New York City can be an expensive place to live, but there are still cheap and affordable neighborhoods in the city.
New Yorkers have many options when it comes to neighborhoods, and the real estate market is great for buyers and renters right now.
This article has a lost of the cheapest neighborhoods in New York City, which are in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx. There are also affordable neighborhoods in Manhattan, but they are more expensive than the other boroughs.
This article has listed New York City neighborhoods into two categories: cheapest and affordable. The cheapest neighborhoods have the lowest rental prices in the city. Affordable neighborhoods are slightly more expensive, but they are still relatively low compared to the most expensive neighborhoods in New York.
Contents
Cheapest Neighborhoods in NYC – Brooklyn
Brooklyn is a great place to live for young people and families who want the feel of New York City without being in Manhattan. Here are the five cheapest neighborhoods in Brooklyn with average rent prices.
Bay Ridge
Bay Ridge is at the very southwest corner of Brooklyn, across the bay from Staten Island.
Bay Ridge has subway stops for the NYC R train, and many local and express buses run through the neighborhood and connect it to other boroughs. There is also a ferry terminal for the NYC South Brooklyn Ferry route.
Here are the median rent and home prices:
- One bedroom: $1,855 per month
- Two bedrooms: $2,340 per month
- Three bedrooms: $3,010 per month
- Housing Price: $625,000
Sunset Park
Just north of Bay Ridge is Sunset Park. There is a twenty-four-acre park called Sunset Park in the neighborhood, hence the name. At the park are a playground, a recreation center, and a pool.
As for transportation, The D, N, and R trains all stop at multiple stations in Sunset Park. There are also six buses.
Here are the median rent and home prices:
- One bedroom: $1,950 per month
- Two bedrooms: $2,155 per month
- Three bedrooms: $2,400 per month
- Housing Price: $994,500
Prospect Park South
Prospect Park South is a small residential area in the Flatbush neighborhood.
It is on the United States’ National Register of Historic Places. On the east end of the neighborhood are the B and Q trains.
Here are the median rent and home prices:
- One bedroom: $2.015 per month
- Two bedrooms: $2,370 per month
- Three bedrooms: $2,805 per month
- Housing Price: $2,300,000
East Flatbush
East Flatbush is in the center of Brooklyn. The area has many African-American residents.
There are some stops for the 2, 3, 4, and 5 lines in the area, many on the eastern border.
Here are the median rent and home prices:
- One bedroom: $1,660 per month
- Two bedrooms: $2,645 per month
- Housing Price: $729,000
Brighton Beach
Brighton Beach is in the southern part of Brooklyn, just east of Coney Island.
A high number of residents in the neighborhood speak Russian. Four buses and the B and Q train lines all have stops in the neighborhood.
Here are the median rent and home prices:
- One bedroom: $1,960 per month
- Two bedrooms: $2,380 per month
- Three bedrooms: $2,650 per month
- Housing Price: $649,000
Cheapest Neighborhoods in Queens, NYC
Queens has many different neighborhoods with different vibes, so anyone can find a great place to live there, whether for families, singles, or couples. This section has the six cheapest and affordable neighborhoods in Queens with average rent prices.
Kew Gardens, Queens
Kew Gardens is one of the cheapest neighborhoods in Queens. It is located in the center of Queens, directly between NYC’s two airports. Because of this, many flight attendants and pilots live in the neighborhood when they are not working.
Kew Gardens has great transportation options for getting around the city. The E, F, J, and Z trains all have stops in the neighborhood. There are also many buses, some of which are express buses for easy access to Manhattan. The Long Island Rail also has a stop in the neighborhood.
Here are the median rent and home prices:
- Studio rent: $1,625 per month
- One bedroom: $1,711 per month
- Two bedrooms: $2,220 per month
- Housing Price: $300,000
Sunnyside, Queens
Sunnyside is on the west side of Queens, just north of Brooklyn and just south of Astoria. The 7 train runs through Sunnyside, so it is easy to get across Queens and into Manhattan.
A majority of the residential buildings in Sunnyside are single-family homes or smaller apartment buildings. There are also many shops and a local market in the neighborhood.
Here are the median rent and home prices:
- Studio rent: $1,725 per month
- One bedroom: $2,038 per month
- Two bedrooms: $2,450 per month
Lindenwood
Lindenwood is part of the Howard Beach area of Queens. It was developed in the mid-twentieth century.
The homes in the neighborhood are mostly smaller apartment buildings. There are a few high-rise buildings, but the area does not have many places for families.
In Howard Beach, there are many buses, both local and express. The neighborhood is just east of JFK airport.
Here are the median rent and home prices:
- One bedroom: $1,286 per month
- Two bedrooms: $2,209 per month
- Housing Price: $299,000
Briarwood
Briarwood is on the eastern half of Queen’s northwest from Jamaica. In Briarwood, there are two train lines, E and F, which run at various times of the week.
Here are the average rent and median home prices:
- Studio rent: $1,226 per month
- One bedroom: $1,716 per month
- Two bedrooms: $2.286 per month
- Housing Price: $315,000
Glen Oaks
Glen Oaks is in the most eastern part of Queens. There are two local buses and three express buses in the neighborhood.
There are two parks in the neighborhood that have playgrounds, baseball fields, and basketball courts.
The two parks cover five acres, so there is a lot of space for families.
Here are the median rent and home prices:
- Studio rent: $2,220 per month
- One bedroom: $1,650 per month
- Two bedrooms: $2,050 per month
- Housing Price: $687,000
Glendale
Glendale is in the central part of Queens, just west of Forest Hills. Over the years, Glendale has transformed from a swampy pond area to an industrial park to a residential neighborhood.
