Cheap and safe neighorhood downtown? Is it just a dream? (Penn: apartment, neighborhoods)

[W-B proud]

Is there anywhere cheap and safe to live in or around downtown Philly? I want to move to Philly someday, but I want to live in downtown somewhere between Springarden and South sts. I guess, but I'm a blue collar machinist by trade. Is there a such thing as a cheap downtown apartment, or do you have to be filthy rich, or have to live with three other people to afford it? Just a reasonably priced pad in a decent downtown neighborhood.

[solibs]

what do you want pay per month? You can still find "deals" in Center City but rents are still trending upward. You'll find the cheapest rents in CC right on South St.

IMO, living in Center City is overrated. It's cool for a year or so. I lived in Old City when I first moved here. But you'll quickly find your social life pulling you to another neighborhood. There's so much to do outside of CC and it's so easy to get to there if you need to that, to me, it's not worth the higher rent.

If you're looking "around Center City" I would check out Graduate Hospital, Bella Vista, Pennsport, Passyunk Square, East Passyunk Crossing, Fairmount, Northern Liberties and any of the neighborhoods in University City.