Budget
How much should you spend on an NYC apartment?
New York City rent math hurts because the sticker price is never the whole story. Broker fees, utilities, and security deposits can add 15–20% on top of monthly rent before you unpack.
The 30% guideline
Many landlords want gross income at 40× monthly rent (about 30% of gross pay). A $3,000 apartment often requires $120,000 annual income on paper.
Rooms and guarantors change the math — know your number before you filter feeds.
Hidden costs
Broker fee (often 10–15% of a year’s rent on brokered units), security deposit, move-in fees, and summer electric bills.
No-fee hunts save the broker slice but may trade time and urgency.
Set filters to your real max
Pick a max monthly number that includes utilities if they are not included. Then filter listings at that cap — browsing $500 above your budget wastes tour energy.
On Stoophunt, price filters apply across StreetEasy, Facebook, and Craigslist at once so you do not accidentally fall in love with something out of range on another site.