It really depends on what you’re looking for. Do you care about having a roommate? Where is the job (or are you coming here to get a job)? The thing is, there are deals everywhere, so it really depends on what kind of commute you’re looking to do, and what kind of neighborhood you’re looking to live in, as well as the size and number of people living.

Regardless, Jersey City is a good choice in Jersey (Hoboken is pretty much as expensive as most of the city). Wash Heights and Inwood have some great deals. The Upper East Side above 86th has great deals, but the entire UES is pretty good. Astoria and LIC haven’t exploded in price yet in Queens. In Brooklyn…I don’t know, there are a lot of neighborhoods that have skyrocketed in price…but I would check out Greenpoint and Park Slope and some of the areas surrounding Prospect Park.

Near the city, pobably somewhere in Queens or Jersey City. Much of BRooklyn is quite expensive now but there may be some pockets. Sharing an apartment is the way to go. If you just want New Jersey, most of South Jersey -Ocean County) and below – is cheaper than nearer to the city but the jobs may be minimal.

@janbb – any part of Jersey that can get me to the city relatively easy.

The bayshore – Union Beach, Keansburg, etc – area of Monmouth County may have relatively cheap housing and is on the North Jersey Coast train line into the city. You could also look at Linden, Union, Perth Amboy or Plainfield further north. Heavy duty immigrant populations in those towns.

The cheapest place to live in NYC is New Jersey.

Though you could look into Queens. I have a friend who found that the only place in New York that she could afford to live.

I was living in the heart of Greenwhich Village (Thompson and 3rd) for $600 a month.

How?

I found 2 bedroom 7 floor walkup for $1800. I rented it out by myself. I found a roomate willing to pay $1200 for the bigger room. BAMN!

You gotta be tricky like that. Apartments are in high demand, I knew I could do that.