Living in New York City as a college grad costs a lot of money. Not only do you have to pay ridiculously expensive rent for housing, but you also have to pay off your student loans and cover living expenses. Undergraduates and graduate students alike don’t expect finding off-campus housing after graduating from school to be as hard as it is. It’s difficult to find affordable housing, but not impossible. These following neighborhoods accommodate college grads living in New York City with low income and financially constrained.
Clinton Hill
Clinton Hill is home to two colleges — Pratt Institute and St. Joseph’s — which creates a young and friendly environment, welcoming to students and recent grads. The neighborhood has a laundry list of trendy restaurants, bars, and coffee shops, and you can easily get around by walking or biking, meaning you can save money on transportation expenses. If you do want to explore other parts of New York, you can take the G train to downtown Brooklyn or Williamsburg, and if you want to get to Manhattan, ride the C train through downtown Brooklyn and Financial District.
Rent for a one-bedroom apartment costs around $2,460, which is lower than the average for New York City ($2,800), but the best housing option for college grads has to be Common Grand and Common Classon. For $1,590 and $1,650, respectively, you can move into a fully furnished home with your own private bedroom, large community spaces, and stocked kitchens. The one all-inclusive rent covers high-quality furniture, brand new appliances, onsite laundry, WiFi, professional cleaning, household essentials (yes, toilet paper included), and utilities. You’ll be saving a lot of money at Common since you won’t have to pay the regular expenses of moving into a new home and stocking the essentials.
Common Classon in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn
Bed-Stuy
Bed-Stuy’s got a happening cultural scene that the younger crowds in the neighborhood invigorate. Living in Bed-Stuy, you’ll quickly become immersed in the unmatched nightlife and mom-and-pop restaurant scene. Find yourself at spots like the rum bar and reggae den Lovers Rock and the restaurant Bar LunÀtico. With access to the G, A, C, J, and M trains, you can commute anywhere in the city.
For an average of $2,200 a month, you can find a one-bedroom apartment in Bed-Stuy, but Common Tompkins just makes the most financial sense for those coming out of school. Rent starts at $1,575 a month, which includes onsite laundry, professional cleaning, utilities, and access to incredible amenities (rooftop deck, coworking lounge).
Ridgewood
Neighboring Bushwick in Brooklyn, Ridgewood offers a quieter, yet artsy and vibrant option for housing in New York. Living in Ridgewood means you can enjoy all the charming local businesses, hip cafes, and diverse restaurants, from Polish and Italian to Latin-American, in the neighborhood. Popular spots include Nowadays and cultural venues like Trans-Pecos. With leafy side streets and four historic districts, Ridgewood’s character remains distinct.
Financially, rent for a one-bedroom in Ridgewood sits at around $2,000 a month, but we’ve got a better deal. Anyone — students, college grads, young professionals, retirees — can move into Common Cypress, Common Fairview, and Common Cornelia for $1,500, $1,475, and $1,475 a month, respectively. Living at Common means you immediately have a furnished home and community in New York City.
Common Cypress in Ridgewood, Queens
Harlem
Harlem has everything you could want from a neighborhood: culture, history, art, soul food, clubs, a strong sense of community, iconic sites (e.g. Apollo Theater). The Upper Manhattan neighborhood has also got affordable housing with diverse offerings, from larger prewar elevator buildings to smaller walk-ups and historic brownstones. You can expect to patronize a ton of local bars and restaurants when living in Harlem, such as Harlem Public and The Honey Well.
The average cost of rent for a one-bedroom apartment Harlem ranges between $1,775 and $2,145. Save money by living at Common Hamilton for $1,600 a month. Your rent covers your fully furnished, private bedroom, stocked kitchens and bathrooms, onsite laundry, professional cleaning, WiFi, utilities, and more. Your Common membership also includes amazing perks from major brands and fun community events around the city.
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