I grew up in the city, now live in the 'burbs. Manhattan has become untouchable. When I was a kid there were parts of Manhattan...above 96th st, Hell's Kitchen, Harlem,Washington Heights, even the upper east side...where rents were reasonable and middle class people lived. I'm not sure that anyplace in Manhattan is affordable today unless you luck out and inherit a rent controlled apartment or you're poor enough to live in a project. The outer boroughs are getting pricey, too, but there are still modest neighborhoods in the Bronx or Staten Island. Also consider the near suburbs...Bronxville, Yonkers, Mt Vernon, Crestwood, Tuckahoe, Hoboken, Jersey City...they have very nice, reasonably priced housing close to railroad stations. From Bronxville to Grand Central is a half hour train ride, Hoboken is 20 minutes from Penn Sta or WFC.