New York City - cost of living advice

[Henna]

Astoria is very diverse as well. It's just that Jackson Heights is extremely diverse, meaning you will see people from many different countries on the street and hear several different languages spoken every time you go out.

Astoria has plenty of quiet areas too. It might be easier to find a rental in Astoria than in Jackson Heights, but you could look in both. I think either neighborhood would be fine for you. I am not recommending Elmhurst or Woodside as highly as I feel they are not as nice.

Check the neighborhood forums for info on pilates and yoga. There are a few classes in JH and probably more in Astoria.
Jackson Heights Life - Jackson Heights NY - Queens (you can do a search for pilates or yoga without registering)
Astorians | Your free community for Astoria NY, Long Island City, and Queens West. (you will have to register to do a search though you might find something just by browsing thru recent posts.)

[missbonfig]

Henna,

Thanks for all your advice today. I have a MUCH better idea now. Great links too!

[Carbro]

Every year, rent stabilized tenants get forms from DHCR (Dept. of Housing & Community Renewal) verifying the legal rent of their apartment and whether heat, gas and electricity are included. So, there are apartments in NYC where the occupant is responsible for their own heat.

Also, in Lincoln Towers, which is all co-op, the older buildings have central heating and the newer ones have thermostats.

Originally Posted by Henna

If you see a train of crowded cars and the car that's about to stop in front of you is not crowded, think fast and hurry over to one of the crowded ones. Sorry, but that's the way it goes.

Sometimes in the summer, it just means the a/c is out in that car.

Originally Posted by graveldriveway

Some real advice: don't take an apartment lower than the 5th floor on a corner building no matter where it is, unless you are hard of hearing. It's noisey and maybe dangerous if there's bullets flying around.

For 32 years, I've lived one story above a busy avenue, on the corner. A block down is a three-way intersection a block down, which sometimes creates back-ups and honking. It can get noisy (no "e"), but if I keep the radio, tv or music on at all times (and I do) it's not so bad. Probably not the best way to live, but my location is hard to beat for convenience to shopping, entertainment, parks and transportation. My mom lived on the 16th floor a block away from a fire house for two years, and it was much, much worse.

[krichton]

Close to ten years ago I was looking for places in brooklyn and queens. I found two renovated basements in bensonhurst brooklyn going for around $400-$420 a month including gas and electric. No furniture though. Queens was more expensive.

[missbonfig]

Everyone,

Thanks so much for so much helpful advice in a day! (The Internet is great; how did we do it before?)

Anyway, does anyone have any additional facts/pointers I should take into consideration re: renting, living in NY, working in the city. Whatever you have learned over your years in NY that could be very useful to know and that you wish someone had told you before learning the hard way?

Also, is it true that Astoria seems to have a rodent/bug problem in many apartments despite the fact that they are new?