Living in New York is really expensive. The image of New York on the Internet is always shining and luxurious, so people generally believe that only the rich can stay here. But that’s completely wrong! In fact, apart from the bustling New York filled with skyscrapers and trendy shops, there is another New York: more real, more affordable. Looking for the cheapest area of NYC to live doesn’t mean lowering the quality of life. This article will point out those neighborhoods in NYC where the cost of living is lower, but they are still equally charming. We hope that every penny you spend is worth it. Please read this article and explore those cheapest neighborhoods in NYC.
An overview of cheapest area of NYC to live
Since we have confirmed that living in cheap flats in NYC is feasible, some affordable places to live in NYC will be listed. We will try to select those neighborhoods that are both affordable and charming, so that you can enjoy a high-quality life with less money.
This section will initially list the cheapest neighborhoods in NYC and their average housing prices.
| Cheapest Neighborhoods in NYC | Median House Purchasing Prices | Median Monthly Rents |
|---|---|---|
| Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn | $1,250,000 | $1,194 |
| Prince’s Bay, Stanten Island | $603,750 | $1,263 |
| Woodlawn Heights, The Bronx | $211,000 | $1,274 |
| Astoria, Queens | $930,000 | $1,339 |
| Harlem, Manhattan | $922,288 | $1,401 |
| Sunset Park, Brooklyn | $775,000 | $1,445 |
| Bath Beach, Brooklyn | $1,280,000 | $1,452 |
| Sunnyside, Queens | $698,000 | $1,466 |
| Kensington, Brooklyn | $635,000 | $1,495 |
| Jackson Heights, Queens | $470,000 | $1,500 |
| Morris Park, The Bronx | $740,000 | $1,500 |
| Lower East Side, Manhattan | $830,000 | $1,510 |
| Bay Ridge, Brooklyn | $660,000 | $1,594 |
| Laurelton, Queens | $680,000 | $1,624 |
| City Island, The Bronx | $734,000 | $1,637 |
Top cheap places to stay in NYC
Here are detailed introductions to inexpensive places to stay in NYC.
Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn
- Median House Purchasing Prices: $1,250,000
- Median Monthly Rents: $1,194
- Perfect for: Victorian architecture
Bedford-Stuyvesant, located in the northern part of Brooklyn, New York City, is a neighborhood with rich historical and cultural charm. With multiple subway lines passing through, it takes about 30-40 minutes to reach Midtown or Downtown Manhattan. This area boasts one of the most complete and well-preserved Victorian architecture complexes in the United States, with approximately 8,800 residences built before 1900.
Since the 1930s, Bedford-Stuyvesant has become the core of the African-American community in Brooklyn, known as “Brooklyn’s Little Harlem”. There are also many community activities. Block parties, church events, and neighborhood mutual assistance are important traditions in this area. Living in this inexpensive places to live in New York can also allow you to experience the warmth of New York.
Prince's Bay, Stanten Island
- Median House Purchasing Prices: $603,750
- Median Monthly Rents: $1,263
- Perfect for: coastal area
Prince’s Bay is a coastal community located on the southern shore of Staten Island in NYC. It combines the tranquility of the suburbs with natural scenery, and is renowned for its seaside mansions, historical sites and park green spaces. In the 19th century, it was just a fishing village, famous for oyster fishing. In the early 20th century, it became a popular summer resort for Manhattan’s wealthy people, but deserted due to water pollution. Later, after government renovation, it was transformed into a villa area and named Wolfe’s Pond Park.
In summary, Prince’s Bay boasts the most expansive coastal scenery and park resources on the southern shore of Staten Island. Coupled with convenient railways and buses, it has become a popular choice for families and high-income individuals seeking a lifestyle that is “not far from Manhattan but like a seaside town”.
Woodlawn Heights, The Bronx
- Median House Purchasing Prices: $211,000
- Median Monthly Rents: $1,274
- Perfect for: Irish style, well-landscaped
Woodlawn Heights is located at the northernmost part of the Bronx in New York. As one of the most famous cheapest neighborhoods in NYC, Woodlawn is a low-key community known for its strong Irish atmosphere, low-density residence and green environment.
