Where Do I Want to Live?
New York City is divided into five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx. New York neighborhoods can vary block by block, so don't judge a neighborhood by its reputation. It is important to visit the neighborhood during both day/night times and use good judgment when deciding.
When you are looking at where to live, you may want to take price into consideration. You can see the median rent prices of 1-bedroom apartments here, according to where they are located on the subway line. You can also compare the amount of rent you might pay with RentHop's RentCompare tool.
Pace University is located in downtown Manhattan’s Financial District, next to the Brooklyn Bridge and City Hall.
Students who have participated in our programs in the past have recommend the neighborhoods below. We have included comments past students have had where available, and we will continue to update this page as we receive more feedback from students.
Please note that the comments below are the opinions of former students and do not represent an official stance or position of Pace University. The veracity of these experiences have not been confirmed by Pace University and as such are not to be read as an official recommendation by Pace University. These comments are for context only. You should visit these neighborhoods on your own and make your own decision based on your lifestyle and living needs.
Neighborhoods Past Students Have Recommended:
Manhattan
I would recommend living here, because it is walking distance to school (Norwegian student, Fall 2023-Spring 2024)
This area feels safe, it is easy to get around, close to school, and there are proper grocery stores close by (Norwegian student, Fall 2022-Spring 2023)
Lots of restaurants close by (French student, Fall 2023)
I recommend living here -- I feel safe here. (Norwegian student, Fall 2023-Spring 2024)
The UES feels safe, there are lots of options to get to school, including the metro, the bus, and the ferry. (Norwegian student, Fall 2023-Spring 2024)
Greenwich Village (West Village)
I would recommend living here -- it is well served by subways and is very safe (French student, Spring 2024)
I would recommend living here -- there are many restaurants and shops close by, and it is not far from the university (German student, Fall 2023)
Yes, it's really safe, there are many shops and restaurant, and it is pleasant to walk in the neighborhood. (French student, Spring 2024)
I would recommend this neighborhood because it is close to stores, parks, and the subway (Norwegian student, Fall 2022-Spring 2023)
Yes, I'm 5 minutes walk from Times Square, with international roommates. The price is fine for the location and the apartment. I have a laundry in the building and a kitchen with everything you need to cook. (French student, Spring 2024)
Yes, you are near the centre of NYC and it’s a safe place. Also you have police and fire department next to the residence which makes you feel more safe. Although the price is higher than other places such as Brooklyn, I think is a good decision because also you have university at 15/20 mins by subway taking on either 6 line which stops in every station or 4/5 that you can go from Gran Central station directly to Brooklyn Bridge/ City Hall which is Pace’s station. (Spanish student, Spring 2024)
Harlem (Central, East, and West)
I think it depends on your lifestyle, if you would like to live here. (French student, Fall 2023)
Yes, I would recommend living here. It has been a nice experience and it is a more quiet environment than center of New York, Manhattan. (Portuguese student, Fall 2023)
Brooklyn
Students say that living in Brooklyn is less expensive than Manhattan and not very far from the university.
Lots of restaurants and places to go out (French student, Fall 2023)
The area is pretty safe and cool, close to school, and there are lots of nice places to hang out (French student, Fall 2023)
This is a very safe area, with parks, restaurants, and places to go out (French student, Fall 2023)
Maybe, it's comfortable living there (calm, pretty welcoming and quite safe) but if they want to live the full New York experience they should live in Manhattan (French student, Fall 2023)
Yes! It is close from the subway, with a 30 minutes ride to Pace. The neighborhood is safe and chill with beautiful brownstones. (French student, Spring 2024)
Sure. It’s safe and really convenient place. However, the only drawback is that it is a little bit far away from Manhattan, especially middle- and uptown. (French student, Spring 2024)
No, I would not recommend this neighborhood because there is no grocery store close by, I did not like the area, and it can get sketchy at night. (Swiss student, Fall 2023-Spring 2024)
I would recommend living here -- it is close to the school and has a lot of markets and restaurants. (French student, Spring 2023)
Yes it is fine, less expensive than Manhattan, and it is also well-served with subways and buses. The commute to school is really easy and not that long. There are also several groceries around, fast foods and coffee shops. (French student, Fall 2023)
Yes, I would recommend this neighborhood -- it is safe and only 40/45 mins away from campus. (French student, Spring 2023)
Queens
New Jersey
Quick trip to get to Pace, and there are just as many restaurants here. (Portuguese student, Fall 2023)
The road is really noisy, even at night, but the buildings are shorter than in Manhattan, and there are 2 great parks ! (Portuguese student, Fall 2023)
This video is a long (3 hours) but comprehensive tour of neighborhoods in NYC. They visit:
Washington Heights, Manhattan
Hells Kitchen, Midtown Manhattan
The Bronx
Bayside, Queens
Brighton Beach, Brooklyn
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Koreatown, Manhattan (K-Town)
DUMBO, Brooklyn
Harlem, Manhattan
Lower East Side, Manhattan (LES)
Upper West Side, Manhattan
Riverdale, Bronx
SoHo, Manhattan
City Island, Bronx
Little Italy, Bronx (Arthur Ave)
Bushwick, Brooklyn
Forest Hills, Queens
Spanish Harlem, Manhattan
Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn
Hudson Yards, Manhattan
What Advice Do Past Students Have?
