Cost of living in NYC?

you looking to buy or rent?

Yeah...either way....$$$$$ the only thing cheaper in NYC than other places are roses....well the ones you buy at the corner.

Renting. I can't even afford to buy in Vancouver, much less NYC.

What are the more inexpensive parts of Manhattan?

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There really aren't any cheap parts of Manhattan anymore, except maybe Washington Heights or upper Harlem and even then not always. Go to Brooklyn or Queens -- much cheaper, much more space.

I live in the Williamsburg/Greenpoint area of Brooklyn, one stop into Brooklyn (I can walk out of my apartment and be in the East Village in less than 15 minutes and in midtown in less than a half an hour). The neighborhood has the whole young artist feel the Village had a decade or so ago, only cleaner and safer, with lots of restaurants, bars, performance spaces etc opening left and right. I live alone in my own two bedroom apartment, with two terraces (one with a view of the Manhattan skyline), a washer dryer, a roofdeck and other amenities, on a quiet tree-lined block two minutes away from a beautiful park and I pay less than friends in Manhattan living in tiny studios smaller than my living room. Mind you, Manhattanites have unfortunately discovered the neighborhood and prices are beginning to skyrocket (one bedrooms are starting to go for $2000+, and two bedrooms for over $3000 in some cases -- thankfully I've lived here for a few years).

If you want to live almost anywhere in Manhattan, you'll almost have to have a roommate or two and unless you're extremely lucky, in most cases expect your share of the rent to be around $1000 a month. You might check Chinatown, Hell's Kitchen (which I think the real estate people call Clinton now), the upper east side (oddly, though it's one of the ritzier areas of town, I've had several friends find deals in the east 80's and 90's), and MAYBE the lower east side (though I doubt it). You'd be better off in Williamburg, Boerum Hill, Carroll Gardens or Fort Greene in Brooklyn or in Long Island City or certain parts of Queens Boulevard in Queens.

There are deals out there (check the Voice) -- good luck.

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Thanks for the advice, folks! (expect that pm soon)

What type of sq footage am I looking at for a 1, 2 BR?

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Margo... can I come live with you?

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just west of the Hudson is Jersey City -- I am 5 minutes into downtown NYC (World Trade Cener), have over 1800 square feet of space and a car...I work midtown and am in the office door to door in 25 minutes...Jersey ain't all bad folks....and I have a great view f the harbour and lady liberty!

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I'm going through the hellish experience of trying to find a place and a roommate in Manhattan as well. Needless to say I don't sleep much at night anymore.

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Oh just shut up, Buddha!

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As much as we complain about it, the subway is truly a miracle and the best deal in town. It runs 24/7/365 and despite the delays and construction, 90+% of the time, it functions without incident.

I know a LOT of 20-somethings living here in Williamsburg. As I said, it has the same energy the East Village did in the early - mid 90's when I lived there -- if you look down the platform at the Bedford stop on the L, the first stop into Brooklyn, most of the time the average age of the people waiting for the train is probably 24 - 28. There are lots are bars and clubs here, but whenever you feel like heading into Manhattan, it's one stop on the L to the East Village (a less than 5 minute trip).

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Updated On: 9/26/04 at 09:01 PM

me too!!!

Oooh, good stuff on craigslist!

Sorry if this sounds ignorant, but what's this broker fee and such? I'm just trying to figure out which category I should be looking under. What are these different fees?

all apts (includes by-owner + no-fee broker + fee broker + registration fee)

all no-broker-fee apts (includes by-owner + no-fee broker + registration fee)

all no-fee apts (includes by-owner + no-fee-broker)

by-owner apts only (no brokers)

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