More and more people decide to rent an apartment instead of staying in a hotel when visiting New York City. Renting an apartment is a great option if you’re planning to stay for a longer time or if you want a full kitchen. In this article, we’ll cover all the pros and cons. I hope you find it helpful!
Since we got you here, click here for some hotel or Airbnb recommendations.
Renting an apartment in NYC – Pros
First of all, let’s talk about the price. Renting an apartment in New York City instead of staying at a hotel is most likely a cheaper option, depending on where you’re staying and how big an apartment you’re looking to rent.
A big plus with renting an apartment in New York is that you can cook your food at home. By not eating out for every single meal you can really save some money. This rule applies mostly to larger groups. If you’re traveling to NYC alone or just two people it can sometimes be cheaper to eat out, rather than buying groceries.
The biggest pro of renting an apartment in New York is location. Hotels are normally located in touristy neighborhoods which can feel crowded and overwhelming. When renting, you can stay anywhere in the city like a trendy (and more residential) block in neighborhoods like West Village or Williamsburg.
Renting an apartment in NYC – Cons
One of the biggest cons of renting instead of staying in a hotel is the hygiene. You never know what to expect when entering a rental for the first time. Read the reviews if you rent (through Airbnb for example) to make sure the place gets cleaned properly between guests.
If you want amenities, maybe renting is not for you. Most hotels offer room service, breakfast, pool, gym, and restaurants on-site. These kinds of amenities are generally not offered with Airbnb in New York City.
If you rent an apartment in New York, you don’t get the 24-hour-a-day luxury of asking the consiers all your questions. Hotels have people who can answer your question 24/7.
If you’re not an American, renting a long-term apartment can get tricky. The owner of the apartment is most likely going to ask about your income and credit score before renting it out to you. They do that to make sure you can afford to pay the rent every month. If you can’t give them that information you can always offer to pay more in deposit or to pay a few months upfront in rent.
Where to look for apartments in New York
Airbnb
Airbnb is a great alternative if you’re planning to rent an apartment in New York. You can look for something to rent for just 1 night or for a few months. Airbnb offers tourists a way to experience NYC living in an actual New Yorker’s home. These apartments are most likely furnished.
What’s great with Airbnb is that you’ll get access to a full kitchen and can cook some meals at home. This is a great way to save money, especially if you’re traveling in a larger group.
Click here for some Airbnb recommendations for every budget.
You can also check out a website called Vrbo (earlier called HomeAway) for more rentals.
StreetEasy
StreetEasy is a great website for finding long-term apartments for rent (more than a year). This is ideal if you plan to stay in NYC for at least a year.
Be ready to act quickly if you find an apartment you love. The apartments get signed very fast in NYC so be ready to pay the deposit right away before someone else takes it.
Facebook groups
If you’re on a budget or don’t want to live alone you can check out some Facebook groups. This is a great way to connect with other New Yorkers to find a room to rent. In these groups, people both post about rooms and whole apartments.
Anyplace
Anyplace is a great website for renting luxury-furnished apartments in New York City. With Anyplace, you need to rent for at least 30 days. This is a great option to start with if you plan to eventually find something more permanent.