The parts of NJ like Jersey City (on the riverfront) and Hoboken are really nice. Alot cheaper and cleaner than living in NYC. When I first moved to that area, I lived in Jersey City and the closest and fastest stop getting into Wall Street (WTC) was via the PATH station from Jersey City. It was literally 5 minutes away from the World Trade Center PATH station in NYC from my place in JC. I definitely recommend those two areas if one is looking for an alternate to big time NYC living. Plus you get to see the whole Manhattan skyline. An amazing view. . Plus the PATH train runs 24 hours so you are always like 10 minutes away from NYC. NYC living can be intimidating at first, but think of Northern NJ as NYC on training wheels.
Office would be in midtown so my additional research probably has me thinking midtown between 30's and 60's would be optimal. Thanks for all the insight....keep em coming!
don't worry about living so close to your work. ny is very compact and easy to get anywhere via train. the city is so varied by neighborhood, i think the most impotant thing is to live in a neighborhood that suits your style/interests. don't completely forget about brooklyn. if you are a creative type or in to that, it is far more interesting in the bk.
Financial District is cheap because there's absolutely nothing down there. All the shops and restaurants and such cater to the business crowd so it's like a dead zone in non-business hours. You should definitely be able to find a bunch of nice places in your price range in midtown area. A friend of mine has a 2 bedroom on 42nd and 9th for ~4.5k. Another is living with some friends in a 4 bedroom on 45th and 2nd for ~6k.
42/9th is great if you want quick access to broadway shows and the best cinemas....and there are a few good restaurants closeby, but i would not want to live there. the neighborhood is Hell's Kitchen (which is much gentrified and completely safe now) but it's noisy, the buildings there are below average for manhattan standards, and gets too much tourist traffic
If you're going to be working in midtown don't over look Queens. There are some great neighborhoods right across the river that will get you much more bang for your rent buck. LIC and Astoria are two great neighborhoods that put you 10-15 minutes from midtown. And the apartments are 2 to 3 times the size of manhattan apts for the same price
I haven't lived in NYC since I graduated college in 1991 so I won't be much help, but I'll give you my history with living there anyway. Year one: NYU dorms. First semester 5th Ave/10th St; second semester 3rd Ave and 11th St. Year two: Lower Chelsea. 15th St btwn 7th/8th. 1 BR. 6 floor walk-up, shared with friend, TINY. I slept in the "living room," which was the size of a large closet and was the only thing between the "bedroom" (also a closet) and the wall kitchenette. $900 total in 1988. Years three and four: Jersey City, 1 block off Grove St. Path Station, across the street from JC City Hall. $900 total in 1989. Three decent size bedrooms with doors, large living room, very large dining room, full kitchen. 2nd floor walkup in 3 floor building (one apt. on each floor) with easy roof access. I walked one block to train and was at 6th Ave. and 8th St. in 8 minutes. It took me less time to get to downtown Manhattan when I lived in JC than it did when I lived in Chelsea. And I enjoyed living outside of NY. I had all the benefits of living in NY with none of the hassle. And I paid 33% less for almost 10 times as much space. If I'd known, I would have lived in JC from the beginning. I have no idea how people who aren't filthy rich live in Manhattan and enjoy it. The apartments are so tiny for the money. I couldn't deal with feeling like I was in an overcrowded elevator on the street, on the subway, in every bar and restaurant and then at home as well. But that's not an argument to the OP to live in Jersey. I'm sure Manhattan is better suited to him. It wasn't my cup of tea at all.
I've actually found some pretty good deals in the 40's East/West of newer buildings near the river. The prices aren't as bad as I thought they would be seeing how Houston prices have been going up and it seems NYC prices have been falling. I have a buddy that has a 2-bedroom and I plan on staying with him for a month until I can get my bearings straight and go directly to a place and not pay any intermediaries.
You must be of the no nothing party. Brooklyn is the only place that matters in the world. Williamsburg represent.
Here's a good article for the OP The Most Livable Neighborhoods in New York A quantitative index of the 50 most satisfying places to live.