Originally, this area was just a farmland and forest. With the completion of the New York-Harlem Railway in 1841, a large number of middle-class families were attracted here. The area is mostly composed of single-family or duplex wooden houses as well as brick-and-stone villas built between 1900 and 1940. What’s even more attractive is that Woodlawn has a large area of green space. Living here, you can walk to Van Cortlandt Park, which covers 1,146 acres. There are wetlands, lakes, off-road running tracks and golf courses, and there is also the Jerome Reservoir walking path within the community.
Astoria, Queens
- Median House Purchasing Prices: $930,000
- Median Monthly Rents: $1,339
- Perfect for: international atmosphere
Astoria in Queens is not only one of the cheapest area of NYC to live, but also one of the most international and historically significant communities in the city. The place has convenient transportation, with the N/W line running through the core area, and it takes only 20 minutes to reach Midtown Manhattan.
Greek, Italian, Middle Eastern, South American, South Asian, and East Asian immigrants have settled here, so the culture and cuisine here are also very diverse. If you live here, you will have the opportunity to make friends from all over the world.
Harlem, Manhattan
- Median House Purchasing Prices: $922,288
- Median Monthly Rents: $1,401
- Perfect for: Apollo Theater, Hudson River
Harlem is located in the northern part of Manhattan and is one of the most popular neighborhoods with historic charms and cultural significance in New York. It is home to lots of African and Latino residents and is the center of black culture in New York.
The western part of this area reaches the Hudson River, and there is a greenway along the river where you can ride a bicycle and enjoy the scenery. Several subway lines pass through, including lines A/B/C/D/2/3/6. The 125 St. station is the most important station in this area and is known as “Harlem Heart”.
Sunset Park, Brooklyn
- Median House Purchasing Prices: $775,000
- Median Monthly Rents: $1,445
- Perfect for: sunset scenery
Sunset Park is located in the western part of Brooklyn and is named after the park of the same name. This park is one of the highest points in Brooklyn. Standing here, you can enjoy the view of the Statue of Liberty, Manhattan Downtown, Staten Island and the New Jersey port. At twilight, the skyline is dyed orange by the setting sun, and here you can enjoy the best sunset views. This is where the name “sunset” comes from.
At the end of the 19th century, this place was still a trading corridor for the Lenape Native Americans. Later, it became an industrial center for European immigrants. Now, it has also become an important Chinatown in New York. If you come from Asia, choosing Sunset Park is always right. The housing is mainly made up of brownstone row houses and 6-story brick buildings from the 1890s to 1930s, and the rent is relatively lower than that in North Brooklyn. Many activities are also held here frequently. The Fifth Avenue Street Carnival in May, the Mid-Autumn Festival in August, and the Puerto Rico Day Parade in September all turn the entire street into a multicultural stage.
Bath Beach, Brooklyn
- Median House Purchasing Prices: $1,280,000
- Median Monthly Rents: $1,452
- Perfect for: beach
In the mid-19th century, Bath Beach was marketed by developers as a Brooklyn version of a seaside resort, featuring private beaches and small amusement parks. In the 1940s, when the Belt Parkway was built, the original beach was filled in to pave the road. Now, only the bay walkway and the long causeway remain for residents to fish, jog, and watch the sunset. However, the name “Bath Beach” is still used.
Today, the area covers approximately 480 acres and has a population of 33,000, with a moderate density. Most of the residents here are of Asian and Caucasian descent, and the overall area is relatively safe. Therefore, if you are looking for a safe and affordable places to live in NYC, Bath Beach is your top choice.