Please let the future student know about my advices !
Calculate your budget and bring MORE than you expected, because NYC is REALLY expensive.
Bring an certain about of cash, because some places might be cheaper if you pay in cash by avoiding taxes like Chinatown or souvenir shops.
If you are a lazy person, try to make your own food otherwise you’ll be quickly broke like me ! Try to save some money and travel around the USA, Boston and Philly are the cities which are close to NYC and cheap to go by bus.
Do events that we have not commonly have in Europe, watch NBA, NHL, NFL and MLB Games for very cheap ! This is an opportunity that we will not have anymore when you’ll back to home. (French student, Fall 2023)
Tracking your expenses and avoid impulse purchases. New York is a big city with lots of great things to offer, but spending a lot on impulse purchases adds up in the end. Also I learned that you don't need an MTA metro card when traveling by subway in NYC. Tapping using your credit card/apple pay is easier and saves you more money in the long run if you don't use the subway as much. Your credit card will max out on the MTA when it reaches $34 a week. Which is the same price as a weekly MTA metro card pass. (Norwegian student, Fall 2023-Spring 2024)
Visit your apartment so you know how long it takes to walk from there to the subway; how the neighborhood feels at night and during the day; and to make sure that the apartment matches the pictures on the website. (French student, Fall 2023)
Even if apartments go fast in New York you have some leverage as a potential renter. (Norwegian student, Fall 2022- Spring 2023)
We lived in Midtown East, where everything was accessible by walking, and it was really safe. Also, there were many great restaurants, exhibitions and many more attractions within walking distance. (Serbian student, Spring 2023)
Get the NY resident ID as soon as you have settled down so you don't have to bring your passport to go out. Have a photo of your passport anyways at all times on your phone. With the resident ID there is a lot of perks and discounts as well. Lastly, New York is like a sauna in summertime, and it was very warm until October, so bring summer clothes. Also, winter is very windy and cold so bring a parka or something warm. (Norwegian student, Fall 2022- Spring 2023)
Brooklyn is less expensive than Manhattan, and it is also well-served with subways and buses. The commute to Pace is really easy and not that long. There are also several groceries around, as well as fast foods and coffee shops. (French student, Spring 2023)
NYC is expensive, so save money where you can! (French student, Spring 2023)
Brooklyn seems like far away, or Queens, but with the quick subway system here it is not really that far, and it's way cheaper than Manhattan. I know it probably seems fun to live in Manhattan when you first move here, but you get a New York vibe in the other boroughs as well. (Norwegian student, Fall 2022- Spring 2023)
Brooklyn is more affordable than Manhattan, and there are a lot of nice restaurants as well as access to the 2/3/4/5 trains which go to Pace. There may be extra fees when setting up your apartment, especially when setting up internet, cell phone, and electricity for the first time. When you are planning your year abroad, prepare by looking at StreetEasy and Zillow before arriving, and when you arrive plan to visit apartments. (Norwegian student, Fall 2022- Spring 2023)
I wish I had known that you have to subscribe to power immediately or else you might go a night without power. Also, when you first get your apartment, you may have to pay first month's rent and a security deposit, which can be 2x rent up front. (Norwegian student, Fall 2022-Spring 2023)
I lived in a room inside a house, I think that that was better for me because I’m not paying a lot for rent, and the room is very nice. If you know someone who can bring you housing, although it may be a little bit far away, consider it. (Mexican student, Fall 2023)
When I paid my housing deposit in France (2 months before my arrival) I was charged a fee because of currency exchange fees. In this way, I wish I knew that I had to ask my bank to take the monthly subscription to not have exchanges fees on every transactions. I thought that it was necessary only when I'll be in the US and not when I was doing online payments with US companies. (French student, Spring 2024)
I talked with students that where staying in the area the year before and they helped us get the apartment. They helped us get in touch with the landlord who were willing to let us take over the apartment. If you can, connect with students who attended the year before to ask them about their housing experience. (Norwegian student, Fall 2023-Spring 2024)
I would recommend that students use the app Too Good to Go (Apple App store; Google Play store) to find cheap deals on food. Also, if one person downloads Lyft they can give sponsorship to their other friends, so you both save money. If you live in Brooklyn, shop at Food Bazaar with friend because you can sometimes find good deals. If you get coffee, get Dunkin, not Starbucks. (French student, Spring 2023)
Just be aware of your surroundings and follow your gut instinct. I didn't use the subway late at night, so if you are going out, make sure to have money for a taxi or Uber. To save money, try to have breakfast at home and don't drink Starbucks coffee. There are many local coffee shops that have outstanding coffee for a more reasonable price. (French student, Spring 2023)
Always keep your belongings with you and don't be afraid to move away from someone who is acting erratically. I never really felt insecure, but obviously don't go out too late at night alone. Plan a budget of $1,000 per month, at least if you want to enjoy your experience (and perhaps travel also), because it is extremely expensive in this city! (Norwegian student, Fall 2022-Spring 2023)
Teachers and staffs are awesome, kind and very helpful, don’t be shy and don’t hesitate to ask them if you need anything. PACE is a HUGE university, I loved the aspect of « American school » with the gym, the security, the « chill » mood, everyone have their own coffee in the morning. (French student, Spring 2024)