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What are some of the benefits of living in Manhattan compared toadjacent areas in Brooklyn & Queens (like Greenpoint, Brooklyn Heights, Long Island City etc)? Is it worth the extra cost to live in Manhattan, and if so why? How is the lifestyle different?
I've lived all of my life in Manhattan, and quite honestly, I don't see any real difference except in commuting lengths. Uber is a life saver if you want to hang out late at night but live further out. Personally, I would trade living in Manhattan for an affordable apartment near Manhattan where I can have views. (As in Long Island City, as one example)
It used to be that you'd have to go to Manhattan to eat out or for entertainment, not anymore. That's why the relative rents between Manhattan and Brooklyn/Queens neighborhoods close to the river are fairly comparable. You really do not sacrifice anything as far as QOL/day-to-day amenities go, it's just commute times to your job (if you work in Manhattan, as most people still do).
What are some of the benefits of living in Manhattan compared toadjacent areas in Brooklyn & Queens (like Greenpoint, Brooklyn Heights, Long Island City etc)? Is it worth the extra cost to live in Manhattan, and if so why? How is the lifestyle different?
only advantage is bragging rights and maintaining certain social circles
I think years ago there was more of a difference. Manhattan was lively, with active street life, lots of restaurants and plenty of things to do. You were likely to find more liberal people and also anonymity, if you didn't want prying eyes judging you.
But since then, I think you can approximate the "Manhattan lifestyle" in several neighborhoods in the other boroughs. Parts of Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx have seen the arrival of large numbers of young people, restaurants, music venues, etc.
It all depends on what you require in a neighborhood and where you can find it.
If you tell us what you're looking for, people here might have some ideas.
I'll take Lower East Side living over Downtown Brooklyn living at this stage in life. I really like my commute, but I am peculiarly rent stabilized, so the cost would actually be greater to live in other areas. My walls are also thicker now, so I can't hear my neighbors like I could everywhere I lived in those 'modern' high rises or converted hotels.
I say it's less about Manhattan vs Outer Boroughs outside of the commute as it is neighborhood by neighborhood. I wouldn't want to live in Times Square and I'd love to live in Forest Hills, especially the Gardens. I don't want to live in Flatbush, but I'd love to live in western Washington Heights. YMMV.
Brooklyn Heights will cost you as much or more as a good Manhattan neighborhood. Greenpoint has not great subway accessibility (so not just a long commute, but an awkward one). LIC is still somewhat industrial and developing but the rents in those new towers are pretty high. So I'm not sure those are the best ones to choose for comparison, really.
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