Sunnyside, Queens
- Median House Purchasing Prices: $698,000
- Median Monthly Rents: $1,466
- Perfect for: convenient transportation
The transportation in Sunnyside is very convenient. Taking the subway Line 7, it only takes 4 stops to reach Grand Central in New York. And then transferring to Line S, it only takes 3 minutes to directly reach Times Square. The community efficiency makes the middle city of Manhattan consider this place as the “budget version of Manhattan Midtown West”, and thus it has become one of the cheapest neighborhoods in NYC.
In the 1920s, Sunnyside Gardens, one of the earliest communities built based on the “garden city” concept in the United States, is still one of the only two private community parks remaining in New York. The residents here can enter the 3-acre lawn and children’s playground with their keys. Not only does the living environment here look beautiful, but the rent is also very cheap, being almost 60% of that in the central area of Manhattan. The crime rate here is lower than the average of the city, and the neighborhood relations are also very harmonious.
Kensington, Brooklyn
- Median House Purchasing Prices: $635,000
- Median Monthly Rents: $1,495
- Perfect for: rural-style residence
Kensington is located in the central part of Brooklyn and its name is derived from the Kensington district in London. After the extension of the subway Line F in the 1920s, brick row houses, American-style Foursquare single-family homes and Art Deco apartment buildings were successively built, forming the current residential layout of “low floors and lush tree shade”.
The area is only about 1.8 square kilometers, but it houses over 50,000 people, with a high population density. The proportion of foreign residents here exceeds 60%, and it is jokingly called the “little United Nations”. The life in this community is very peaceful and quiet. Children can play football on the lawn, and residents can take a walk on Ocean Park Avenue. The community also holds farmers’ markets and multicultural street fairs every month, allowing you to quickly adapt to the new environment.
Jackson Heights, Queens
- Median House Purchasing Prices: $470,000
- Median Monthly Rents: $1,500
- Perfect for: garden city
Jackson Heights is a key station on the New York subway’s Line 7. The neighborhood was established in 1909 and was developed based on the “garden city” concept, featuring low-rise enclosed apartments. As of now, more than 200 garden apartments”remain in excellent condition, forming the Jackson Heights Historic District established in 1993. The Jackson Heights beautification group regularly plants flowers and sweeps the streets, while the Immigration Rights Center offers multilingual legal lectures. Additionally, this neighborhood is also the site of the second-largest LGBTQ pride parade in New York. Therefore, not only is it the place with the cheapest rent in NYC, but it also has an inclusive community atmosphere.
Morris Park, The Bronx
- Median House Purchasing Prices: $740,000
- Median Monthly Rents: $1,500
- Perfect for: Italian style
Morris Park is one of the areas with the lowest population density in the Bronx, with less than 1.9 people per square mile. However, it has one of the highest Italian-American proportions in the city. Therefore, many people consider it to be “the Bronx’s Italian soul that competes with Arthur Avenue”. The neighborhood got its name from the Morris Park Racecourse in the late 19th century. It hosted the Belmont Stakes and the first public air show from 1889 to 1910.
Living here will make your life very pleasant. You can enjoy old-fashioned Italian coffee and taste freshly baked bread from the Albanian bakery. The Columbus Day Parade starts here every October, with bands, floats, and over 30 clubs participating. Healthcare and education are also another pillar of this area. Therefore, living here means having all kinds of facilities available.
Lower East Side, Manhattan
- Median House Purchasing Prices: $830,000
- Median Monthly Rents: $1,510
- Perfect for: Jewish community
Lower East Side is the cheapest area of NYC to live. Since the mid-19th century, Irish, German, Italian and Eastern European Jewish refugees have successively poured in, making it the largest Jewish community in the world. In the 21st century, six subway lines and the newly opened underground shopping mall Market Line have brought the Lower East Side back into the spotlight of capital investment, and property prices have risen. However, compared to other areas in Manhattan, it is still affordable.
Bay Ridge, Brooklyn
- Median House Purchasing Prices: $660,000
- Median Monthly Rents: $1,594
- Perfect for: border on the sea
Before the mid-19th century, this area was a Dutch farm. In 1853, it was renamed “Bay Ridge” due to a yellow fever epidemic. In the 1890s, with the arrival of trams and the opening of the 4th subway line in 1916, the estate was divided into several parts. Italian and Norwegian immigrants built brick row houses and semi-detached houses, laying the foundation for the current “suburban-style city” layout.
