Yes, it's pretty expensive, though DUMBO is more expensive. But you can get a lot farther out in Brooklyn without saving much money. Williamsburg, Park Slope, Ft. Greene, Carroll Gardens, Downtown Brooklyn all seem about as expensive as Brooklyn Heights, while being farther away from Manhattan and without as much subway coverage. My thought is: if you want to spend less than $2000 for a one-bedroom and live in a nice neighborhood with subway service less than a half-mile away, it doesn't matter where you live. It's not going to happen.