Cheap Apartments in NYC: Cheap Options in an Expensive City

If you have a neighborhood that you really want to live in but just can't afford, one easy way to find cheap apartments in NYC is to look in nearby neighborhoods that are somewhat less desirable but offer apartments at a significant discount. Here are a few examples:

Expensive:Greenwich Village apartments
Alternative/cheap: East Village apartments
Comments: If you want to live in the Greenwich Village area, the East Village is the cheapest neighborhood. It is a bit grungy, further from trains and louder in the evening. Alternatively, this means it has more cool bars and restaurants and a younger vibe.

Expensive: Tribeca apartments
Alternative/cheap: Battery Park City apartments
Comments: Battery Park lacks the charm of Tribeca but offers great views of the Hudson River, more park space and full service buildings. Plus, Tribeca is only a short walk away. This is a great alternative for cheap apartments in NYC.

Expensive: Park Slope apartments
Alternative/cheap: Park Slope South apartments. Prospect Heights apartments
Comments: Park Slope South has great access to the stores and restaurants of 5th and 7th Avenues, but at a lower price than Park Slope as often defined by the 321 school district. If you aren't looking to send kids there, you should think about living just outside of it where you get the benefits of the neighborhood with a little bit less cost. Also, if you want to live north of Union Street, this is also a great neighborhood outside of the 321 school district.

Expensive: Upper East Side apartments. Midtown apartments. Midtown East apartments
Alternative/cheap: Roosevelt Island apartments
Comments: Roosevelt Island is the landmass between Manhattan and Queens in the middle of the East River. Renters can access Manhattan via the subway (F Train), Tram, or car, although it is a long ride from Queens into Manhattan). While a bit removed from Manhattan, Roosevelt Island is a great to find for those adamant about searching cheap apartments in NYC. For those that haven't been to Roosevelt Island, it has the newly built feel of Battery Park City.