If you’re not from NYC, you may think of it as a monolith—just one big city. Spend any amount of time there, though, and you’ll realize that the Big Apple is split into five boroughs, which are then split into countless neighborhoods, each with its own unique personality. Let’s break down some of the best neighborhoods for actors, examining rent, commute, and what’s to love about each area.
What did we consider when making a list of the best neighborhoods?
Rent: How expensive is the monthly rent? In general, the more the neighborhood has going for it, the more expensive it is. When calculating rent prices, we factored in both the cost of living alone (perfect for more established actors) and living with roommates (more standard for those in the beginning stages of their career). Want to try this yourself? Check out this handy tool from Zumper.
Commute: At the end of the day, most things that happen in NYC that are directly relevant to your career will happen in Midtown, so it’s important that you can get there with relative ease. We’ll be calculating these commutes based on time spent on public transit.
Perks and activities: Sure, you’re going to be booking it to Midtown often, but how do you enjoy your neighborhood on your day off? We’ll explore the amenities that might be especially attractive to the artistic mind.
Remember, the list is subjective. It’s up to you to decide what you value most—be it price point, convenience, activities, general vibe, or something else entirely.
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Manhattan
1. Hell’s Kitchen/Midtown
You can’t talk about living in Manhattan without talking about being right in the center of it all. Midtown (and its neighbor directly to the west, Hell’s Kitchen) are the most happening spots in all of NYC. They can be loud and crowded, but if you’re someone who dreams of the hustle and bustle, there’s nowhere better to be.
Rent: At the time of writing, the average rent for a studio apartment in Hell’s Kitchen was $3,397/month, and the average rent for a three-bedroom apartment was $6,419/month, or $2,140/month split between three roommates. This can seem daunting, but anecdotally speaking, many actors live in the area for much cheaper rent. You just have to be willing to live in smaller, less-updated spaces and have a dash of luck with the rental market.
Commute: It’s basically nonexistent! Most places you would need to get to in Midtown could be reached on foot in under 25 minutes.
Perks and activities: Home to Times Square, Restaurant Row, 40 out of 41 Broadway theaters, Carnegie Hall, as well as iconic shopping spots and buildings, this is the place people think of when they think of NYC.
2. Upper West Side
The Upper West Side is decidedly more relaxed than most of its southern neighbors, but it still offers much to enjoy in a decidedly tranquil setting featuring classic architecture and tree-lined blocks.
Rent: At the time of writing, the average rent for a studio apartment on the Upper West Side was $3,404/month, and the average rent for a three-bedroom apartment was $9,108/month, or $3,036/month split between three roommates. Rents on the northern half of the Upper West Side tend to be cheaper than those on the southern half.
Commute: You can expect your commute to Midtown to take anywhere from 20–30 minutes.
Perks and activities: Residents of the Upper West Side can enjoy living steps away from Central Park, Lincoln Center (including the Vivian Beaumont Theater and the Metropolitan Opera), and several museums—most famously, the American Museum of Natural History. The Upper West Side is also a wonderful place for artists to hone their craft, with many rehearsal studios and classes.
3. The East Village
Located south and east of Midtown, the East Village is one of NYC’s more iconic, picturesque neighborhoods. Actors just starting out in the business may feel right at home in the East Village because it’s decidedly very young, filled with other young professionals just starting out.
Rent: At the time of writing, the average rent for a studio apartment in the East Village was $3,419/month, and the average rent for a three-bedroom apartment was $6,062/month, or $2,021/month split between three roommates.
Commute: Commuting from the East Village to Midtown will take you approximately 25 minutes door to door.
Perks and activities: This neighborhood is a classic for a reason, boasting lots of shopping—those who love to thrift will be especially thrilled with the options—restaurants, and nightlife. It’s also in close proximity to many beloved Off-Broadway theaters, including Classic Stage Company and the famed Public Theater.
4. Chelsea
Located south of Hell’s Kitchen, Chelsea’s historic legacy as a haven for artists continues to be well-deserved.
Rent: At the time of writing, the average rent for a studio apartment in Chelsea was $4,202/month, and the average rent for a three-bedroom apartment was $12,546/month, or $4,182/month split between three roommates (for what it’s worth, this high price seems to be an anomaly).
Commute: A commute from Chelsea can be so short that depending on where you’re going it may be faster to just walk, with as little as 15 minutes on foot.
Perks and activities: For those interested in visual art, the neighborhood serves as home to tons of galleries and museums. For those more interested in the performing arts, Chelsea is home to the SVA Theatre, Off-Broadway’s Atlantic Theatre Company, and the Joyce Theater, among others. And if that wasn’t enough, the neighborhood is home to countless restaurants, the Chelsea Market, the famed Hotel Chelsea, and the High Line elevated park.
