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

320 East 126th Street

$1,900 base rent

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East Harlem

22 East 105th Street

$2,400 base rent

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Fort George

11 Fairview Avenue

$2,200 base rent

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Central Harlem

10 West 135th Street

$2,035 base rent

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Carnegie Hill

121 East 97th Street

$2,425 base rent

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Hamilton Heights

580 Saint Nicholas Avenue

$2,200 base rent

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Washington Heights

521 West 156th Street

$2,200 base rent

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Manhattan Valley

113 West 106th Street

$2,500 base rent

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Fort George

10 Hillside Avenue

$2,215 base rent

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Little Italy

171 Mott Street

$2,495 base rent

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Inwood

5009 Broadway

$2,200 base rent

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Chelsea

327 West 21st Street

$2,495 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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Brighton Beach

363 Neptune Avenue

$2,300 base rent

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Sunset Park

6014 Fourth Avenue

$2,500 base rent

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Greenpoint

131 Meserole Avenue

$2,500 base rent

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Greenpoint

164 India Street

$2,000 base rent

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Bensonhurst

2101 Bay Ridge Parkway

$2,400 base rent

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Bushwick

1142 Lafayette Avenue

$2,199 base rent

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East Flatbush

879 Lenox Road

$2,281 base rent

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Prospect Heights

547 Bergen Street

$2,300 base rent

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Bushwick

751 Hart Street

$2,083 base rent

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Greenpoint

85 Commercial Street

$1,103 base rent

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Farragut

696 East 42nd Street

$2,300 base rent

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Williamsburg

301 Hooper Street

$1,350 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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Rego Park

65-65 Booth Street

$2,700 base rent

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Ridgewood

62-07 Catalpa Avenue

$3,500 base rent

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Jackson Heights

79-18 Astoria Boulevard South

$2,600 base rent

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Astoria

30-06 38th Street

$3,400 base rent

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Ridgewood

20-23 Menahan Street

$2,800 base rent

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Astoria

26-41 3rd Street

$3,550 base rent

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Woodside

59-33 48th Avenue

$3,800 base rent

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Astoria

2-24 26th Avenue

$2,980 base rent

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Ditmars-Steinway

22-75 28th Street

$3,600 base rent

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Long Island City

38-38 32nd Street

$3,500 base rent

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Long Island City

38-38 32nd Street

$3,500 base rent

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Long Island City

38-38 32nd Street

$3,500 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

Bayonne

186-194 Broadway

$2,150 base rent

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East New York

545 Hinsdale Street

$2,200 base rent

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Mott Haven

2385 3rd Avenue

$2,184 base rent

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East Flatbush

879 Lenox Road

$2,281 base rent

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Fort Hamilton

9747 Shore Road

$2,485 base rent

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Central Harlem

166 West 129th Street

$2,000 base rent

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Midwood

1279 East 17th Street

$1,930 base rent

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Lenox Hill

257 East 61st Street

$2,500 base rent

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Lenox Hill

1446 First Avenue

$2,395 base rent

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Sunset Park

960 Third Avenue

$2,299 base rent

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Midwood

1654 East 13th Street

$2,125 base rent

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Hamilton Heights

666 Saint Nicholas’s Avenue

$2,100 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.