Bay Ridge is a very safe community in New York. In 2023, it ranked first among the safest communities in Brooklyn. It only takes 30 minutes by subway R line to reach Midtown Manhattan. Combined with multiple rapid buses and free parking, it has become a coastal option that “is affordable and peaceful for financial district professionals and families with children” to live in.
Laurelton, Queens
- Median House Purchasing Prices: $680,000
- Median Monthly Rents: $1,624
- Perfect for: English countryside style, laurel
Laurelton in Queens was named after the Laurelton station established by Long Island Railroad in the early 20th century. It got its name because the hillside was covered with laurel trees in the early days. The developer, Dean Alvord, planned Tudor-style gabled brick houses, garden apartments with courtyards, and 40×100-foot standard plots based on the “English countryside” concept. Up to now, it remains one of the few communities in New York City that retains “paths + hedges”.
Merrick Boulevard serves as the commercial center of this area, gathering Caribbean restaurants, halal butcher shops, Key Food supermarkets and agricultural markets. Living here, you can reach Brookville Park within 5 minutes by walking. The park has ponds, skateboarding areas and basketball courts, which are the preferred choice for residents for morning exercise and family barbecues.
City Island, The Bronx
- Median House Purchasing Prices: $734,000
- Median Monthly Rents: $1,637
- Perfect for: independent island
City Island is located at the western end of Long Island Sound, in the northeastern corner of the Bronx. It is a small island that is only 2.4 kilometers long and 0.5 kilometers wide. The island is connected to the mainland by a 950-foot City Island Bridge. If you think of Midtown Manhattan, it only takes 30 minutes by car. This island was once a shipbuilding center in the 19th century and still retains the title of “New York City Fishing Village” to this day. The rent here is much lower than that in the Manhattan waterfront areas, and the crime rate has always been lower than the city’s average. Living here, you can hear the clanging of the yacht masts at night and the distant ferry whistle.
Tips for finding low cost housing New York
Mastering the correct methods enables you to live more comfortably in New York at a lower cost. Besides focusing on the cheapest area of NYC to live, the following tips can help you find your desired low cost housing New York more efficiently.
1. Seize the best time for renting
The peak period for renting flats shows distinct seasonal patterns. Winter (especially from November to February of the following year) is the off-peak season, with reduced demand. Thus, landlords are more likely to offer concessions, such as free agency fees or one month’s rent waived. Summer (from May to September) is the peak season. Try to avoid competing during the summer when graduates or freshmen are finding houses. If you don’t know when to start looking for a flat, please contact uhomes.com. We offer ample property options in New York and have professional consultants who can tell you when to start booking at the most affordable prices.
2. Consider sharing the rents together
In New York, the cost of renting a studio or a 1B1B apartment alone is extremely high. By sharing a multi-bedroom apartment with friends or find roommates through some platforms, you can significantly reduce your rent, utility bills, and other expenses. Moreover, if you are new to this city, this is also an excellent way to quickly integrate into the community.
3. Choose apartments near transportation hubs
The rent in New York center is extremely expensive. If your budget is limited, you definitely don’t need to consider this area. But what if you still want convenient commuting? Houses near transportation hubs are your best choice. We suggest choosing an apartment that is not in the city center but within a five-minute walk to the subway station or bus stop. This not only shortens your commuting time but also saves your living costs.
4. Explore rent-controlled apartments
In New York, there are some rent-stabilized or rent-controlled apartments. These are old buildings that are subject to legal restrictions, with a limited annual rent increase. So their prices are much lower than the market price. Although it is difficult to find vacant rooms directly in these apartments, you can look for sublets from long-term tenants and pay attention to specific old buildings.
What factors make them become affordable places to live in NYC?
