How to Find Cheap Apartments in New York City
So you have just graduated college and have a fantastic job offer in New York City. Or your company is relocating to Manhattan. You need an apartment and fast. The first thing to do is to figure out the maximum you can afford for living expenses including the utilities. Some apartments will come with utilities included, some will not.
Second, make a list of what you absolutely need, how many rooms, how many bathrooms, do you need to be on the first floor for medical reasons or is a second or third floor walk- up ok. Many of the apartments in New York are in older buildings that do not have elevators.
Let’s take a look at what you will find In New York. Let’s say we are looking for a 2-bedroom apartment and are willing to look at different neighborhoods. Let’s start with Manhattan. Like the other Boroughs of New York is made up of many different neighborhoods, each with its own character. And each with pluses and minuses. One thing, apartments are rare in Manhattan. At any rate, there may be only three to ten apartments available in any one neighborhood and they do move fast. Even the apartments that you could call fixer uppers. So let’s begin our hunt.
Battery Park City
Battery Park City is located at the Southern Tip of New York , with great views of the Statue of Liberty and, on a clear day New Jersey. The average price for a two bedroom apartment is between $5,000 and $7,500 a month.
East Village
Greenwich Village is divided into east and west. It is one of the most famous neighborhoods in New York. The East Village is a young persons’ type of neighborhood. Prices for a two bedroom apartment will run between $3,000 and $12,000. There are quite a few different options here from an old walk up to a newer building.
Gramercy Park Flat Iron District
Gramercy Park is just North of Union Square and just south of the Garment District By the way, Union Square Market is the largest farmers market in New York Prices for a two bedroom apartment here can range from $3,000 to $6,500. Again it depends on the age of the building and the square footage as well as the number of bedrooms.
Mid Town West
On the West Side of New yokr , just north of Greenwich Village. There is a big range of prices fo an apartment here, from about $3,500 to $19,000. Again it depends on the variables like closeness to subways and type of buildings.
Upper East Side
This is one of the hottest places in New York, right between Central Park and the East River. This is one place you will find a lot of condos for rent. A two bedroom apartment here will range from about $3,500 to $10,000 a month.
Chelsea
Chelsea is a very trendy neighborhood on the West side of New York just north of Greenwich Village. Prices here go from $5,000 to $10,000 for a two bedroom apartment.
Greenwich Village, one of the most famous spots in the world, rents here will go from about $5,000 to $14,000.
Soho / Tribeca
So ho and Tribeca are on the lower west side, west of Little Italy and China Town. When looking here, be sure to visit Little Italy and Chinatown to get a good look at 2 of the most interesting New York neighborhoods. Great restaurants here to Lots of art galleries here. Prices from about $3,000 to $12,000 a month.
Upper West Side
This is easy to find. Right on the other side of the park from the Upper East Side. One of the high end districts Prices range from $6,000 to $19,000.
Down Town, Financial District Area
Right where the action is in the financial world. Here you will pay from $6,000 to $12,000.
Midtown East
Midtown East is by the East river, between the Queens Midtown Tunnel and the Queensboro Bridge. The United Nations is here. Prices from $4,000 to $12,000.
Murray Hill/ Kips Bay
Murray Hill/ Kips bay is on the East side, just south of the Queens Midtown tunnel and East of the garment district. This district has some the lowest priced apartments in New York , but they are few and far between Prices range from $3,000 to $12,000 but once in a while you can get one a couple of hundred lower.
West Village
The name says it. On the west side of the Village. Prices are higher here from $5,000 to $14,000.
Harlem
Harlem is the northern most part of New York. Directly West of The Bronx. It has some of the best prices in Manhattan, and the largest inventory. Apartments here range from about $1,500 to $8,000
So looking it over, you cannot get a 2-bedroom apartment in Manhattan for less than $3,000, except in Harlem. But there is much more to New York than Manhattan Remember there are four more Boroughs to New York City, so lets give a look and see what they offer.
First lets go north to The Bronx. The Bronx is the only Borough of New York City to be on the main land. It is the home of the Yankees and The Bronx Zoo. Public transportation is great with many trains and busses going to all parts of Manhattan. Prices for 2-bedroom apartments in the Bronx range from $1,000 to about $3,000 Lots of choices.
Let’s make Queens or next stop. Queens is the Borough of New York with the most parks, and the best one if you have a car. It is the home of the New York Mets and the US Open Tennis Championship and the site of two Worlds’ Fairs. There is more on street parking and some apartments will come with either off street parking or a garage Public transportation is better in the West sections of the Borough. The subway does not run all the way to the east and from there you would have to take the Long Island Rail Road into Manhattan the neighborhoods near transportation include Long Island City, Sunnyside, Howard Beach, Forest Hills, Middle Village, Ridgewood, Astoria, College Point, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Flushing, Rego Park, Woodhaven, Jamaica, Richmond Hills and Ozone Park Prices in Queens range from $1,500 to $3,000.
Roosevelt Island
Roosevelt Island Lies in the East River, between Manhattan and Queens. You can get to Manhattan by Car, train or tram( the same one Spiderman took in the Spiderman Movie) Prices here are very uniform falling between $3,000 and $4,000.
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is known as the Borough of Churches. Is has more churches than any other Borough oh New York. Transportation to Manhattan is great with trains and busses from all over the Borough. And don’t forget Coney Island and their famous Aquarium. A 2-bedroom apartment here will go from $1,000 to $7.000 ( Brooklyn Heights).
And last but not least Staten Island. Staten Island lies in the harbor, closes to New Jersey than Manhattan actually. The best way to get to Manhattan is by ferry. It docks in lower Manhattan and you can catch a train or bus to other parts of Manhattan. A 2 bedroom here will cost between $1,000 and $2,000.
So we have taken an imaginary tour of New York City Real Estate. Now it is time for you to get a plan of action. Decide what your budget will be. Don’t forget to include all utilities and garage space if you need it be sure to ask what is included with the apartment rent. Do not assume that anything will be Take a look and see what neighborhoods fit your budget, and go give a look to see if it fits your lifestyle. Happy Hunting.
