Manhattan vs Brooklyn: Which Borough Is Better?

Manhattan, a place full of life. Also, one of the most famous neighborhoods in the world. It is home to some of New Yorks’ top tourist spots. On the other side, we have Brooklyn. It’s a wonderful part of town that can really be a worthy opponent to Manhattan when in dilemma which neighborhood to opt for. Manhattan vs Brooklyn is a debate as old as time itself. Everyone has an opinion on it and people on both sides have good arguments to support them. So, let us give you some really good reasons for both places so you can make a decision based on facts without fear that you missed something or that you made the wrong decision. With our insight and analysis, you’ll make the right choice.

Housing costs and cost of living in Manhattan vs Brooklyn

There is a huge difference when it comes to price. However, that is to be expected from the Manhattan vs Brooklyn situation. If you are a person who likes to live a high life, you can immediately book a relocation with some of the best movers in Manhattan and move to this luxurious part of town. It will cost you significantly more, but it will be worth its money. The average rent in Manhattan is a little bit over $4000. Even though the gap between prices is getting smaller, Manhattan is still significantly more expensive to live in.

On the other hand, the average rent in Brooklyn is around $2600 and that’s a gap of more than $1000. So, that means there is quite a lot of stuff that Manhattan offers and that Brooklyn can’t provide. However, if you are a person who prioritizes their peace over a neighborhood filled with noise and hustle, you’ll find Brooklyn much more appealing. There are some areas of Brooklyn that are reaching rent of around $3000 and that means Brooklyn might catch up to places like Staten Island and Manhattan, but that won’t be happening any time soon.

A picture of the Brooklyn bridge.
Manhattan might look like the one that is better in every way when choosing between Manhattan vs Brooklyn. However, that is far from true.

What’s the real price?

According to some analysts, you’ll need a salary of around $6000 to have a comfortable life in Brooklyn. However, as expected, in Manhattan it’s significantly higher and you’d need around $8300 to be able to avoid worrying about your expenses and price of food.

This doesn’t even include taxes. So make sure you think about that as well. There is also child care for families with children. And don’t forget you’ll be living in the most entertaining city in the world. New York has so much fun stuff to offer, from food to all kinds of adventures and that costs as well. Maybe not too much, but you still need to keep a couple of hundred bucks on the side just in case.

You might consider roommates when thinking about Manhattan vs Brooklyn

If you already have a solid financial ground, you can call the best movers in Brooklyn right now and schedule a relocation. However, if your financial situation isn’t as nice as you would like it to be, you need a solution. A lot of people who need to live in Manhattan due to their work like to find a roommate. It’s an excellent solution to a lack of finances to support your living. It also depends on Manhattan vs Brooklyn choice because you will be far more likely to find a roommate in Manhattan due to prices being significantly higher.

Manhattan during the sunset.
Manhattan has a skyline that will make you gasp the first time you see it with your own eyes.

View of the Skyline

This one goes to Manhattan. The first thing people think of when they hear the word “Manhattan” is its skyline. Pick any movie happening in Manhattan and you’ll see what we’re talking about. You can see many tall buildings that make you feel like you’re on top of the world. Visit places like Astoria, Greenpoint, and Williamsburg. Those will make you immediately call long distance movers in Manhattan and schedule a relocation.

This doesn’t mean Brooklyn has nothing to offer when it comes to a nice skyline. The fact that it’s not as impressive as Manhattans doesn’t mean it’s bad. It has a lot of nice buildings and views on all sides of the neighborhood. Get on one of the taller buildings and you’ll discover that the view is magnificent.

Suburban life vs big city life

You can immediately guess where each of the neighborhoods belongs in a Manhattan vs Brooklyn discussion.

If you want to really feel New York’s energy, to try out the nightlife, and to enjoy views from skyscrapers, Manhattan is exactly the place for you. It’s a city that never sleeps and provides all sorts of entertainment. There are cinemas that work 24/7, some really famous shows like the broadway, and New York is known for some really wild nightclubs you can visit if you are a night owl. Don’t hesitate to move to Manhattan if that’s your jam. People who love socializing and meeting new people will feel the most comfortable in this big and famous neighborhood.

However, the problem with Manhattan is that most people you will meet there are probably going to be out of town. You’ll mostly meet students from campuses, wealthy out-of-towners, and other people who don’t intend on staying in the city for too long. That’s what makes it difficult to create some serious connections and meaningful relationships in this area.

What’s different about Brooklyn?

Brooklyn is exactly the opposite. Even though it’s far from a quiet neighborhood, it is very peaceful compared to Manhattan. When choosing between Manhattan vs Brooklyn, people with children and those who are used to living in a quieter environment will not hesitate to call long distance movers in Brooklyn and immediately book a relocation to this area of New York.

Another thing that makes Brooklyn a great choice for living is the fact that you can easily access Manhattan from Brooklyn. There are many ways to do that. You can use the train, go by car or just cycle. So, you can get the best of both worlds. You can live in an area with a suburban feel to it and still visit Manhattan when you want to have some fun. You will be allowed to live a nice, peaceful life and still access some of those legendary nightclubs.

Manhattan during the evening.
If you love the nightlife, Manhattan is the right place for you. It is full of great nightclubs.

