Best city without a car, is relatively cheap (Philadelphia, Lancaster: apartment complex, rental)

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by BK_PHL_DEL

I assume they were not from NYC because no one in their right mind would want to drive there rather than take the easiest N/Q/7 ride into midtown. The traffic vomit getting to, over, and to the other side of the 59th st bridge alone makes the subway much more worth it.

Nope, not originally from NY. They were from the Philly suburbs originally. Now they are in Tuscon.

Of course I always took the subway to Queens.

[MarketStEl]

Originally Posted by NawfalKulam

Affordability is an apartment in an urban area for less than $1000/month and a 3-4 bedroom house for under 350K.

You will be able to find one of those latter creatures here in Philly, but you're going to find them in outlying neighborhoods where your commute will involve a bus to a subway or Regional Rail.

Which is fine if you work in Center City. If you don't, well...

Ditto the under-$1000 apartments. Forget those if you want to live in a convenient neighborhood here.

[NawfalKulam]

Originally Posted by MarketStEl

You will be able to find one of those latter creatures here in Philly, but you're going to find them in outlying neighborhoods where your commute will involve a bus to a subway or Regional Rail.

Which is fine if you work in Center City. If you don't, well...

Ditto the under-$1000 apartments. Forget those if you want to live in a convenient neighborhood here.

So what about a neighborhood like manayunk/roxborough/fox chase?

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by NawfalKulam

So what about a neighborhood like manayunk/roxborough/fox chase?

On another thread a poster who lived in Manayunk about a year ago, and lived there 2-3 years, says one can get an apt for less than $1000. Manayunk has train access to Center City. It has a young people vibe, restaurants and shops.

[KansastoSouthphilly]

Originally Posted by MarketStEl

You will be able to find one of those latter creatures here in Philly, but you're going to find them in outlying neighborhoods where your commute will involve a bus to a subway or Regional Rail.

Which is fine if you work in Center City. If you don't, well...

Ditto the under-$1000 apartments. Forget those if you want to live in a convenient neighborhood here.

I don't think you necessarily have to live in outlying neighborhoods at these prices. South Philly south of Snyder should have apartments in this range and you can walk to the BSL. The part of fishtown near pizza brain might work and you can walk to the York-Dauphin el station. If you are willing to live with roomates you can easily find stuff in budget. I think part of the problem is that there is not that many 1 bedroom apartments in the core neighborhood since the vast majority of the housing is row homes. Apartment complexes and buildings are rare and those that exist tend to be "luxury" apartments.

[KansastoSouthphilly]

Originally Posted by NawfalKulam

So what about a neighborhood like manayunk/roxborough/fox chase?

Manayunk has rail access to center city and has a great main street with lots of bars, restaurants and shops. It doesn't, however, have a grocery store. If you don't mind getting your groceries delivered or taking an uber it might work. It is also very hilly. Roxborough has a decent main street in ridge ave. It has grocery stores but no rail access so you would be taking a bus to/from the train.


Don't know much about Fox Chase.

[NawfalKulam]

I'm willing to live in a studio or with roommates. I'm okay paying for grocery delivery. I prefer to only need one bus/train to get to CC. I'm good as long as it's less than 1 hour each way. Would manayunk/roxborough/washington square/north central meet these needs?

[OyCrumbler]

For relatively cheap without a car, it's basically Philadelphia and Chicago.

[NawfalKulam]

Originally Posted by OyCrumbler

For relatively cheap without a car, it's basically Philadelphia and Chicago.

I lived in chicago for 8 years. It is certainly not cheap. At lease not compared to minneapolis or pittsburgh.

[FamousBlueRaincoat]

Originally Posted by NawfalKulam

I lived in chicago for 8 years. It is certainly not cheap. At lease not compared to minneapolis or pittsburgh.

Most people on this board wouldn't consider places like Manayunk, Roxborough, Fox Chase urban neighborhoods - may be part of the disconnect. People, especially on this board, have a tendency to think only in terms of greater Center City, even though very little of Philadelphia's population actually lives there.

Manayunk is pretty expensive, although I'm sure there are deals. Roxborough and Fox Chase would probably be pretty easy to get under 1000.

Roommates opens a lot up to you. I have a relative who lives in West Philly on the edge of what's considered nice and has a roommate. Still they have a pretty small two bedroom and each portion of their rent is like the same as I paid for a 1 br in South Minneapolis a few years ago...

If you consider Roxbourough and Fox Chase acceptable neighborhoods though your money will go further. I currently live in Mount Airy - pretty close to Germantown Avenue. I have good transit access. Easy walks to the 23, H, Chestnut Hill East and Chestnut Hill West. Slightly longer walks to the L and 18 buses. Any bus I would take to the Broad Street Line. It's an easy commute though. I pay well under 1000 - when you include heat in the winter it often nudges rent plus utilities over 1000 though.

I live without a car and it's just fine. You just have to set yourself up right to be able near transit and be able to walk to the amenities that do exist. That goes for any of the non-Center City area neighborhoods.

It was a lot more walkable where I lived in South Minneapolis, and for cheaper, and with a much better jobs-in-the-city situation. For what it's worth.

Have you visited any of these cities? Because I think what it will come down to is just personal preference, and actually having been to some of them would make a big difference in figuring out your personal preference.