Three bucks, two bags, one you (to paraphrase “NYC” from Broadway’s “Annie”): Moving to New York City can feel like a dream for a young actor, but it can quickly become a complicated decision. NYC is big, and it can be difficult to figure out exactly where to settle down (especially if you only have three bucks!). But don’t stress too hard, future star; we’re here to help. Read on as we break down NYC’s five boroughs, comparing rents, commutes, and connections to the city’s flourishing art scene.
Rent: The cost of living in NYC can be as high as the Statue of Liberty, so it’s important to consider your finances when deciding where to live. Manhattan and Brooklyn tend to be the priciest, while the outer boroughs offer more affordable options. Most actors (especially when starting out!) have roommates, so compare rents both for studio apartments and for multi-bedroom apartments that will presumably be split multiple ways. If you find yourself wanting to crunch numbers on specific neighborhoods, this tool from Zumper is incredibly helpful.
Commute: If you dream of shining on the Great White Way, you’ll want to be as close as possible to the Theater District—or at least in an area with stellar public transit connections to Midtown Manhattan. Subway access is key. If you end up apartment hunting in a section of any borough so far out that there’s no easy subway access, you may want to reconsider, since being able to easily reach the heart of the city is likely the reason for your move here in the first place.
Perks and activities: Look for proximity to auditions, theaters, training, studios, and networking opportunities. Living in a neighborhood with a thriving artistic community, like Williamsburg (Brooklyn) and Astoria (Queens), can help connect you with a community of like-minded creatives.
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The Big Apple is divided into the boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. (Check out the New York boroughs map here.) And if you’re wondering what a borough even is, you’re not alone; ask any New Yorker and they may not even be able to spell it out for you. Put simply, a borough is a way of subdividing a large city, sort of like how states are subdivided into counties—which can be extra confusing in this case because all of NYC’s boroughs are also their own counties.
Manhattan
From Times Square to Central Park to the Empire State Building to Broadway, most immediately recognizable NYC landmarks are located in Manhattan. It’s the most happening borough, so if you thrive in the hustle and bustle, Manhattan is for you! But some may find it loud and crowded; it’s the most densely populated borough by a long shot.
With some notable exceptions, most classes, auditions, rehearsal studios, etc. are located in the borough, so if proximity is important to you, Manhattan may have its appeal. That said, central and lower Manhattan apartments can be wildly expensive (especially for artists on a budget), so many actors choose to live in upper Manhattan neighborhoods: Harlem, Washington Heights, and Inwood are all incredibly popular. Though they’re in the same borough, the commutes to Midtown from these neighborhoods don’t differ very dramatically than those of other boroughs, especially parts of Brooklyn and Queens.
Rent: At the time of writing, the average rent for a studio apartment across all of Manhattan was $3,918/month, and the average rent for a three-bedroom apartment was $8,185/month, or $2,728/month split between three roommates.
If that has you sweating, Washington Heights’ average rent for a studio was $2,091/month, and the average rent for a three-bedroom apartment was $3,210/month, or $1,070/month split between three roommates.
Commute: If you’re lucky enough to move into an apartment near Midtown, your commute may be as long as it takes for you to walk there! If not, you can expect your commute by subway from upper Manhattan to Midtown to take about 25–35 minutes, depending on your exact location and the time of day.
Perks and activities: Manhattan is home to all 41 Broadway theaters, dozens of Off- and Off-Off Broadway theaters, and most major rehearsal studios and buildings where auditions are held (including the Actors’ Equity Association building)—not to mention countless dance classes, colleges, and professional training programs.
Brooklyn
Along with being a little more relaxed and less densely packed than its northern cousin, Brooklyn has a reputation for being young, cool, and hip, so young actors and artists should find that they fit right in. It’s also home to many NYC landmarks, including Prospect Park, Green-Wood Cemetery, and the iconic Brooklyn Bridge Park. Many performers find themselves living in Crown Heights, Bed-Stuy, Bushwick, or Williamsburg. Although Brooklyn rent rivals that of Manhattan, its apartments tend to be more spacious, offering a little more bang for your buck.
