Lucy Cohen Blatter

One trick to living happily in a studio is eking out enough storage space to keep all your stuff out of sight.That's why we're drawn to this Murray Hill co-op, on sale for $325,000, with tons of built-in shelves and closets to hide away clothes, papers and pretty much everything else you own.

This 23rd-floor Upper West Side alcove studio is an eye-popping $720,000 (yes, you read that right). But we're thinking the fact that it's on a high floor of a new condo building packed with amenities like a gym, two kids' playrooms, a concierge and a shared terrace explains the price tag ... somewhat. 

We typically write about strategies to smooth the hassles of apartment living, but if, like many New Yorkers, you're hours away from boarding a plane out of the city, you're probably bracing yourself for some serious travel headaches.

Got around $3,200 to set aside each month for rent? You can find everything from a studio in the Financial District to a four-bedroom in the Bronx. Plus, remember this time of year there are lots of incentives around (like reduced broker's fees and a month or two of free rent). Even if the listing doesn't explicitly mention it, it's worth asking if you can get a discount.