A portion of Forest Park is in the neighborhood in addition to other parks and playgrounds. There are many buses in Glendale, and the train lines in the neighborhood are J, M, and Z.
Here are the median rent and home prices:
- Average rent: $966 per month
- Two bedrooms: $1,275 per month
- Housing Price: $899,900
Cheapest Neighborhoods in the Bronx and Staten Island
Compared to the other three boroughs, the Bronx and Staten Island have the cheapest places to live in New York City. Since everywhere in these boroughs are relatively cheap, we have listed the average prices for the entire boroughs.
The Bronx
The Bronx is just north of Manhattan, and it is a very diverse borough. It is a relatively cheap place to live no matter where you are in the borough.
There are many restaurants with a variety of foods and many shops located in the Bronx.
The commute is easy with the subway system connecting the area to Manhattan. Many affordable apartments come with amenities for their renters.
The average rent in the borough is $1,622 per month. Houses sell at a median price of $549,900 in the Bronx.
Staten Island
Like the Bronx, the entire island has low rent prices, although the average rent prices increase slightly as you move east, closer to Manhattan.
The median rent for Staten Island is $1,500 per month for a one bedroom. The median home price is $639,000.
The commute from the island to other places in New York City can be hard. The NYC subway system does not run on Staten Island, but the Staten Island Railway does. From the Railway, riders can transfer for free to New York’s train lines. There is also the Staten Island Ferry that goes from Staten Island to the southern tip of Manhattan.
Affordable Neighborhoods in NYC – Manhattan
Many New Yorkers like Manhattan because it provides easy access to entertainment and popular restaurants. The commute is also easy if you work and live in Manhattan, thanks to the New York City subway system.
But, the average rent in Manhattan is high compared to the other four boroughs, and the average rent in Manhattan is over two hundred dollars higher than the average rent in New York City. There are a few neighborhoods in Manhattan with affordable rent.
These neighborhoods are all in the northern part of Manhattan. Inwood and Washington Heights area on the actual island, whereas the other two neighborhoods are not.
Many apartments in Manhattan offer their renters amenities. If you are looking for a gym, a parking space, or several other benefits in your next home, try finding an apartment building with them included for residents. There are many in Manhattan, and cutting your costs on parking or a gym membership can make it easier to afford rent.
Marble Hill, Manhattan
Marble Hill is the northernmost neighborhood in Manhattan. It is across the Harlem River from the island of Manhattan, close to the Bronx.
The 1 train runs through the neighborhood. Marble Hill is the more affordable neighborhood in Manhattan.
Here are the median rent and home prices:
- Average Rent: $1,622 per month
- Median Housing Price: $829,000
Inwood
Inwood is the neighborhood at the northern tip of the island of Manhattan, just across the Harlem River from Marble Hill.
The A and 1 trains run through Inwood, there are six buses, and bike paths are becoming more prominent in the neighborhood.
Inwood Hill Park is in the neighborhood by the Hudson River, and it has caves, forests, and lots of wildlife. There are also playgrounds, tennis courts, and many miles of walking trails.
Here are the median rent and home prices:
- One bedroom: $1,750 per month
- Two bedrooms: $2,300 per month
- Housing Price: $675,000
Randalls and Wards Islands
The island is located between Manhattan near East Harlem and Queens near Astoria.
Randalls and Wards used to be separate islands, but the city combined them in the 1960s.
Only a few thousand people live on the island, but it is one of the most affordable neighborhoods in NYC if you want to be in Manhattan.
A majority of the island is a park with sports fields, playgrounds, and picnic areas.
The average rent in the neighborhood is $2,195 per month.
Washington Heights
Washington Heights is just south of Inwood on the island of Manhattan. As for transportation, Washington Heights has subway stops for the A, C, and 1 lines.
There are multiple parks in Washington Heights, including Fort Washington Park, which has the Hudson River to the west.
There is also Fort Tyron Park which is partially in Inwood, and Highbridge Park which has a lot of forest area.
Here are the median rent and home prices:
- Studio rent: $1,698 per month
- One bedroom: $1.825 per month
- Two bedrooms: $2,325 per month
- Housing Price: $305,000
Moving to Cheap Place in New York
Majority of New Yorkers would say that NYC is not a budget friendly city to live in. However, as we discussed in the article, you have several options where you can find affordable suburbs in the Big Apple.
If you’re looking to move to these affordable neighborhoods, be sure to hire a local NYC moving company. You can also check this cheap NYC mover that we found.
Sources:
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunnyside,_Queens
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kew_Gardens,_Queens
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Beach,_Queens#Lindenwood
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Briarwood,_Queens
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glen_Oaks,_Queens
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glendale,_Queens
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_Ridge,_Brooklyn
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunset_Park,_Brooklyn
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prospect_Park_South
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Flatbush,_Brooklyn
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brighton_Beach
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staten_Island_Railway
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marble_Hill,_Manhattan
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inwood,_Manhattan
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randalls_and_Wards_Islands
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Heights,_Manhattan
- renthop.com/average-rent-in/new-york-city-ny
- rentcafe.com/average-rent-market-trends/us/ny/bronx/
- realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search
- realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Kew-Gardens_New-York_NY/overview
- renthop.com/nyc/kew-gardens-apartments
- apartmentfinder.com/New-York/
- propertyclub.nyc/article/the-most-affordable-neighborhoods-in-nyc
- propertynest.com/blog/rent/most-expensive-cheapest-brooklyn-neighborhoods-rent/
- renthop.com/search/nyc
- apartments.com/lindenwood-howard-beach-ny/
- rentcafe.com/apartments-for-rent/us/ny/manhattan/randalls-and-wards-islands/
