Yes, the NY Times recently commented on the great rental values on the UES.

The Times also ran an article about how the UES is becoming a new "hot spot" for bars & restaurants (including two new wine bars on 2nd Ave and the new restaurant Spigolo in the 80's -- Frank Bruni gave it 2 stars and weekend reservations are really really tough).

East the Lex, the UES is dominated by young professionals and young families. It's a great neighborhood for newcomers and natives alike.

Thanks, really good tips. I will have to visit the city eventually but you've all given me some valuable info to get started.

One more thing, is NYC crawling with tourists like London and Paris?

It depends where you are. Of course, millions of tourists visit NY each year, and the city couldn't survive without their dollars. However, they tend to stay clustered around some main areas - the theatre, Times Square, etc. My neighborhood (the east 20s) is much more residential, and has hardly any tourists at all.

Another thing about living in NY - you don't mention how old you are, but be aware that it is common in Manhattan to have roommates well into your late 20s (and sometimes later). If you would consider this, it is actually possible to live in certain areas of Manhattan for $1200.

I'm not sure where you are coming from, but be prepared for SIGNIFICANTLY less space. But it's totally worth it.

Merrin - I am also seriously considering relocating to NYC. (I posted "NYC expense" for advice on how much it really costs to live there.) Please keep me posted on your search for a job and/or apartment. You might want to check out "CITY SITES" online for apartment listings with lots of pictures.

If you're young and single, it is much cheaper to live in Hoboken, and it's also much easier to meet other young single people. I'm starting to think there's a rule that once you hit 35 you have to move out of Hoboken and into the suburbs. Apartments are cheaper but there are plenty of bars and restaurants.

But you will always be aware that you don't live in Manhattan, since you'll be looking at the skyline all the time. But if you're considering Brooklyn, consider Hoboken (especially if you're a smoker).

Merrin,
I've lived in NYC now for 5 years, and my husband for 8 years. We live in Park Slope Brooklyn now which is a very family oriented area, but there are lots of younger people here as well due to the cheaper rents. The South Slope is cheaper than the Prime slope areas as well as the Prospect Heights area (which borders Park Slope to the north and has good subway access). A lot of younger people are moving into Prospect Heights, Fort Greene, Williamsburg, and other surrounding areas. Carroll Gardens is also a good area, look for proximity to Smith Street.

As for my favorite area, that would be the West Village, our home before Park Slope, but it is probably out of your price range as is the Chelsea area.

As I have helped various friends move to NYC, please note that these descriptions and ads are usually too good to be true. If you ask about the specific apartment, you will find that its not available, but the broker will be glad to show you other apartments (with a fee of course). Finding an apartment in NYC can be an extremely annoying and frustrating proposition. I always tell people that they will find their dream apartment, but it will probably take 5 years of shuffling between different apartments.

You might want to check out Craigslist -- have you thought about maybe sharing with a roommate? It could work for the first six-months or year and give you a chance to decide where and when you really do want to live.

My daughter has lived in a shared-house on Staten Island, an apartment in Astoria, an apartment in Spanish Harlem (122nd and Park) and now lives in a cool lower eastside apartment (Stuyvesantown). Back in the 70s, I lived in the West Village for a while, then on the Upper West Side (188th St).

Of all those various locations, I think if I were moving to NYC, I would want to be close enough to walk to work when I wanted to. The city has gotten so NICE (and parts that I wouldn't have even considered visiting back in the 70s are beautiful now) that "the real goods" are available just about everywhere. (Meaning -- nice streets, interesting architecture, good restaurants, easy access to transportation, good shops and services nearby, etc.) It really is better to get a job before you move -- or at least know where you are likely to be working.