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

Lenox Hill

406 East 64th Street

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Central Harlem

48 West 138th Street

$2,450 No Fee

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1

Sutton Place

339 East 58th Street

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Yorkville

1555 Second Avenue

$2,450 No Fee

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1

Upper West Side

335 West 84th Street

$2,375 No Fee

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1

Manhattan Valley

207 West 102nd Street

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Murray Hill

304 East 41st Street

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Upper West Side

129 West 81st Street

$2,250 No Fee

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1

Central Harlem

265 West 146th Street

$1,960 No Fee

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1

Yorkville

226 East 85th Street

$2,400 No Fee

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1

East Village

424 East 14th Street

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Hudson Heights

353 Fort Washington Avenue

$2,200 No Fee

2 |

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

Kensington

540 Ocean Parkway

$2,299 No Fee

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1

Midwood

414 Elmwood Avenue

$1,495 No Fee

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1

East New York

19 Malta Street

$2,500 No Fee

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1.5

Brooklyn Heights

49 Willow Street

$2,500 No Fee

Studio |

1

Flatbush

124 Erasmus Street

$2,400 No Fee

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1

Sunset Park

354 48th Street

$2,350 No Fee

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1

Bushwick

10 Montieth Street

$2,432 No Fee

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1

Weeksville

227 Troy Avenue

$2,100 No Fee

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1

Brooklyn Heights

89 Hicks Street

$2,077 No Fee

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1

Stuyvesant Heights

448 Jefferson Avenue

$2,000 No Fee

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1

East Flatbush

1634 Flatbush Avenue

$1,952 No Fee

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1

Borough Park

328 Dahill Road

$2,500 No Fee

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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

North Corona

101-07 Northern Boulevard

$3,800 No Fee

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2

Murray Hill (Queens)

35-20 147th Street

$1,950 No Fee

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1

Forest Hills

109-10 Queens Boulevard

$1,800 No Fee

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1

Ditmars-Steinway

29-06 21st Avenue

$2,875 No Fee

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1

Murray Hill (Queens)

144-74 Northern Boulevard

$2,950 No Fee

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1

Astoria

32-03 35th Avenue

$4,599 No Fee

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2

Murray Hill (Queens)

144-74 Northern Boulevard

$2,600 No Fee

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1

North Corona

101-07 Northern Boulevard

$3,050 No Fee

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1

Astoria

34-27 41st Street

$2,250 No Fee

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1

Far Rockaway

20-20 Seagirt Boulevard

$2,050 No Fee

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1

Astoria

28-28 46th Street

$2,600 No Fee

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1

Ditmars-Steinway

23-67 32nd Street

$1,900 No Fee

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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

Bedford-Stuyvesant

75 Hancock Street

$2,260 No Fee

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1

East New York

2840 Atlantic Avenue

$2,335 No Fee

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1

Murray Hill (Queens)

35-20 147th Street

$1,950 No Fee

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1

Forest Hills

109-10 Queens Boulevard

$1,800 No Fee

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1

Bath Beach

8867 19th Avenue

$1,800 No Fee

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1

Astoria

34-27 41st Street

$2,250 No Fee

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1

Concourse

299 East 161st Street

$2,200 No Fee

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1

Concourse

299 East 161st Street

$2,150 No Fee

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1

Manhattanville

516 West 134th Street

$1,562 No Fee

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1

Concourse

299 East 161st Street

$2,450 No Fee

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1

Far Rockaway

20-20 Seagirt Boulevard

$2,050 No Fee

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1

Brighton Beach

3100 Brighton 2nd Street

$1,825 No Fee

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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.