A paradise for foodies vs Top-level dining

In many ways, choosing between Manhattan vs Brooklyn will mean you will have to sacrifice some pleasures of one neighborhood for the other. If you want to go clubbing every evening, you will have to leave behind the tranquility of one neighborhood. If you want a suburban feeling to your new home, you should forget about living close to all the big events. However, there is one thing you will have in both of these neighborhoods no matter what. They are both perfect for food lovers. Yes, there are certain differences between them but that makes them only more attractive. If you love food, don’t hesitate to schedule a relocation with local movers in Brooklyn.

Manhattan was always known to be the center of fine dining and higher-end restaurants. People go there prepared to give a lot of money for the perfect service. A lot of people are perfectly fine with this concept and accept that a good bite will cost you. So, most high-end restaurants in Manhattan will provide you with some delicious food. If there is a special occasion you would like to celebrate, that’s a perfect way to do it. You can always take a loved one or your coworkers into one of these restaurants and you’ll make them feel special and appreciated.

And what about Brooklyn?

It’s a bit different when it comes to Brooklyn. If you move to Brooklyn with the Best Movers NYC has to offer, you will also have a chance to find luxurious restaurants in Brooklyn. They aren’t as pricy as the ones in Manhattan but they exist. The thing, however, that makes Brooklyn better is the street food and affordability of food. A lot of world-renowned chefs have started to give back the Michelin stars they’ve won over the last few decades. The reason? They believe stars are actually making them less creative. So, in Brooklyn, you will find the very opposite. The chefs are totally free to express their culinary skills. And that attracts a lot of people. Food made with love is always better than something standardized. Their prices are far cheaper as well. Without their stars, they have to offer lower prices.

So which one is the foodie paradise between Manhattan vs Brooklyn?

This one goes to Brooklyn. Even though Manhattan has some great restaurants, you can also find exclusive, high-class restaurants in Brooklyn as well. The difference is, Brooklyn also offers a vast variety of street food. A lot of artists want to show their skills and that means even people with lower incomes can get something delicious to eat.

There is also the atmosphere. A lot of people would love to grab a bite while they walk their dog. That’s a nice way to relax but it’s something you wouldn’t be able to enjoy in Manhattan. You might enjoy it in areas like the Bronx but if food plays an important role in your life and you are a foodie yourself, Brooklyn won’t disappoint you.

Another important element is the number of restaurants. While Manhattan used to enjoy the title of restaurant Mecca, that’s actively changing. In the last few years, Brooklyn caught up to Manhattan and now, in terms of numbers, they are more or less the same.

A bridge in New York during a sunny day.
Even if you live in Brooklyn, the city is so well connected it won’t take you more than 20 minutes to get to Manhattan.

Attractions play a big part in Manhattan vs Brooklyn

When it comes to attractions, there is no better place to visit than Manhattan. Everyone who’s ever watched a movie about New York knows that the most attractions are in Manhattan. Manhattan has places like:

  • Empire State Building – the iconic tower associated with King Kong and many classic movies from the golden age of cinema.
  • Metropolitan museum of art – if you are an artist, you have probably heard of this place many times. It’s the biggest museum in the USA and it hosts one of the biggest collections of art pieces in the world.
  • Broadway shows – if there is one thing that can be called iconic in Manhattan, it’s the Broadway shows that are played every week.

Brooklyn is totally different. When it comes to attractions, there is no specific place in Brooklyn that can be called “world-famous” unlike a dozen places in Manhattan. That doesn’t mean attractions in Brooklyn don’t exist. There are some really nice places to visit:

  • Prospect park – It’s famous for its rich and well-equipped botanic garden, great for taking long walks.
  • Coney Island Luna Park – It’s considered to be the most fun attraction in Brooklyn.
  • Prospect Park Zoo – Great place to take your kids for a nice trip.

Cons of living in a place full of attractions

While it can be fun to live surrounded by attractions, it also has its bad sides. Manhattan is always full of tourists trying to reach a certain place. They cause you to trip over, traffic jams and sometimes even scenes in public. If you are a person who likes their neighborhood to be a peaceful place, you should avoid moving to Manhattan and your long distance NYC movers should move you to some more tranquil place. It’s one of the most visited spots on the planet. That tells you enough about how “peaceful” it is.

Brooklyn is much more peaceful for the same reason. Yes, there are tourists in Brooklyn, but you won’t see them everywhere all the time. You will be able to enjoy living in a relatively peaceful environment.

Times Square is full of people.
If you opt for Manhattan, you will have to deal with a lot more tourists than in Brooklyn.

So, which one is New York City’s best borough?

There are so many reasons to love both Brooklyn and Manhattan. Both are fascinating in their own way. However, your choice between Manhattan vs Brooklyn should be based on what you’re looking for. Living in Manhattan means living literally in the center of the world. You have everything at your disposal and the city never rests.

On the other hand, Brooklyn is much more affordable. If you plan to move with residential movers to NY on a budget, Brooklyn is a far better option when deciding between Manhattan vs Brooklyn. It is also much more peaceful. Traffic jams aren’t as common and there aren’t too many people on the streets. You can actually have quiet walks without having to endure torture from loud noises everywhere around you. Last but not least, you will be able to enjoy some delicious food for a small price.

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