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

Yorkville

535 East 81st Street

$2,175 No Fee

1 |

1

Turtle Bay

348 East 49th Street

$2,500 No Fee

Studio |

1

Kips Bay

219 East 26th Street

$2,500 No Fee

Studio |

1

East Village

171 Avenue C

$2,250 No Fee

Studio |

1

East Harlem

19 East 109th Street

$1,975 No Fee

1 |

1

East Village

170 East 3rd Street

$2,200 No Fee

Studio |

1

East Harlem

159 East 99th Street

$2,150 No Fee

1 |

1

Fort George

569 West 182nd Street

$2,350 No Fee

2 |

1

Manhattanville

3333E Broadway

$2,495 No Fee

Studio |

1

East Harlem

309 East 104th Street

$2,250 No Fee

Studio |

1

Yorkville

436 East 89th Street

$2,500 No Fee

Studio |

1

Inwood

240 Nagle Avenue

$1,815 No Fee

1 |

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

Crown Heights

901 Sterling Place

$2,195 No Fee

Studio |

1

Crown Heights

139 Rogers Avenue

$2,350 No Fee

1 |

1

Stuyvesant Heights

1889 Atlantic Avenue

$2,440 No Fee

Studio |

1

Ditmas Park

585 East 21st Street

$2,375 No Fee

1 |

1

Flatbush

154 Lenox Road

$2,300 No Fee

Studio |

1

Cobble Hill

155 Amity Street

$2,450 No Fee

Studio |

1

Cypress Hills

354 Arlington Avenue

$1,950 No Fee

1 |

1

Crown Heights

698 Eastern Parkway

$2,100 No Fee

Studio |

1

Stuyvesant Heights

479 Monroe Street

$2,500 No Fee

1 |

1

Stuyvesant Heights

582 Mac Donough Street

$2,300 No Fee

Studio |

1

Crown Heights

1499 Bedford Avenue

$2,438 No Fee

Studio |

1

Bath Beach

153 Bay 11th Street

$2,400 No Fee

2 |

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

Rego Park

98-33 64th Avenue

$2,300 No Fee

1 |

1

Hunters Point

42-22 27th Street

$3,775 No Fee

1 |

1

Woodside

43-08 65th Street

$2,995 No Fee

3 |

1

Hunters Point

42-22 27th Street

$3,277 No Fee

1 |

1

Hunters Point

42-22 27th Street

$3,300 No Fee

Studio |

1

North Corona

112-45 Roosevelt Avenue

$2,350 No Fee

2 |

1

Hunters Point

26-04 Jackson Avenue

$5,250 No Fee

2 |

1

Astoria

11-16 Main Avenue

$2,995 No Fee

1 |

1

Astoria

32-34 41st Street

$1,999 No Fee

1 |

1

Astoria

36-11 31st Avenue

$2,275 No Fee

1 |

1

Astoria

11-24 31 Drive

$3,500 No Fee

1 |

1

Astoria

11-24 31 Drive

$3,450 No Fee

2 |

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

Mott Haven

40 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,400 No Fee

Studio |

1

Mott Haven

40 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,446 No Fee

1 |

1

East Flatbush

877 Rutland Road

$2,500 No Fee

2 |

1

Spuyten Duyvil

500 Kappock Street

$2,398 No Fee

1 |

1

Woodside

37-22 68th Street

$2,200 No Fee

1 |

1

West New York

6122 Hudson Avenue

$2,500 No Fee

1 |

1.5

Far Rockaway

701 Beach 9th Street

$2,095 No Fee

1 |

1

Crown Heights

663 Prospect Place

$2,395 No Fee

1 |

1

Flatbush

1798 Nostrand Avenue

$1,550 No Fee

1 |

1

Midwood

3211 Avenue I

$1,700 No Fee

Studio |

1

Spuyten Duyvil

500 Kappock Street

$1,950 No Fee

Studio |

1

Fort Hamilton

9954 Fort Hamilton Pkw

$2,000 No Fee

Studio |

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.