Check out streeteasy.com and search for No Fee apts to avoid payng a fee. There are fewer of those, but they are there.
You may be able to get a studio for under 2k from 86th st downward. Otherwise go upward and you will for sure. Check out Hudson Heights and Washington Heights for an apt close to an express stop on the A train. You will definately find nice apts for less than $2k. A train express from up there to 59th st in about 20 mins.
Another option is Astoria and Bushwick. It will be harder I think to find a place in prime Brooklyn (Williamsburg/Brooklyn Heights/Cobble Hill/Carroll Gardens) for that price because the inventory there is less than Manhattan, but if you can get a spot in Brooklyn Heights that is close to a lot of trains and is a real nice neighborhood.
Also, check out Grove Square and Hamilton Square in Downtown Jersey City. I just moved from there and that place is really nice now. The Path train will take you into the West Village in about 10 mins! 33rd St in about 20 mins with stops in between and the Path is reliable. You can get a downton JC studio for less than 2K. Use Del Forno Real Estate, they own a lot of buildings in the area there as well. Journal Square is another option for even less rent and just one more stop on the Path, but the neighborhood up there kinda sucks. If you can afford it definately be in downtown JC. By the way the Path train from Grove to WTC is down on the weekends for the rest of 2014.
Keep in mind, NYC is one of the few, if not the only city in America that taxes your income.
You may be able to get a studio for under 2k from 86th st downward. Otherwise go upward and you will for sure. Check out Hudson Heights and Washington Heights for an apt close to an express stop on the A train. You will definately find nice apts for less than $2k. A train express from up there to 59th st in about 20 mins.
Another option is Astoria and Bushwick. It will be harder I think to find a place in prime Brooklyn (Williamsburg/Brooklyn Heights/Cobble Hill/Carroll Gardens) for that price because the inventory there is less than Manhattan, but if you can get a spot in Brooklyn Heights that is close to a lot of trains and is a real nice neighborhood.
Also, check out Grove Square and Hamilton Square in Downtown Jersey City. I just moved from there and that place is really nice now. The Path train will take you into the West Village in about 10 mins! 33rd St in about 20 mins with stops in between and the Path is reliable. You can get a downton JC studio for less than 2K. Use Del Forno Real Estate, they own a lot of buildings in the area there as well. Journal Square is another option for even less rent and just one more stop on the Path, but the neighborhood up there kinda sucks. If you can afford it definately be in downtown JC. By the way the Path train from Grove to WTC is down on the weekends for the rest of 2014.
Keep in mind, NYC is one of the few, if not the only city in America that taxes your income.