We searched around the we and complied a list of the ten best neighborhoods to live in Manhattan. This is not based specifically on price, but a number of factors. Check out the map below!
1. The Lower East Side
Conveniently located in lower Manhattan, the Lower East Side provides an easy commute to anywhere within the city and even into Brooklyn with the F/M and N/Q/R as the main subway lines. Not only is the commute easy—walking or riding— you’ll never be bored with a plethora of bars, restaurants, and clubs all within the neighborhood. Also, the area still has a lot of historic brownstones, which is a blessing and curse. You can live in an awesome pre-war apartment, but will pay a pretty penny for a potentially run-down interior. However, if you want the true New York experience, this is the place to be.
1. Murray Hill
Decidedly more unhip than the Lower East Side, you’ll be paying at least $500 less than the lower Manhattan neighborhood. Close to Grand Central, you have access to the 4/5/6 and 7 trains, making commuting around the city and to the outer boroughs a breeze. However, the east side of the neighborhood falls into one of those “no transportation zones”. However, the neighborhood is extremely safe with an infusion of flavor from it’s number of Indian, Korean, and Sichuan Restaurants.
3. East Village
Another neighborhood that can give you the ULTIMATE New York experience, the East Village has hundreds of bars and restaurants to fuel your nightlife. This comes at the expense of other amenities like super markets and laundry. The proximity to almost any SUBWAY EVER at Union square and the several schools that are located here, keep the neighborhood diverse. However, all this comes with a price, being at least $1000 more than it’s below Houston Street counterpart.
4. Tribecca
Safe, easy commutes, beautiful apartments, and great outdoor spaces, Tribecca seems like the New York dream. However, all that luxury comes with a price as it’s one of the most expensive neighborhoods in the city.
5. Mid-town East
Totally a commuter neighborhood. You’ll be close to most of where the NYC big business is, but the nightlife is definitely lacking as a lot of the businesses in this area close up once the daily commute is over. It’s on the expensive side, but provides and easy commute to the heart of the city.
6. Financial District
Renowned for being a family neighborhood, the Financial District has a lot of great amenities but not a lot of nightlife. Although vey safe and quiet, the place can feel abandoned at night.
7. West Village
Great restaurant, nightlife, and green space but very expensive! Everything that there is to love about the West Village, everyone loves, which keeps prices high.
8. Gramercy
Right about Union Square affords those who live there an easy commute around and out of the city. Great bars and restaurants, but not many.
9. Chelsea
Fashionable and cultured, Chelsea is a hot spot. With 400-art galleries there’s a lot to do with pockets of great nightlife. The one downside to Chelsea is that there tends to be high crime rates.
10. Soho
Expensive area, but has lots of great restaurants and bars. Super busy during the day, but pretty quiet at night. You kind of get the best of both worlds.