Rent: At the time of writing, the average rent for a studio apartment across all of Brooklyn was $4,121/month, and the average rent for a three-bedroom apartment was $4,652/month, or $1,551/month split between three roommates.
Commute: You can expect a commute from the Crown Heights area to take you about 30–35 minutes to get into Midtown Manhattan, while a commute from Williamsburg may be as speedy as 25 minutes (thanks, L train!).
Perks and activities: Some rehearsal studios have locations in Brooklyn—often for cheaper rental rates than their Manhattan counterparts. There are also several TV/film studios located in the borough, including the Navy Yard’s Steiner Studios. And, as we’ve established, the benefits of Manhattan are just a stone’s throw away.
Queens
Nestled east of Manhattan and north of Brooklyn, Queens is home to NYC favorites like the Museum of the Moving Image and Flushing Meadows Corona Park—host of two world’s fairs! More suburban toward its eastern side, the western part of Queens is nearly as bustling as the Manhattan neighborhoods it overlooks. Many performers opt to live in Astoria (sometimes affectionately called “Actor-storia”), or the pricier but incredibly convenient Long Island City.
Rent: Much like Brooklyn, most Queens apartments are more spacious than their NYC counterparts. At the time of writing, the average rent for a studio apartment across all of Queens was $2,708/month, and the average rent for a three-bedroom apartment was $3,845/month, or $1,282/month split between three roommates.
Commute: A commute from Astoria will take you approximately 35–40 minutes, while you can expect a commute from Long Island City to take you about 25 minutes.
Perks and activities: Many rehearsal studios are located in Queens, as well as filming studios, such as the famed Kaufman Astoria Studios.
The Bronx
Located to the north and east of Manhattan, the Bronx is home to Yankee Stadium, the famous Bronx Zoo, and Arthur Avenue’s Little Italy. It’s a less popular choice with actors, since moving too far out means your commute can quickly get pretty intense. If you’re already considering moving to Inwood, though, jumping across the Harlem River to Kingsbridge or Marble Hill (which is connected to the Bronx but technically still part of Manhattan) won’t add much time to your Midtown commute.
Rent: At the time of writing, the average rent for a studio apartment across all of the Bronx was $2,258/month, and the average rent for a three-bedroom apartment was $3,394/month, or $1,131/month split between three roommates.
Commute: You can expect a commute from Kingsbridge to take you about 50–55 minutes.
Perks and activities: Apart from a few rental spaces, the Bronx is mostly limited to the Lovinger Theater, iD Studio Theater, and Open Hydrant Theater for actors to find performance and connection opportunities.
Staten Island
While technically an NYC borough, this island has a vibe all its own—mainly, a suburban one. If you live on Staten Island, you’ve likely lived there all of your life, or have relatives who do (as depicted in “The King of Staten Island,” a semi-autobiographical film about comedian Pete Davidson). That said, some people do opt to live here for the benefit of the calm atmosphere of a suburban neighborhood; many actors also opt to live in New Jersey and Connecticut for the same reasons. Residents and visitors to Staten Island alike can enjoy the island’s botanical gardens, zoo, and museums.
Rent: At the time of writing, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment across all of Staten Island was $2,189/month, and the average rent for a three-bedroom apartment was $3,022/month, or $1,007/month split between three roommates.
Commute: This one is a little tricky, since no subway lines actually connect to Staten Island. In order to commute to Midtown, you have a couple of options. The Staten Island Ferry can get you from the St. George neighborhood to Midtown West in about 35 minutes, where you can then catch a crosstown bus to get you closer to the heart of Midtown. It may not be the fastest commute out there, but it definitely sounds like the most fun. Otherwise, your best bet to get out of Staten Island would actually be to drive. A quick trip across the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge will land you in the bottom of Brooklyn.
Perks and activities: Beyond its Spotlight Theatre and outreach opportunities at the St. George Theatre, Staten Island also has less to offer in terms of physical spaces and activities for actors.