

$2,400 base rent

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Crown Heights

1104 Dean Street

$2,492 base rent

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Ocean Hill

1387 Herkimer Street

$2,000 base rent

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East Flatbush

1634 Flatbush Avenue

$2,256 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

45-30 Pearson Street

$3,450 base rent

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Long Island City

29-11 Queens Plaza North

$3,600 base rent

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Astoria

11-42 30 Road

$3,499 base rent

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Hunters Point

22-22 Jackson Avenue

$3,770 base rent

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Woodside

46-02 70th Street

$3,350 base rent

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Woodside

39-55 63rd Street

$2,900 base rent

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Woodside

43-25 52nd Street

$2,933 base rent

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Woodside

43-25 52nd Street

$2,595 base rent

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Jamaica

166-20 90th Avenue

$2,759 base rent

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Jamaica

166-20 90th Avenue

$2,759 base rent

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Astoria

33-07 29th Street

$3,500 base rent

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Jamaica

166-20 90th Avenue

$2,439 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

East Flatbush

3509 Farragut Road

$2,450 base rent

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Wingate

476 Maple Street

$2,495 base rent

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North Bergen

7111 Palisade Avenue

$1,800 base rent

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Central Harlem

81 West 127th Street

$2,170 base rent

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Central Harlem

81 West 127th Street

$2,200 base rent

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Greenwood

201A 34th Street

$2,500 base rent

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Inwood

37 Payson Avenue

$2,429 base rent

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East Village

55 First Avenue

$2,325 base rent

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Turtle Bay

320 East 50th Street

$2,500 base rent

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Jamaica

166-20 90th Avenue

$2,439 base rent

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Bronxwood

3013 Barker Avenue

$2,477 base rent

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Jamaica

166-20 90th Avenue

$2,421 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.