What to know about living in Manhattan: A guide to renting an apartment in NYC
Don’t just pick a Manhattan apartment to rent based “on a hunch.”
Manhattan is the greatest city in the world, and because of this, finding an apartment is highly competitive. In the Manhattan rental market, it’s actually quite common that an apartment will become available, and then be rented within 24 hours.
The chaotic nature of the market results in some problematic business practices, and a lot of bad experiences for renters. Learn more about Manhattan neighborhoods and don’t get overcharged for your apartment!
What are the neighborhoods in Manhattan?
Manhattan‘s neighborhoods are as diverse as the people who live in them. Each neighborhood breathes its own energy, and has a distinct culture and vibe. On top of the varying cultures, each neighborhood also has varying price points for apartments. Knowing which neighborhoods you like, and dislike is the first step to becoming an educated consumer.
Things to know about each neighborhood
Upper East
The Upper East Side(UES) is generally considered to be the area east of Central Park and north of 59th st, including neighborhoods like Sutton Place, Lenox Hill, Yorkville, and even up to East Harlem.
In the Upper East Side, you’ll find a diverse mix of rentals and residents. A large number of pricier brownstones and townhouses coexist with more affordable rentals, with prices generally increasing as you approach Central Park East.
UES is known for beautiful architecture, a slower vibe good shopping and plenty of parks, including Central Park. UES is also home to Museum Mile, which includes the Met, the Guggenheim, The Neue Galerie and more all within a half mile. Expect beautiful architecture and a more “quiet” vibe throughout.
Average Prices
Nondoorman Studio: ~$2450/mo.
Doorman Studios: ~$3500/mo.
Nondoorman 1BR: ~$2950/mo.
Doorman 1BR: ~$4700/mo.
Nondoorman 2BR: ~$3900/mo.
Doorman 2BR: ~$7000/mo.
Upper West
The Upper West Side(UWS) is generally considered to be the area North of 60th st. and west of Central Park, including sub neighborhoods like Lincoln Square, and Morningside Heights. As you head north of 90th st, you will see a noticeable reduction in average rental prices as you explore areas like Washington Heights, Harlem and Inwood (the northern tip of Manhattan at ~215th st.and considered UWS by some but not all).
UWS is known for being “greener” than most other neighborhoods in the city, and also has a more suburban vibe. National chain stores and family restaurants are found on major avenues, and strollers line the streets, due in part to the neighborhood’s proximity to good schools, great grocery stores/markets, Central Park, and the Children’s Museum of Manhattan.
On top of the family vibe, there are also plenty of bars, dives and restaurants, as well as the Museum of Natural History, Lincoln Center and the Hayden Planetarium.
Average Prices
Nondoorman Studio: ~$2500/mo.
Doorman Studios: ~$3550/mo.
Non Doorman 1BR: ~$3200/mo.
Doorman 1BR: ~$4800/mo.
Non Doorman 2BR: ~$3950/mo.
Doorman 2BR: ~$7500/mo.
Midtown East
Midtown East is generally considered to be the area east of 5th Ave, between 59th st. and ~29th st. and includes sub neighborhoods like Murray Hill, Turtle Bay and parts of Kips Bay and Sutton Place (although this will vary depending on who you ask).
Midtown East’s streets are bustling with professionals, both young and old. The skyscrapers that line Madison, Park and Lexington Ave. are home to large businesses and their offices, with thousands commuting through Grand Central Terminal every day. This results in a lot of foot traffic, regular traffic, and noise that are typically associated with NYC.
In Midtown East, mixed in among the office and commercial skyscrapers, are luxury high rises and co-ops, as well as more affordable walk up options for those on a budget.
With plenty of dining and happy hour destinations for professionals, as well as shopping and tourist attractions (like the iconic Empire State Building, United Nations, and Chrysler Building), everything you need is right at your doorstep in Midtown East.
Average Prices
Nondoorman Studio: ~$2500/mo.
Doorman Studios: ~$3315/mo.
Non Doorman 1BR: ~$3460/mo.
Doorman 1BR: ~$4492/mo.
Non Doorman 2BR: ~$3800/mo.
Doorman 2BR: ~$7120/mo.
Midtown West
Midtown West is generally considered to be the area west of 5th Ave between 30th st. and 59th st. and includes sub neighborhoods like Hudson Yards, Hell’’s Kitchen, Clinton as well as the Theatre and Garment Districts.
Midtown West is another of Manhattan’s busiest neighborhoods. With Penn Station, The Port Authority, Times Square, The Lincoln Tunnel and Broadway all located here, the streets are typically packed with tourists, residents and cars alike 24 hours a day.
While the neighborhood has a somewhat “tourist-y” reputation to Manhattan residents, it’s value can’t be ignored. The subway lines in Midtown are extremely versatile, and as you head away from Times Square, the vibe slows down significantly as lowrise and high rise buildings provide somewhat quieter options at more affordable rates. Along the Hudson River, luxury high rises, although further from the subway, provide awesome views of the water.
Restaurant row on west 46th st provides plenty of restaurant options for locals, and 9th and 10th avenue are packed with bars and clubs. Furthermore, the Hudson River Park provides awesome views and plenty of room for outdoor activities!
Average Prices
Nondoorman Studio: ~$2480/mo.
Doorman Studios: ~$3780/mo.
Non Doorman 1BR: ~$3045/mo.
Doorman 1BR: ~$4775/mo.
Non Doorman 2BR: ~$4050/mo.
Doorman 2BR: ~$6890/mo.
