One of the best places to live in New York is actually New Jersey. Large areas of Jersey City and Hoboken and their surroundings are just as easy to commute vi

One of the best places to live in New York is actually New Jersey. Large areas of Jersey City and Hoboken and their surroundings are just as easy to commute via the PATH subway or a bus or even a ferry. Rent goes very roughly 20% cheaper than Manhattan for similar digs, everything from tiny studios to ultramodern luxury towers. Hoboken has plenty of nightlife in its own right too. Car rentals for weekend trips are as much as 50% cheaper in NJ. Bonus: you don't pay NYC income tax, and NJ sales tax is a bit less than NY. I've lived in NJ and commuted to NY for essentially my entire professional life, and quite happy with that setup.