It's finally sayonara to Tokyo - I relocate to NY at the end of this year by the looks of things. Given that I'll be working in the Chrysler Building & I want to be able to walk in to work, does anyone have any great ideas on where I should look to try renting? Where should I avoid?And what do you get for your money nowadays in terms of floor size & amenities? Any info would be appreciated

Yuka, If you are looking for the most space possible for the least amount of money, still within sleep-late walking distance, I'd look around the UN neighborhood. Basically from East 23rd to East 42nd, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and Lexington Avenue East of Park avenue. Why is this neighborhood marginally cheeper? It isn't fashionable like SoHo, NoHo, East or West Village, or Chelsea. Of course there are exceptions within this area (a skewed distribution to marginally cheaper, but still has places that are freighteningly expensive two standard deviations over, etc.).Most of your "fun" friends will live in tinier places in the neighborhoods mentioned above. Unless they are family people, at which point they gradually move to the upper east or west side.Buildings with security (a doorman, etc.) command a premium. Most young women of my aquaintance found that premium worth paying. Even if they already had scary boyfriends wih muscles and motorcycles.Arron may be able to stear you to information about his neighborhood, upper west side.I would not hesitate to use any and every edge you can in finding an apartment in Manhattan. It is a full-contact sport which you are wise to engage in now. Be forceful in asserting to the HR department that they need to help you. Impose on aquntances and distant relations for leads, etc. etc. Folks in Manhattan are trying to move up the space/price food chain too, so trying to come in from the outside to handicap the race with them already on the ground is hard. If you are staying for a while, but do not want to buy yet....I'd rent what I could for for a year lease, not unpack, and expect to move in a year when you find something better....accept that your part-time job on weekends is finding a better appartment, and attack.I did this when I was poor and 26 years old and I don't envy you, even though I imagine the Tokyo apartment hunt curve is also as steep. I'd also private e-mail Reza and Arron for their advice. Remember, full contact sport, use every edge. To borrow a phrase "You *go* girl!" Bon chance.

Welcome, we're happy to have you.One offbeat choice is Roosevelt Island. No cars allowed, semi-rural setting. You take a 5 minute tramway ride to 57th street and walk 3/4 mile to the Chrysler building.Personally, I'd forget about North, East and West. Go south. After you clear Diplomat land (watch out for those D license plates, they can run you down and drive off laughing) you get a range of choices. Beautiful brownstone blocks if you can afford it, inexpensive places in somewhat rundown neighborhoods and, a little over a mile away, Grammercy Park, a wonderful area, and affordable if you don't demand a key to the park.If you give up the walk, you can get beautiful places cheap right across the east river in Queens. That's just one stop on the 7 train, and an easy bike ride over the bridge.

If you really want to live within walking distance, the best area is Murray Hill (35-39/Park&3rd).I used to rent a studio on 37th between Park and Lex for $1,5K but that was back in 1999.As Aaron said, Gramercy is nice but more expensive and it's 20 blocks to shlep to 42nd street...

"I relocate to NY at the end of this year by the looks of things." Oh, no! The fun gang in NY is getting bigger and bigger.

Yuka, just some color....you have bloomberg, so you probably saw the article on the area of the former-WTC and rentals/condo purchases, but friends say that the couple new buildings that they have toured down there are really, really nice. Looks like to lure folks back to an area that has obvious baggage the builders and developers went the extra mile. Just a thought. Bon Chance.

Aaron/James/cekpet/Omar - thanks for the advice, I'll let you know how I get on...