Downtown: East Side
The Lower East Side (LES) is generally considered anything below 30th st., east of the Bowery/3rd ave. including sub neighborhoods like Gramercy Park, Stuyvesant, East Village, Alphabet City, and Two Bridges.
The vibes in these sub neighborhoods will vary greatly as you move between them. Gramercy Park (considered to be between 29th st and ~18th st.) is a little more upscale than its southern neighbors, with pricier options and a more family oriented vibe surrounding the park. Gramercy has good schools, and plenty to do during the day but is typically not a big destination for going out at night.
As you head south, however, younger crowds are more common, as more affordable apartment options take hold in the East village and Lower East Side (with the most affordable options being found further east, towards Alphabet City and the least affordable options being found further west towards Soho, Union Square and Flatiron.) These LES sub neighborhoods are packed with parks, restaurants, bars and clubs allowing for plenty to do all day and all night.
Approximate Average Apartment Prices
Nondoorman Studio: ~$2615/mo.
Doorman Studios: ~$3970/mo.
Non Doorman 1BR: ~$3255/mo.
Doorman 1BR: ~$5520/mo.
Non Doorman 2BR: ~$4100/mo.
Doorman 2BR: ~$7250/mo.
Downtown: West Side
The west side of downtown Manhattan is generally one of the most sought after neighborhoods for renters, and is located below 30th st and above Fidi, West of Koreatown, Union Square and the Bowery. Sub neighborhoods on the Lower West Side are Chelsea, Greenwich Village, West Village and Soho.
The west side of Manhattan’s downtown has a downside: the prices. As you head downtown towards Houston st. and below, the street life is some of the best in the city.
Chelsea is the most densely packed and high-energy of the lower west’s sub neighborhoods, filled with restaurants, art galleries, theaters and plenty of highrise buildings throughout.
Further downtown in Greenwich Village, The West Village, things slow down as vendors, boutiques and street performers line the cobblestone streets, and a large proportion of low rise apartment buildings result in less congestion throughout. (This lack of inventory in Greenwich village and West Village paired with the high demand is what drives the prices down here so high).
Demand is also very high in Soho, as many residents are attracted to the neighborhood’s shopping and trendy culture. However, most residential options are located in historic cast-iron buildings and luxurious co-ops where turnover is very low. Tribeca is somewhat of a mix between the Village, Soho and Chelsea. Awesome restaurants, bars, markets and boutiques can be found all throughout these neighborhoods, and huge attractions like Washington Square Park, The Chelsea Highline, Chelsea Piers and more draw people here year-round.
Approximate Average Apartment Prices
Nondoorman Studio: ~$3185/mo.
Doorman Studios: ~$4050/mo.
Non Doorman 1BR: ~$4450/mo.
Doorman 1BR: ~$5870/mo.
Non Doorman 2BR: ~$5490/mo.
Doorman 2BR: ~$7050/mo.
FiDi
The Financial District or “FiDi” is found at the southern tip of Manhattan and is generally considered anywhere below Chambers St.
FiDi has a very different vibe during the day versus during the night. During the day, FiDi is the central hub of the financial world, home to Wall st and swarmed with workers. After happy hour, however, most of the hustle and bustle dies down as the crowds mostly vanish(with the exception of a few small areas).
Although the nightlife isn’t great, reasonably priced rental prices, along with convenient transportation, and fun attractions like South Street Seaport, Stone Street and the Brooklyn Bridge, make FiDi an attractive place to live.
Approximate Average Apartment Prices
Nondoorman Studio: No Sufficient Market Data.
Doorman Studios: ~$3015/mo.
Non Doorman 1BR: ~$3750/mo.
Doorman 1BR: ~$4980/mo.
Non Doorman 2BR: ~$4300/mo.
Doorman 2BR: ~$7700/mo.
Other things to consider when choosing an apartment in NYC
Deciding to move to NYC is only the first step!
There is a lot more to consider when renting an apartment than just the neighborhood you want to live in. Every apartment you view online or in person will have distinct pros and cons, and it’s crucial that you and your roommates lock in exactly what your top priorities are. Things like bedroom vs. living room size, laundry situation, doorman, elevator vs walk up, distance to public transportation etc. vary greatly among apartments, so discussing both wants and needs with your roommates is crucial, especially because of how quick apartments get rented.
Other things to consider are the landlord/broker reputation, as well as the validity of the apartment listings you see online. As mentioned, demand for rentals in Manhattan is high, and listings typically go fast. This often results in some less than ideal business practices among brokers, such as not keeping their listings updated (bait and switch) and also encouraging renters to sign fast or risk losing the apartment. Don’t forget to do your due diligence, (or let us do it for you)!
About ApartmentsTogetherNYC
While there are a ton of online resources for people to use when trying to find an apartment, there is also a significant lack of accurate apartment & landlord information readily available. Throughout the process of finding, viewing, and applying to an apartment, renters can face a multitude of obstacles, such as fake or inaccurate listings, hidden costs, undisclosed apartment problems, and sketchy landlords, management & brokers.
At ApartmentsTogetherNYC, our mission is to provide our clients with the knowledge they'll need to be their own broker, and confidently navigate the intimidating NYC rental market. Our hands-on experience, paired with our deep-rooted knowledge of Manhattan rental properties, management companies, neighborhoods and more, allow us to provide our clients with honest and transparent information that we feel is lacking in the current rental process, without charging our clients a broker's fee.
Manhattan apartments aren’t cheap. Do your due diligence.
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