As an international metropolis, New York has always had one of the highest living costs in the world. So why are the areas listed above relatively cheaper? The reasons are quite complex, but they can be roughly summarized as follows.
1. Located far from the city center
These areas are usually far away from the core areas such as Midtown and Downtown Manhattan. The main commercial districts are concentrated here. Therefore, inexpensive places to live in New York are gained at the cost of longer commuting times. Moreover, some areas, even though they are covered by the subway, have only a single line. And the number of night or weekend services may be even fewer. Unlike the core areas of Manhattan, which are well-connected and operate 24/7 for convenience.
2. Facilities are still under construction
Compared with mature communities like Manhattan or Williamsburg in Brooklyn, these neighborhoods may have fewer facilities such as supermarkets, high-end restaurants, and gyms. Therefore, choosing these affordable NYC apartments might make your life less convenient. The overall environment may also not be as exquisite as in those expensive areas.
3. Most are old apartments
These cheap places to stay in New York City may have a large number of old apartments. Their conditions and amenities may not be as luxurious as those of newly-built apartments. Moreover, these areas may have a poor reputation in people’s minds due to security or industrial background. This stereotypical impression needs time to change, thereby temporarily suppressing the rapid increase in housing prices and rents.
Conclusion: Which is the cheapest area of NYC to live?
To find the cheapest area of NYC to live, changing your perspective is necessary. You should abandon the core area of Manhattan and pay more attention to those vibrant but often overlooked communities located in the outer rings. The high rents in NYC are essentially due to commuting time and business layout. The cheapest neighborhoods in NYC listed above might be slightly farther from the core commercial areas, but the transportation is convenient. Therefore, your commuting time to work might not increase too much. This compromise is very worthwhile for significant cost savings.
FAQs on cheapest neighborhoods in NYC
| Cheapest Neighborhoods in NYC | Median House Purchasing Prices | Median Monthly Rents |
|---|---|---|
| Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn | $1,250,000 | $1,194 |
| Prince’s Bay, Stanten Island | $603,750 | $1,263 |
| Woodlawn Heights, The Bronx | $211,000 | $1,274 |
| Astoria, Queens | $930,000 | $1,339 |
| Harlem, Manhattan | $922,288 | $1,401 |
| Sunset Park, Brooklyn | $775,000 | $1,445 |
| Bath Beach, Brooklyn | $1,280,000 | $1,452 |
| Sunnyside, Queens | $698,000 | $1,466 |
| Kensington, Brooklyn | $635,000 | $1,495 |
| Jackson Heights, Queens | $470,000 | $1,500 |
| Morris Park, The Bronx | $740,000 | $1,500 |
| Lower East Side, Manhattan | $830,000 | $1,510 |
| Bay Ridge, Brooklyn | $660,000 | $1,594 |
| Laurelton, Queens | $680,000 | $1,624 |
| City Island, The Bronx | $734,000 | $1,637 |
Of course yes. Generally speaking, the rent in Brooklyn is cheaper than Manhattan.
Manhattan possesses the peak of housing prices and rents in New York and even globally. The most expensive mansions, luxury apartments and prime real estate developments are all located here. Brooklyn, as a large administrative area, has lower overall prices compared to Manhattan, offering more possibilities for budget-limited tenants and buyers.
After choosing the cheapest place to live in New York, you need to incorporate some potential additional costs and hidden expenses into your budget. The following are the main aspects to consider:
- Transportation costs
- Shopping and grocery costs
- Housing-related costs: water fees, electricity fees, gas fees, internet fees
- Initial setup costs: agency fees, deposit
It’s very difficult.
The rents in New York have always been among the highest in the world. To find a house with a monthly rent of less than $1000, you may have to make many compromises. For example, accepting shared accommodation, extremely poor-quality houses, houses with inconvenient transportation and far from the city center.
But it’s not completely hopeless. If you want to rent a more comfortable house within a limited budget, you can check out uhomes.com. Although it’s very difficult to find a low-priced house in New York, our advisors will do their best to find one for you.
