nyc: I don't care if they are dangerous, out of the way, filthy, whatever. I just want to know the Cheapest areas in NYC to find an apartment. Also, if you know the "average" rent in that area, that would be Great!|||depends on what is affordable to you. I live in a tiny 1br in East Harlem (near 110th st stop on 6 line) and I pay $1300/mo. The area is pretty safe but having some street smarts is helpful. You might want to seriously consider New Jersey if that is too much, you can get places near the PATH in Jersey City for pretty cheap, and it's just a quick ride into lower Manhattan. Check out craigslist to get an idea of prices in different areas. Personally, I wouldn't go much further into Harlem, maybe up to E116th b/c I'm a young single white girl. There are more and more yuppies moving in to my neighborhood as time goes by tho, so now is really the time to get in before the rents shoot up and it becomes Williamsburg II.