There are some reasonable places in Brooklyn. I d check in Bensonhurst or Gravesend. Both have subway lines serving them. Bensonhurst has markets under the D train el that has very reasonable prices too.Staten Island is expensive and even if you find something reasonable, it s either an expensive Express Bus to the City or a long ride by bus and train, or bus, ferry and train to get to the City.
Not queens. My friends live there and even though the apartments are nice, the rooms are extremely small. If you put a queen-sized bed, that s one. Nothing else can go in and there is little space to move around. Also, the prices seem unreasonable for such small rooms. Queens however is a nice city in general.The Bronx has good prices for apartments. And the rooms are pretty good in size too. Just pick a good, clean neighborhood to stay in. I don t know about Brooklyn or Staten Island.