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

East Harlem

2177 Third Avenue

$1,700 No Fee

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Hamilton Heights

555 West 151st Street

$2,429 No Fee

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Hamilton Heights

345 West 145th Street

$2,108 No Fee

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Hell’s Kitchen

357 West 54th Street

$2,350 No Fee

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1

East Village

57 First Avenue

$2,495 No Fee

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1

Hamilton Heights

660 Riverside Drive

$2,500 No Fee

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South Harlem

131 West 116th Street

$2,300 No Fee

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Lower East Side

57 Clinton Street

$2,495 No Fee

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Central Harlem

210 West 133rd Street

$1,400 No Fee

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Murray Hill

49 Park Avenue

$2,400 No Fee

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Central Harlem

205 West 147th Street

$2,449 No Fee

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Central Harlem

2461 Fred Douglas Boulevard

$1,895 No Fee

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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

Greenwood

161 18th Street

$2,499 No Fee

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Bushwick

303 Grove Street

$2,400 No Fee

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Bensonhurst

7606 17th Avenue

$1,925 No Fee

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Ditmas Park

1060 Ocean Avenue

$1,900 No Fee

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Prospect Lefferts Gardens

661 Flatbush Avenue

$1,800 No Fee

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Kensington

820 Avenue C

$2,100 No Fee

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1

Ditmas Park

1002 Cortelyou Road

$2,300 No Fee

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Bensonhurst

1779 81st Street

$2,295 No Fee

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Prospect Heights

200 Sterling Place

$2,475 No Fee

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Crown Heights

24 Rogers Avenue

$2,375 No Fee

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Kensington

320 Ocean Parkway

$2,500 No Fee

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Flatbush

3321 Glenwood Road

$2,338 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

Elmhurst

54-40 80th Street

$3,100 No Fee

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Astoria

31-43 Vernon Boulevard

$3,004 No Fee

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Long Island City

41-18 Crescent Street

$3,713 No Fee

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Sunnyside

50-11 38th Street

$2,600 No Fee

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2

Astoria

49-09 31st Avenue

$3,600 No Fee

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1.5

Hunters Point

26-38 Jackson Avenue

$5,982 No Fee

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2

Hunters Point

26-38 Jackson Avenue

$3,572 No Fee

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Hunters Point

26-38 Jackson Avenue

$3,277 No Fee

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Ditmars-Steinway

20-54 31st Street

$2,725 No Fee

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Astoria

32-30 41st Street

$3,150 No Fee

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Astoria

32-22 38th Street

$3,500 No Fee

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Hunters Point

1-15 57th Avenue

$7,895 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

Fort George

64 Hillside Avenue

$2,150 No Fee

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Hudson Heights

481 Fort Washington Avenue

$2,300 No Fee

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Upper West Side

105 West 77th Street

$2,500 No Fee

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Williamsburg

107 Havemeyer Street

$2,300 No Fee

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Washington Heights

2172 Amsterdam Avenue

$2,495 No Fee

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Flatbush

2543 Bedford Avenue

$1,650 No Fee

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Auburndale

183-04 Booth Memorial Avenue

$2,400 No Fee

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Auburndale

58-15 183rd Street

$2,350 No Fee

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Central Harlem

329 Lenox Avenue

$2,450 No Fee

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McGinley Square

2671 John F Kennedy Boulevard

$1,800 No Fee

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West New York

414 50th Street

$2,400 No Fee

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Astoria

34-11 33rd Street

$2,300 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.