I actually just moved from jc downtown to bushwick Brooklyn. I loved there in JC. The reason I move is simply because I have been transferred to Brooklyn area and my girlfriend commute to east village and its easier here. For 3500 you can get a very decent 1 or 2 bedroom apartment in JC downtown.

Here are my pros and cons for JC

Pros: Lower tax (since you can afford a 3500 apartment it’s going to be a quite large difference on your paycheck) Quieter and cleaner street (especially Newport) Lower crime rates Very pet friendly, especially for dogs. Not for everyone but if you need to do some business at government departments like DMV nj is generally less overwhelmed than NYC.

Cons: You might need a car. The public transportation is limited. Say if you want to go trader joe in Hoboken and then target beside the tunnel it’s a bit painful if you don’t have a car. Parking spot is not so expensive comparing to NYC but if you want to go for street parking it’s a bit tricky. (Don’t think about bet your luck and park illegally. When it comes to giving traffic tickets JC and Hoboken is the fastest in Tri state area)

Limited choice on restaurants and nightlife. JC has a fair amount of decent spots but it’s still no comparison with Brooklyn. Plus the path train does not run so much at night, if you want to go for a night out in NYC you will have to either take a 60 bucks Uber or wait 40 mins at path station when you are half drunk.

I would say if you prefer a simple and quieter lifestyle JC is definitely better option. It’s even better when you have a car but if you don’t you just need to pay extra attention on grocery options at your new apartment.