<p>Im probably attending college in NYC during Fall '12 and beyond, but the university-affiliated housing programs are sooo expensive :( My max budget is $800/mo. (I know, it's pretty low for NYC.)</p>
<p>Any New Yorker know how I can save on housing?</p>
<p>Also, what are trustworthy websites to visit where there are listings for an apartment, a room, or a roommate? And by trustworthy I don't mean Craigslist</p>
<p>Thanks :)</p>
<p>P. S. Which neighborhood is the safest? Which one should I avoid?</p>
<p>omg great minds think alike lol i was just gonna search for this becuz housing costs in nyc are redick lol my i ask wat school ur planning on attending?</p>
<p>@broken_symlink: Oh, if i can’t find any other medium, I’ll probably end up looking for someone on Craigslist. I hope I get as much luck as you :)</p>
<p>But the school that I got accepted to do offer VERY EXPENSIVE rooms from other realtors. My school’s apparently opening their own residential hall, but it’s still pretty expensive</p>
<p>You will want to look at the outer boroughs to stay within your budget. You may still need a room mate though. Astoria, Queens is a great neighborhood. Very commutable to Baruch and the prices are far better than Manhattan. Good luck in the big Apple!</p>
<p>Your college should have assistance, but if they don’t have dorms and you’re really set on doing it on your own, it’s manageable (although I wouldn’t say that’s the best route).</p>
<p>$800 is about the lowest you’ll find in the cheapest parts of manhattan (Harlem, essentially), but it exists. You’d just have to find roommates, which isn’t always easy, but most new yorkers use craigslist with reasonable luck. Anything below the 90s in manhattan is most likely going to be out of your price range.</p>
<p>Also don’t forget about utilities and internet/cable, which could tack on around $100 per month.</p>
<p>The boroughs are your best bet if your budget is $800. For Baruch, you could easily do either Queens or Brooklyn. Astoria is pretty nice, and Brooklyn has a good amount of nice areas (Williamsburg, certain areas around Prospect Park).</p>
<p>Craigslist is fine if you know how to use it correctly. I found my last two roommates on Craigslist, and one is still a friend. And I know tons of people who have found affordable housing on CL. You just have to meet people first and view the apartment yourself.</p>
<p>$800/month is low - you’re going to have to live with a roommate, even in the outer boroughs. The places you can find that rent are in Washington Heights, Inwood, Harlem, some neighborhoods in Brooklyn, and some neighborhoods in Queens. Below the 90s is pushing it - anything below about 120th St is probably going to be out of your range. You also won’t be able to afford anything in Williamsburg, as the area is gentrifying like mad. There are some areas around Prospect Park where you can find apartments in the $800s if you rent with someone, like Flatbush, maybe Kensington, maybe Prospect Heights. Other neighborhoods are Crown Heights, Clinton Hill, Fort Greene, Bushwick, Bed Stuy (not the nicest but it’s affordable for that reason).</p>
<p>In Queens you can check out Astoria, Woodside, Sunnyside, Long Island City, and Ditmars/Steinway. In Queens you can get a nicer area for less money than an equivalent area in Brooklyn, I think, given that Brooklyn is now a sexy area to move to after decades of being a place even cabs wouldn’t take you.</p>
<p>If you want to go to Baruch, Brooklyn or Queens are much closer than upper Manhattan.</p>