Originally Posted by sp00ki

tips:
don't move to west philly. the culture there is wack. south east phila is fun, center city is fun (but tough to find a good spot for a good price; my girlfriend had a split level on 12th and pine with two decks-- one in her bedroom-- for 850 a month a year and a half ago; it now goes for a grand); no-libs is probably the best spot in the city for a young person right now, hands down. lots of places to go out, great eats, etc. fishtown is weak, but cheaper; north philly is a step up with cooler options but "sketchier" if you go too far west or north (i have a 60'x50' industrial loft for a grand).
Seriously, west phila is liveable if you go to school there, but that's really it. I lived on 45th and osage for six months and had to break my lease. My neighbors were all 19 year olds or old people who'd lived there forever. doing anything fun, even hooking up for brunch with everyone on the "mainland" is like a commute.

If you want to live somewhere great (from best, descending):
1) northern liberties
2) graduate hospital area
3) south philly, north of washington, east of 20th
4) north philadelphia south of lehigh ave, east of 7th st for warehouse and luxury lofts (the closer to front and gerard the better)
5) center city (best part of the city to live, but you'll sacrifice $ or space so it gets the downgrade)