[Staros]

Looking for a studio / 1 BR apartment in Manhattan. Not endless amount of money. What neighborhood would you recommend?

Criteria: Good cafes and restaurants, culture spots, nightlife. Good vibe.

[lavidaloca]

Pretty sure I read this same thread within the last couple days.

[ozzyyooo]

Lmao I thought this was going to be about girls. I was too excited since I'm in Manhattan. Oh well lol!

[WestIndianArchie]

(04-20-2013 11:08 PM)Staros Wrote:  

Looking for a studio / 1 BR apartment in Manhattan. Not endless amount of money. What neighborhood would you recommend?

Criteria: Good cafes and restaurants, culture spots, nightlife. Good vibe.

I'd find someplace below 14th, at least below 23rd and definitely above the Financial District.

WIA

[Sonsowey]

Alphabet City?

How much money are you looking to drop?

[Vicious]

If you are thinking in terms of being cost - effective then Manhattan isn't even part of the equation. You either go big on Manhattan or slum it in Brooklyn or Queens.

I'm here right now and I've been looking a lot into the possibilities for a longer stay at another time.

[savvylurker]

Dude, I hear this all the time. Ask yourself, why do I need to live in Manhattan? As said above, live in Brooklyn or Queens. You will still be able to bang the Manhattanite girls. By the time you pay Manhattan rent you are only gonna have enough left to watch pornhub.

[crush]

You could probably find a place in Alphabet City, LES/Chinatown for under or about $2500, but it won't be nice...

I think your best bet is a slightly gentrified neighborhood in Brooklyn - Carrol Gardens, Williamsburg, Park Slope, or Greenpoint (or maybe even Long Island City in Queens). You'll be able to find a better place than you would in Manhattan, and there will be enough going on (bars, restaurants, students/hipster girls), that you won't feel like you have to go into Manhattan all the time.

Also, if you DO need to go into Manhattan for some reason, all of those places have quick access via subway.

[Mojorisin808]

Bushwick in Brooklyn is great value now, i rent a newly renovated studio there for $1000 a month. Its only 7 stops on the L line into Union square 14st, 20 minutes and I'm in the middle of the best day gaming in the city, also with plenty of night spots. Astoria is a cool neighborhood too, little more pricier though. If you ask me living in Manhattan is just a rip off for what you get.

[Sonsowey]

(04-21-2013 05:13 PM)Mojorisin808 Wrote:  

Bushwick in Brooklyn is great value now, i rent a newly renovated studio there for $1000 a month. Its only 7 stops on the L line into Union square 14st, 20 minutes and I'm in the middle of the best day gaming in the city, also with plenty of night spots. Astoria is a cool neighborhood too, little more pricier though.

I live in Astoria. For chicks, it's not even comprable to Brooklyn.

Part of this is that, in Astoria there are many more families, and the young person concentration is much lower.

Another part is that Brooklyn itself is much more of a status symbol than Queens is, so even if there are cute chicks in Astoria, they mostly bounce to Manhattan to work and do all that shit.

It is nicer because of the shorter commute, good restaurants, and relative spaciousness of what you get. But for gaming, it's not too good. And chicks mainly act like Queens is toxic, practically refusing to come here. It's just not as "cool" as Manhattan or BK, so the same distance trip is deemed unimaginable.

Manhattan, if you have roomates, is doable. I have friends who lived in Alphabet City in a 3 bed for 3900 total. I share a 2 bed apt for 2000 in Astoria. $300 a person difference. Of course, my place is much closer to the train and more spacious, but their location was easily sweeter.

[Sabra]

(04-21-2013 05:04 AM)WestIndianArchie Wrote:  

(04-20-2013 11:08 PM)Staros Wrote:  

Looking for a studio / 1 BR apartment in Manhattan. Not endless amount of money. What neighborhood would you recommend?

Criteria: Good cafes and restaurants, culture spots, nightlife. Good vibe.

I'd find someplace below 14th, at least below 23rd and definitely above the Financial District.

WIA

Yeah, the Financial District can turn into a ghost town outside of normal business hours

[nmmoooreland20]

For your needs, might look into Hoboken, NJ as well.

[travolta]

Manhattan is expensive as fuck, but amazing. I'm subletting a place in East Village right now for $1800/month. When my sublet ends I'll look for a private studio, I'm sure I'll be able to get a place for $2k/month or less. It comes down to price, location, and amenities. You usually have to sacrifice at least one. Right now my place is actually pretty cheap (cheap for the area), has decent amenities, and is in a prime location. Too bad it's only temporary. For my next place i'll likely sacrifice amenities. I'll hopefully find a shitty place in East Village with shitty amenities. As long as it doesn't have roaches or rats I'll be fine.

EDIT: just realized that I didn't answer the OP's question. As for your situation, I'd say don't even bother living in Manhattan. It's expensive as fuck here. I've never spent so much money in my life in such a short time frame as I have since I moved to Manhattan. BUT.. if you have money to blow then it's a great city, especially if you live in a nice area.

[Staros]

(04-21-2013 07:28 AM)Sonsowey Wrote:  

Alphabet City?

How much money are you looking to drop?

From 1300 to 2600.

And thanks to everyone for their POVs. I see the angle.

[cheerfulwish]

Check Washington Heights

[WestIndianArchie]

(04-21-2013 10:13 PM)cheerfulwish Wrote:  

Check Washington Heights

*learns Spanish*

WIA

[WestIndianArchie]

(04-21-2013 10:10 PM)Staros Wrote:  

(04-21-2013 07:28 AM)Sonsowey Wrote:  

Alphabet City?

How much money are you looking to drop?

From 1300 to 2600.

And thanks to everyone for their POVs. I see the angle.

Craig's list is showing a lot of good stuff for your price range right this second.

Consider using a broker to really narrow things down or getting one of those craig's list notification apps.

WIA

[Staros]

Okay, thanks for your replies guys.

[hun73r]

UES has got some deals if you like rich or well employed girls.
Murray hill also isn't bad in manhattan.
Of course, as mentioned you can go to Spanish Harlem, morningside heights and those places if you
want to commute a ways and don't mind getting pissed on/yelled at frequently.
Astoria isn't a bad option in queens.
Or bushwick/park slope/w'burg in brooklyn.