People may tell you that there are no affordable NYC neighborhoods, but they’d be wrong. We already know that NYC is one of the most expensive cities in the world. What you may not know is that while five months’ mortgage in another city often masquerades as a single month’s rent here, there are certain neighborhoods where you get a whole lot more for a lot fewer dollars. It’s true that “affordability” is all relative, but if you’re looking for NYC-style bargains, they are out there. Listed below are a few such places.

Upper East Side/ Yorkville

Image Source: Flickr/Adam Piontek

You may be spending more time that you wish on the 6 train, but if you’re willing to overlook that, you can get affordable apartments in the easternmost parts of the Upper East Side. Charming studio apartments in walkup brownstone apartments can be found for between $1,600 and $1,800 per month. One-bedroom apartments in tenement buildings are available for as low as $1,700 per month. Again, you’re probably going to spend a lot of time walking to and then riding on the 6 train, and your building probably won’t have a lot of amenities, but the area is nice, safe, and excellent for people who want to forgo having roommates. If you do decide to get a roommate, you can get a really nice two-bedroom apartment for still a whole lot less than you’d pay for a comparable apartment downtown.

Chinatown

Image Source: Flickr/Martin Solli

If you love downtown living, but Soho and the Meatpacking District are out of your budget, you could give lively Chinatown a look. Two-bedroom apartments on Allen Street or Mott Street can be snatched up for as little as $2,600 per month. If you’re willing to pay at least $3,000 per month, you can get a mini showplace for two. The best part? You’re in Chinatown, where there are cheap but good grocery stores on every corner, and there’s always a restaurant or bar around serving cheap, good food. The downside is that the area can get very noisy, with tons of tourists traipsing through the area and traffic winding it’s way on a never-ending loop through to the Manhattan Bridge and the FDR Drive.

Harlem

Image Source: Flickr/Edward Blake

Harlem is one of the culturally vibrant and architecturally beautiful neighborhoods in the city, and although home prices and rents have been steadily increasing, it’s still one of the more affordable NYC neighborhoods. One-bedroom apartments are available in Central and West Harlem for as low as $1,500 per month. East Harlem one bedrooms start a little cheaper, available for as low as $1,400 per month. All the major train lines go through Harlem, so getting around can be a breeze. The express trains are a great way to travel because they can take you from 125^th to Midtown in no time. The A, C, and 1 trains go up the westernmost part of Harlem; the 2 and 3 trains travel through Central Harlem; and the 4,5, and 6 service East Harlem.

Inwood

Image Source: Flickr/Kristine Paulus

If you’re looking for a neighborhood with an almost suburban look and feel but you still want a Manhattan address — and you want to pay as little as possible for the pleasure — you’ll adore Inwood. Located at the tippy top of the city, Inwood is perfect for people looking for affordable space in the city that reminds them of the suburban neighborhoods they hail from. Rich Dominican culture weaves its way through the neighborhood, bringing history and art to this neighborhood that boasts relatively cheap housing nestled amidst beautiful parks like Inwood Hill Park. One bedrooms in the area start at $1,400 per month.

Main Image Source: Flickr/Paolo Margari

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