If you live in Brooklyn you likely have Zipcar or Car2Go available near you. It can be a cheaper and perhaps easier option than taking a cab/Uber. Just one more part of the puzzle to consider.
You have to get insurance & car payment quotes, and estimate how often you’d need to rent a car etc. to get an idea of how the costs compare. If you buy a used car, you might need repairs more often yet have cheaper monthly payments. AND IN NYC, DON’T FORGET ABOUT THOSE PESKY PARKING TICKETS! (Sorry for the shouting. Hope de Blasio heard me.) Also, how do you usually commute?
The short answer for most people in Brooklyn and Queens is probably that not owning is the cheaper option. Manhattan definitely so. In Staten Island I would guess a car is a must.
I don’t know about other Jewish communities, but if the town has sidewalks it’s a good starting point. If there are none it likely means it’s not a walkable or even bus friendly community, but I’m sure there are exceptions.