The post 5 Things New York Renters Are Doing to Survive Rising Housing Costs first appeared on Crafting Your Home.
New York City’s rental crisis has changed the way many residents think about housing. The challenge is no longer only about finding an apartment at an acceptable price. For many renters, survival now requires major adjustments: staying in apartments longer, sharing homes, moving farther away, reducing other expenses, and finding new ways to increase income.
The pressure comes from extremely limited housing availability and rising rents. The city’s 2023 Housing and Vacancy Survey recorded a net rental vacancy rate of only 1.4 percent, the lowest level since 1968. Apartments renting below $2,400 had a vacancy rate below 1 percent, while units below $1,100 had an even lower vacancy rate of 0.39 percent. At the same time, median asking rents continued increasing, reaching $3,585 in late 2025.
For renters, affordability has become a question of compromise. People are not only asking, “Where can I afford to live?” They are also asking, “What changes can I make in my lifestyle to remain in the city?”
Moving farther away—or staying where they are
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One common response has been searching for cheaper neighborhoods outside Manhattan. Many renters have looked toward Queens, the Bronx, or less expensive parts of Brooklyn. However, this strategy has become less effective as prices have increased across the city.
In late 2025, Manhattan had the highest median asking rent at $4,886, followed by Brooklyn at $3,943, Queens at $3,355, and the Bronx at $3,094. Although the Bronx remained cheaper than Manhattan, a typical apartment there still required a household income of more than $123,000 annually to meet the traditional affordability standard of spending no more than 30 percent of income on rent.
The outer boroughs have also experienced rapid rent growth. Between 2019 and the end of 2025, asking rents increased by more than 50 percent in the Bronx, 45 percent in Brooklyn, and nearly 40 percent in Queens. This means that moving farther from central neighborhoods does not always provide the financial relief renters expect.
As a result, many renters face difficult choices. A cheaper apartment may mean longer commutes, higher transportation costs, and less time for family responsibilities. Others stay in their current homes because moving would mean accepting much higher rent.
This has contributed to high residential stability. In 2024, nearly 90 percent of New York City renters stayed in the same home they occupied the previous year. While this may suggest stability, it can also reflect how difficult it is to find another affordable apartment.
Sharing homes for longer periods
Roommates have always been part of New York’s housing culture, but rising rents have expanded who depends on shared housing. What was once viewed mainly as a temporary arrangement for students or young professionals has become a long-term strategy for many workers, families, and people rebuilding their finances.
The cost difference explains why sharing remains attractive. A person who cannot afford a full apartment alone may still manage a room in a shared home. For example, splitting a $4,000 two-bedroom apartment between two people reduces each person’s rent obligation to about $2,000 before utilities. A larger apartment shared among several adults can further reduce individual costs.
However, shared housing also creates challenges. Some renters experience overcrowding because too many people live in limited space. According to data cited in the source, 13.1 percent of rent-stabilized apartments were overcrowded, compared with 6.7 percent of market-rate rentals.
For some households, sharing is a choice that lets them stay in a preferred neighborhood. For others, it is a necessity caused by limited affordable options. Families face particular difficulties because adding roommates is not always practical when they need more bedrooms, privacy, or stability.
Protecting affordable leases
For renters who already have affordable housing, keeping that apartment has become one of the most important strategies. Rent-stabilized apartments provide protections that market-rate apartments often do not, including limits on certain rent increases and stronger renewal protections.
In 2023, about 40 percent of occupied rental units in New York City were rent-stabilized. However, finding one is extremely difficult because available stabilized apartments are rare. The vacancy rate for stabilized apartments was less than 1 percent in 2023.
Because of this shortage, many renters hold onto their apartments even when the space no longer perfectly fits their needs. A person may remain in a smaller apartment because moving would expose them to current market prices.
Tenant protections have also become increasingly important. Renters are paying closer attention to lease renewal rules, rent histories, possible overcharges, and legal protections that may prevent sudden displacement. These tools do not eliminate high rents, but they can provide stability in an uncertain market.
Cutting other expenses to protect housing
When rent consumes more income, households often reduce spending in other areas. This can mean smaller apartments, fewer trips, reduced transportation, delayed savings, or postponed major life decisions.
The burden is especially severe for lower-income renters. The 2023 Housing and Vacancy Survey found that 86 percent of households earning less than $50,000 without rental assistance were rent-burdened, meaning they spent more than 30 percent of income on rent.
However, housing pressure is not limited to low-income households. Even professionals with steady salaries can struggle because high rents leave little money for emergencies, retirement savings, education, or family expenses. This creates a situation where people may technically afford their apartment but still feel financially trapped.
Increasing income and changing work patterns
Another response has been trying to earn more money. Some renters take additional jobs, freelance work, or side businesses. Others combine incomes with partners, relatives, or roommates to qualify for apartments.
The need for multiple earners is connected to the income requirements of New York’s rental market. Late-2025 rent levels required very high annual incomes to keep housing costs within traditional affordability limits.
However, earning more is not always easy. Extra work can reduce time for family, health, and rest. Gig work may also provide uncertain income rather than reliable financial security.
Conclusion
New York renters are adapting to rising housing costs through a combination of strategies: moving farther away, staying in existing apartments, sharing housing, protecting regulated leases, reducing expenses, and increasing income.
These choices show creativity and determination, but they also reveal the limits of individual solutions. Moving outward becomes harder as rents rise across the city. Sharing housing can reduce costs but may create crowding. Cutting expenses can protect a home temporarily but reduce long-term financial security.
For many New Yorkers, the housing question has changed. It is no longer only about finding an affordable apartment. It is about deciding which parts of life must be adjusted in order to keep one.
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