People flock to New York City from all around the world to live, including students, which is why our list of average rent by neighborhood in NYC: 10 cheapest places to rent for students is a great reference. Most see NYC as the dream location, but it’s important to be reasonable when searching for a place to live as it’s very expensive.
While it is true that most of New York City has a higher cost of living index as compared to the rest of America, there are still places in the city with lower rental rates and sustainable qualities of life. Even so, the fact remains that in order to live in the Big Apple, there are a couple of sacrifices you have to make. Up to this day, New York City is still the second priciest US city for renters, which comes as no surprise.
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According to Rent Jungle, the current average rent cost in New York City is at $3,064. The average rent cost is derived from the neighborhoods, amenities around the area, and the overall ambiance of the place. Understandably, the most expensive neighborhoods in New York include those nearest to where the towering skyscrapers and business district is, such as Central Park and Tribeca. Manhattan and Brooklyn might both sound expensive, but both of them are pretty diverse communities. Some parts of those boroughs have cheaper rent that might even surprise you.
Moreover, neighborhoods with easy public transit access and nearby amenities naturally have higher rental costs as opposed to those that are quite far from the city proper. When a neighborhood has schools, shopping centers, bars, and subways in close vicinity, you can almost guarantee that it’ll have more expensive apartments and spaces.
Students aren’t the only ones looking for inexpensive places to live in New York. Most people are “rent-burdened” in the city, meaning that more than 50 percent of their income goes towards rent. It’s important to find a place to live that is affordable and still allows you the ability to get around in the city you love. I know the struggle pretty well because when I moved here I was a little shocked at how much it costs to live in a shoebox-sized apartment. People talk about it on TV shows all the time, but then you watch Friends and you think to yourself “well look at them doing that in their big apartment in the Village.” It’s just not realistic. We can’t all be Monica Gellar.
In looking for the cheapest places to rent for students, we sourced information from Curbed New York, New York Business Journal, and Zumper. To compile the 10 cheapest places to rent for students, we averaged the rankings from these sites.
The cheapest places for students shouldn’t only have to be affordable when it comes to rental rates. They should also have schools in the area and an easy commute. You could rent a super cheap apartment space, but if you have to spend too much time and money on transportation to actually get to school, then it makes no sense at all. Using that criteria, these results were concluded.
Students should also check out our list Uber, Lyft, Gett, Juno, Via: Best NYC Taxi Alternatives, as they’re bound to need a car at some point during their stay. Keep reading to find your perfect neighborhood:
10. Astoria, Queens
Rent cost: $2,100
Schools in the area: 20
Public transits: 20
Astoria used to be one of the most affluent neighborhoods in New York City. There are still some parts of the area resided by wealthy families, but there are more regions occupied by middle-class renters. With a rent cost that is quite average, you may see this as an expensive neighborhood. However, the many amenities of Astoria give legitimacy to the ranking. You do not have to spend your student budget on transportation, as there are schools, public transits, even shopping centers, libraries, and gyms around the corner.
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9. Crown Heights
Rent rate: $1,995
Schools in the area: 5
Public transits: none
Crown Heights might not have as many public transits and schools in the neighborhood as Astoria, but the difference in their rent costs is too big to ignore. Students who still find these rentals on the expensive side have the option to find someone they can live with in an apartment. That way, they can split the rent and save more money in the process. The area is not bad at all since there are still five schools, as well as restaurants and a library. You can take the lack of amenities as an excuse for you to focus on your academics, too.
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8. Bedford-Stuyvesant
Rent rate: $1,850
Schools in the area: 20
Public transits: 20
Bedford-Stuyvesant might not have a very good track record as compared to other neighborhoods in New York City, but if you really want to find a place where rent is cheap and amenities still abound, this is an ideal. There are 20 schools and public transits, so there is no need to venture too far out of the area. Not only that, as libraries, parks, grocery shops, and restaurants come aplenty in here as well.
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7. Kensington
Rent rate: $1,850
Schools in the area: 19
Public transits: 20
Located in Brooklyn, you can be guaranteed that the amenities in this area do not come slim. Kensington, one of the cheapest places to rent for students, has enough schools and public transits, so you do not have to worry about the commute. Also, there would be no dull moments outside school hours since there are also tons of other amenities in the neighborhood such as parks, fitness and shopping centers, restaurants, and a library for your schoolwork.
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6. Washington Heights
Rent rate: $1,785
Schools in the area: 20
Public transits: 20
With plenty of amenities you can enjoy, students will definitely want to call Washington Heights their home in New York City. Rent can be sustainable, especially if you are open to living with other students who are also budget-conscious. You no longer have to worry about catching the train early not to be late for class, since the area has many schools around as well. There are also a lot of recreation opportunities, provided by libraries, cafes, fitness centers, and so much more.
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5. Brownsville
Rent rate: $1,660
Schools in the area: 20
Public transits: 20
There is so much buzz about Brownsville’s safety, but when you look closely, there are still over 110,000 people living in the neighborhood. Plus, rent rates and cost of living both are more reasonable in this area as compared to other parts of New York City. It is located in Brooklyn, so you know you’ll be close to schools, parks, and even an amazing nightlife.
4. Sunset Park
Rent rate: $1,650
Schools in the area: 20
Public transits: 20
Sunset Park, next in line on the list of cheapest places to rent for students, isn’t too trendy yet, but it’s growing in popularity with its south Brooklyn location. There’s no shortage of amenities, as there’s a lot of transit to help you get to and from Manhattan when you please. There are also parks, historical sites, libraries, and tons of restaurants you can choose from.
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3. Canarsie
Rent rate: $1,525
Schools in the area: 20
Public transits: 20
Canarsie remains one of the cheapest places to rent for students and among most livable areas in New York City, as well, especially with its low rent rates. Like other Brooklyn neighborhoods, there is just so much to do and so much to see. Students will have no problem getting to school on time since there are several schools located right in the area. There is also no problem in commute, grocery shopping, and recreation. Canarsie has all the amenities you need.
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2. Maspeth
Rent rate: $1,500
Schools in the area: 19
Public transits: 20
Like Canarsie, Maspeth is also known as one of the cheapest places to rent for students in New York City. Weather is almost always good, and median rent prices remain affordable. The cost of living is also perfect for students. There are 19 schools around the area, and public transportation is always readily available. There are libraries for research, parks for recreation, and coffee shops for leisure–you are sure to have a school-life balance in this neighborhood.
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1. East Flatbush
Rent rate: $1,395
Schools in the area: 20
Public transits: 20
East Flatbush is the most ideal neighborhood for students because of its cheap apartment rate. Not only will they save from rent, but also from transportation expenses, because the area has 20 schools in the vicinity. There is not much of a struggle in commute, as public transits are available. Apart from those, the neighborhood has plenty of amenities, too, including parks, restaurants, shopping centers, and gyms.
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Looking for a place to stay in New York City is challenging enough, but is even harder when you have a tight budget like that of a student. You might think it was impossible for students to find a place in the city that would not hurt their pockets, but these 10 cheapest places to rent for students sure proved otherwise.
