Where is the cheapest place for a poor person to stay in New York?

Question:  I am looking to visit New York City for a month and would like to know the best places to stay while I look for a new apartment in the city.  I am poor and unemployed at the present time.  I would like to avoid a homeless shelter if at all possible.  I am considering showering at a gym and doing laundry at a laundrymat.

Thank you,
Poor Future New Yorker

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While many people will tell you that moving to New York City on no income is a bad idea, there are perhaps reasons why you think that moving to New York City is necessary.  Many people, both rich and poor, want to live in New York, and who is to tell a poor person they can not live in New York?  After all, New York is home to a huge number of poor people, and many of these people rise from poverty and do well.


With that said, you have to realize that living in New York City is very hard even for a person with a job and stable income.  For example, getting an apartment in New York City is hard even with an income.  Housing is so tight that many landlords are going to tell you straight up that they require 40 times the rent or a cosigner who makes 80 times the rent.  For a poor person with no job this is going to be near impossible.


Second, you have to watch out for scams such as the Affordable Equity Project.  Many of these "too good to be true" apartment services are flat out lies. 

There are areas that are cheaper in New York, such as Far Rockaway in Queens.  However, you have to take into account the commute and if living in such an area is really worth it for you.  I'm not knocking it, but I am just stating that it's not the same as living in Manhattan. 

You are wise to not want to live in a homeless shelter.  However, living in the subway isn't that much better and it's not really that comfortable after a while.

Being homeless is no piece of cake.  In fact, I have been down that road myself, and I must say that New York would not be my first choice for a place without money. 

Whatever you do, do not turn to drugs and alcohol if you are going to be living a rough life in New York.  You want to keep yourself out of trouble if you will be living on the streets for any amount of time.  Try to keep yourself clean and presentable.  There are all sorts of resources in New York for a person who is down on his/her luck.  I suggest you look them up and use them.

Current New York City Affordable Housing Lotteries

The NYC Affordable Housing Resource Center is the place to look for current NYC Housing Lotteries.  Here is a look at some of the current lotteries for July 2013.

Harlem River Point South



Bethany Place (North Harlem)

Best of Craigslist Under $1200, July 19, 2013

Here are the recent "best of Craigslist" New York City Apartments for July 19, 2013

All Apartments here are under $1,200 a month.  We do not represent any of the landlords or property managers in any of these apartments.  Contact at your own risk.  (To see the ad, if it is still up, click the picture).

$1,100 1 Bedroom in Washington Heights/Inwood




Studio near St. Marks, East Village, New York.



Inwood 1 Bedroom, $1,200

As noted before, sometimes the best stuff is in the northern neighborhoods of Manhattan, especially if you are on a tight budget. 

Manhattan Apartments for under $1500: Upper East Side

If you are wondering what $1400 can get you in Manhattan, head up to 80th and check this bad boy out.  To be honest, it's probably not bad for the price.  The upper east side is, after all, oftentimes expensive.  This  little studio has a sleeping alcove and allows pets.  

Keep in mind, however, actually getting one of these apartments means that you have to oftentimes act fast and use a broker.  But this does show you what you can expect when moving to New York.

Williamsburg Brooklyn Apartment Finds: What $1500 gets you in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

 Williamsburg, an area of Brooklyn, is one of the trendiest areas in New York City at the moment.  Once this neighborhood was mostly industrial buildings, but now it has changed into something of a destination for young people and those who want to be in the middle of a thriving community.

However, with that kind of changes comes high prices.  It is somewhat challenging to find a place in this neighborhood, especially if you are on a budget. Well, this apartment is an example of what a little luck at $1500 can get you.  While this is not the nicest place in the world, it is interesting, isn't it?

Look at the bathroom below.  At least it's artsy.  You could do a lot worse.  So, there you have it, $1500 in Williamsburg.

Manhattan Apartment Finds: Harlem Parkside Apartment for $1195.

You don't have to be rolling in money to be living in New York.  Those who are looking for a nice apartment and want to save some cash could do a lot worse than looking in Harlem or upper Manhattan.  In fact, Harlem itself is a changing neighborhood and may be the next big thing.  With a Whole Foods moving to the area in the next couple of years, it shows that investors do believe that Harlem is about to change.

This apartment is actually pretty nice and it is right on St. Nicholas park.  For under $1200 a month, it's not a bad price at all.  

Manhattan Apartment Finds: East Village Studio: $1095

There are sometimes good apartment opportunities available in neighborhoods like the East Village in Manhattan.  Sadly, however, these usually go fast.  Here is one such find that the owner expects to rent quickly.

From the ad itself:

"Get Your Own PRIVATE Studio apartment in the Heart of the Village on St Marks Place, Right by NYU, Cooper Union, and Astor Place! All utilities are included, along with free high speed internet. Apartment building features a dorm-style layout with a shared bath. Below market rent! Guaranteed to go to the 1st to view - call asap to see it ! ! ! ***A GUARANTOR / CO-SIGNER IS REQUIRED FOR ALL APPLICANTS***"

For those who do not know, the East Village is one of Manhattan's most sought after neighborhoods.  That means apartments of this size are the norm if you don't plan on shelling out a lot more than $1100 a month.  In fact, something like this is quite rare in itself unless you know someone.   However, what this does show is that there are some deals to be found even in NYC.