5. Hamilton Heights
While its northern cousin Washington Heights seems to (deservedly) get a lot of attention for its beauty and rich culture, we’d like to shout out Hamilton Heights for many of the same reasons.
Rent: At the time of writing, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Hamilton Heights was $2,695/month, and the average rent for a three-bedroom apartment was $4,822/month, or $1,607/month split between three roommates.
Commute: Commuting to Midtown from Hamilton Heights can take around 30–35 minutes.
Perks and activities: Hamilton Heights has a lot to love, like delicious restaurants and the beautiful architecture of the sprawling grounds of the famous Uptown Manhattan Trinity Church Cemetery and Mausoleum. The close proximity to the views and tranquility of Riverside Park also make it ideal for those looking for a moment of peace in the busy city.
6. Inwood
Located at the tippy top of Manhattan, Inwood is somewhat of a hidden gem. While the neighborhood has one of the longest commutes represented on this list, it may be worth it to those looking for a quiet, affordable neighborhood with a friendly feel.
Rent: At the time of writing, the average rent for a studio apartment in Inwood was $1,918/month, and the average rent for a three-bedroom apartment was $3,025/month, or $1,008/month split between three roommates.
Commute: You can expect a commute from Inwood to take about 40–45 minutes.
Perks and activities: Beyond the expansive Inwood Hill Park, Met Cloisters, and the Dyckman Farmhouse Museum, Inwood is also the birthplace of Lin-Manuel Miranda—and home to the Miranda-backed People’s Theatre: Centro Cultural Inmigrante performing arts space, slated to open in 2026.
Brooklyn
7. Williamsburg
Situated across the East River from Manhattan’s East Village, the former hipster capital of the world has a lot to offer its inhabitants.
Rent: At the time of writing, the average rent for a studio apartment in Williamsburg was $3,911/month, and the average rent for a three-bedroom apartment was $6,701/month, or $2,234/month split between three roommates.
Commute: Despite coming from another borough, you can expect to get to Midtown from Williamsburg in a smooth 35 minutes.
Perks and activities: Williamsburg is home to the picturesque Domino Park, bustling art galleries, and thrift stores, and many markets like Artists & Fleas and Smorgasburg. Like several other neighborhoods on this list, Williamsburg is decidedly young, which means it has no shortage of nightlife and other young people to mingle with if that appeals to you.
8. Park Slope
Very much the Upper West Side of Brooklyn (from a vibes perspective), Park Slope has a lot to offer if you’re looking for a slower-paced neighborhood that still has tons to do.
Rent: At the time of writing, the average rent for a studio apartment in Park Slope was $3,461/month, and the average rent for a three-bedroom apartment was $6,692/month, or $2,231/month split between three roommates.
Commute: A commute to Midtown from Park Slope should take an average of 40 minutes.
Perks and activities: It’s walking distance to Brooklyn’s spacious Prospect Park, and its brownstone-lined streets will lead you to several nearby attractions like the Brooklyn Botanical Garden and Brooklyn Museum.
9. Dumbo
Located across from lower Manhattan, and connected to the borough by both the Manhattan and Brooklyn bridges, Dumbo is a happening neighborhood in Brooklyn (sadly, Dumbo was not named for the cartoon elephant, but rather as an acronym for “Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass”).
Rent: At the time of writing, the average rent for a studio apartment in Dumbo was $3,749/month, and the average rent for a three-bedroom apartment was $11,330/month, or $3,777/month split between three roommates.
Commute: Those traveling from Dumbo to Midtown can expect a commute of about 25–30 minutes.
Perks and activities: In addition to its obvious benefit of being exceedingly close to Manhattan, Dumbo has a lot of art right at home, including St. Ann’s Warehouse and many art galleries. Dumbo also puts residents close to some of Brooklyn’s performing arts venues, like the Brooklyn Academy of Music. For all of that real estate, it’s also surprisingly green and is home to parts of Brooklyn Bridge Park.
Queens
10. Long Island City
Just across the East River from Midtown, Long Island City is accessible both by train and ferry. It’s a rapidly growing residential area with a newly booming arts community.
Rent: At the time of writing, the average rent for a studio apartment in Long Island City was $3,146/month, and the average rent for a three-bedroom apartment was $6,326/month, or $2,108/month split between three roommates.
Commute: A commute from Long Island City to Midtown will take about 25 minutes.
Perks and activities: An up-and-coming neighborhood located in a formerly mostly industrial area, Long Island City boasts lots of bars, restaurants, and its very own state park. For those who love a museum, LIC is also home to MoMA PS1. The Museum of the Moving Image in neighboring Astoria is just minutes away. For actors specifically, many rehearsal studios are located in Queens, so book the right job and you may find yourself with a very easy commute.
