How Can I Find Affordable Apartments In New York

Finding an affordable apartment to rent is relative to how much you earn every month less your essential expenses. When you know how much you have to work with towards rent, it makes the process of finding “cheap” or slightly less expensive rent so much easier!

For some of us, after reworking our budget, we’re surprised to find that we can spend an extra $100 on monthly rent which certainly helps when you’re living in a place like New York!

The average monthly rent for apartments in the heart of New York City average $4000 per month. That’s a major expense when you’re looking at affordability of around $1000. On top of such an expensive rent, the general cost of living is also much higher compared to other states. For a single person, you’ll need to afford at least $1400 to spend on your daily expenses without rent. A family of 4 will need to save at least $5000 per month if they want to live comfortably and that excludes rent.

There are ways to find cheap apartments to rent in NY, but it takes a little bit of time, research, and it’s a huge plus if you know someone who lives in a city that you’re interested in. Not every cheap or affordable apartment is in the nicest areas and some of these rentals exclude utilities or have underlying terms and conditions that add to the total monthly cost at the end of the day. It is better to take the time to use trusted websites, agents, and even travel to these apartments to check out yourself to be sure and before you sign a lease for at least a year.

Why Live in New York?

New York or the Big Apple, is certainly a popular state to live in and considered one of the big cities in the states.

For most, living in NY means reaching a new height. It gives everyone a sense of feeling as though they've finally made it. But living in this city also comes at a price and it’s usually a high price. If you can afford to live in NY considering the costs such as food, medical, and rent then it could be the city for you but remember, you will need to have a fair amount of extra cash if you want to be successful in the city.

What About Less Expensive States?

If you want to find a more affordable or less expensive state to live in you can consider places such as Mississippi and even moving to Tennessee. Here, most expenses such as food, rent, and even tax are lower than in other states such as New York and Washington.

Moving to a cheaper state may seem like the ideal choice but for many it's not an option especially if you won't have job stability or you have to move far from family and friends.

If you do wish to move to NY, at a low monthly rent, you can find a few affordable apartments of $800-$900 but these will be in tiny apartments and usually a distance from the main city. You'll definitely have to compromise if you want to live in the Big Apple. Smaller living areas, more travel time, and fewer amenities could get you an apartment of below $1500 per month but again, take the time to look at different places to rent in different areas before you make a decision.

How Do You Find Affordable Apartments?

The easiest way to find affordable apartments is with tried and tested websites and by contacting agents in the desired neighborhoods. You can speak to people who can vouch for certain areas that you aren't familiar with.

With some time, reworking your finances, and a lot of research, you may find a NY apartment at a low cost. If not, there are many other states offering affordability from your groceries and tax to your monthly rent.