South Brooklyn is about 40-50 minutes from Grand Central, but even here you will only get a basement studio for 700 bucks. (I mean I am not saying you cant get anything cheaper, but that will be in bad neighborhoods). I Would recommend Midwood, Bensonhurst, Borough Park or SheepsShead Bay neighborhoods, as these are the ones I know. I lived in all of them in the last 10 years.
Why don't you just buy an apartment in Manhattan instead of renting?Rates are low now.You can get a $200,000 apartment with say a 6% 30 year mortgage and pay about $1,200 a month instead of renting for $1,200 a month.There are even apartments for sale as low as $120,000.Here is a link to some apartments for sale...http://list.realestate.yahoo.com/di...ft=2&intl=&view=d&csz=New+York,ny&&cs=l4pri+1
I have plenty of friends who live with roommates in Brooklyn and Queens for less than $1000. It may be a little dingy for your tastes, but that's what you get for the money. I promise you, your best shot of finding that price is on www.craigslist.org. Why on EARTH would you pay $1500 to live in Jersey, lol. good luck.
Here is a subway map to help you get started on learning how to get around the city...http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/nyct/maps/submap.htm
that's messed up! lol. nah seriously, hoboken is nice these days, and you have to pay accordingly. 90% of the people are young, 22-30 and work in the city. the nightlife is good, there are great italian restaurants (better than places in little italy i've been too), and it's safe. when i first moved up here to trade prop, i was dirt poor, living on credit cards. it takes me a half hour to get to work in the city on the ferry - a much better way to go than the subway.
http://www.sublet.com/spider/LeArea...eper=Month&Summer=<erm=lt&nocache=0.1133371 but hurry http://www.sublet.com/spider/LeSear...Long+Beach&Summer=<erm=lt&nocache=0.5199943 then again I am not native, living in those areas could be hazzar to your health
been living in manhattan for the past 8 years. you can find a share for your price if you are patient. however, you should plan to up the ante ($900). allow at least 2 months. avoid the bronx and the outer parts of queens and brooklyn. the parts of queens and bk that border manhattan can be very pleasant and less expensive (though not much). welcome to our humble freak show
dafuggin - actually, i found the italian in hoboken disappointing; i didn't care for leo's (though it's an institution), michael's closed...i did like johnny ricco's (on 9th/washington) bunches, however. and margherita's was a pleasant twist...where did you go? hoboken really started changing in the mid/late 80s, when the music scene was threatening to break out (unfortunately, never did, though there are a bunch of former national musicians who live in town). the town started cleaning up, it became hip to go to hoboken on weekends, the navy yard got torn down and replaced with a viewable coastline... taking the ferry when i worked at the wfc was great, however...the best way to go to work.
You should look into finding a place in Westchester County, which is just north of the city. I live in southern Westchester and it takes me about a half hour to commute into Grand Central on Metro-North.