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.

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Lincoln Square

239 West 63rd Street

$1,999 base rent

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East Harlem

2025 Third Avenue

$2,400 base rent

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Fort George

97 Arden Street

$2,475 base rent

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Upper West Side

268 West 84th Street

$2,500 base rent

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East Harlem

326 East 109th Street

$2,400 base rent

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East Harlem

305 East 105th Street

$2,450 base rent

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Two Bridges

83 Henry Street

$2,397 base rent

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Two Bridges

83 Henry Street

$2,428 base rent

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Washington Heights

2201 Amsterdam Avenue

$2,375 base rent

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East Harlem

1797 Lexington Avenue

$2,100 base rent

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South Harlem

2166 Fred Douglas Boulevard

$2,200 base rent

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Yorkville

308 East 90th Street

$2,299 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.

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Bushwick

316 Evergreen Avenue

$2,305 base rent

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Midwood

2010 Ocean Avenue

$2,400 base rent

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Flatbush

60 Clarkson Avenue

$2,386 base rent

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Flatbush

2328 Bedford Avenue

$2,200 base rent

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Borough Park

937 63rd Street

$1,990 base rent

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Flatbush

1669 Nostrand Avenue

$2,500 base rent

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Ditmas Park

1012 Ocean Avenue

$2,495 base rent

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Borough Park

5501 15th Avenue

$2,100 base rent

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Midwood

2026 Ocean Avenue

$2,250 base rent

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Midwood

1279 East 17th Street

$1,860 base rent

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Clinton Hill

395 Washington Avenue

$2,499 base rent

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Bay Ridge

6812 Owls Head Court

$2,225 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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Jamaica

92-27 160th Street

$2,625 base rent

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Jamaica

92-27 160th Street

$2,700 base rent

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Flushing

142-27 Barclay Avenue

$2,350 base rent

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Jamaica

92-27 160th Street

$2,621 base rent

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Forest Hills

67-06 Austin Street

$3,300 base rent

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Long Island City

37-26 32nd Street

$3,900 base rent

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Ridgewood

377 Onderdonk Avenue

$3,399 base rent

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Sunnyside

41-15 50th Avenue

$3,825 base rent

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Queens Village

214-35 93rd Avenue

$2,213 base rent

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Far Rockaway

1027 Beach 19th Street

$2,175 base rent

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Elmhurst

90-23 51st Avenue

$3,295 base rent

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Ditmars-Steinway

23-11 37th Street

$2,750 base rent

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Public transportation is a big part of the cecision

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 space?

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.

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Fresh Meadows

196-59 73rd Avenue

$2,500 base rent

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Mott Haven

310 Grand Concourse

$2,395 base rent

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Mott Haven

310 Grand Concourse

$2,199 base rent

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Ridgewood

16-91 Linden Street

$2,300 base rent

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Yorkville

308 East 90th Street

$2,299 base rent

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Bushwick

319 Eldert Street

$2,100 base rent

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Gravesend

2230 Cropsey Avenue

$2,443 base rent

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Forest Hills

72-34 Austin Street

$2,400 base rent

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Williamsbridge

3534 Bronx Boulevard

$1,750 base rent

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Marble Hill

2 Adrian Avenue

$2,325 base rent

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West Side

532 West Side Avenue

$2,295 base rent

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West Side

52 Jewett Avenue

$2,000 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.