Cost of Living

Examining the reality of living costs in New York City and challenging the idea that only the wealthy can afford it.

What does the true cost of living in NYC look like?

Let's take a look at some real-life facts

As of 2023, this is the average cost of one month in NYC for 1 adult and 2 children looks like this. . .

. . . And here is what the breakdown looks like

Charts via “NYC True Cost of Living.” United Way of New York City.

So why does everyone think only the top 1% can live here?

The truth is, while NYC can be expensive, it’s not limited to rich people, it’s filled with people from all different financial situations.

"Everyone in NYC is Rich"

Most people in NYC aren’t rich at all. It might look that way online, but in real life a lot of people are just working regular jobs and trying to afford things. Having roommates is super common, and people are always budgeting or cutting back on stuff like going out. NYC is definitely expensive, but people make it work in their own way, so it’s not just full of rich people like everyone thinks. According to United Way of New York City, about half of working age New Yorkers still struggle to afford basic living expenses, even while working.

A lot of people think "everyone in NYC is rich" because of what they see in shows like Gossip Girl or Sex and the City. These shows mostly focus on wealthy areas and expensive lifestyles, so it makes it seem like that’s how the whole city is. But that’s really just a small part of NYC, not what most people’s lives actually look like. Of course with the different neighborhoods and boroughs prices and lifestyles differ, but in all 5 boroughs there is not one "standard of living." For example in Gossip Girl they make it like if you're not from the Upper East Side (UES), you're automatically poor, when in reality it is far from that. If we look at the chart above we can see North Brooklyn and South Manhattan actually surpass the average cost of living in Northern Manhattan.

My experience:

Growing up in Manhattan allowed for me to see all different parts of NYC which entailed being around the lifestyle that is shown on television, but also being around the lifestyle that is not shown in the media. The UES, where I grew up, is known to be extremely wealthy thanks to depictions shown in Breakfast at Tiffanys or The Devil wears Prada. What they don't show is just above 100th street which is still considered the UES, but income levels drastically drop. My grandparents lived on 102nd street their entire life and it wasn't until almost 20 years of them living in America where they had a stable income. But since 102nd street is technically considered the UES, people automatically assume that my grandparents, or any Upper East Siders are born into unfathomable wealth.

The photo on the left is exactly why people think the way they do. Screen writers trying to show NYC as a lavish and glamorous lifestyle, when for some it is, but for almost all, it is not. As someone who was born and raised here let's just say. . . Rumor DEBUNKED!

"NYC is the most expensive place to live in America"

NYC is definitely expensive, but it’s not the only expensive place, and it’s not always as extreme as people make it seem. Compared to the rest of the U.S., it can cost a lot more to live here, mostly because of rent. But when you compare it to other big cities like San Francisco or Los Angeles, it’s not that different. NYC stands out because everything is close together and there’s always high demand, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only place with high costs.

Look. . . I am not going to lie to you. Across the many newspapers, magazines, and articles I have come across while researching for this blog, they consistently say that NYC is the most expensive for housing. What the media is not telling you is that in other major cities such as San Fransisco or Los Angeles, housing prices are also extremely high and not that far off. Any and every city has something that makes them expensive, and for NYC, it happens to be rent. For example multiple sources stated that New York does not even make the top 20 for cities with the most gas used, but what city does? Los Angeles. Though nobody seems to be hating on them. Every city has their own way of "being expensive", especially when you're living in the most densely populated, fast-paced, financial hub of America, housing is going to cost you.

My experience:

Every summer I go to Los Angeles for two months to visit my cousins. A city similar to New York, but gets much less “hate” for being expensive. Though I am biased, from my experiences living in LA in the summer, the one thing that always surprises me is the driving situation. Yes, New York is more expensive than other cities, but name one other city where you have public transportation that actually lets you get anywhere without needing a car. In LA, you’re constantly driving, paying for gas, and dealing with traffic, which adds up in a different way. So even though NYC may seem more expensive at first, other cities have their own costs that people don’t always think about.

The photo on the right shows how you can LITERALLY get anywhere as long as you have a MetroCard, no need for any gas!

Cost of Living

What does the true cost of living in NYC look like?

So why does everyone think only the top 1% can live here?

"Everyone in NYC is Rich"

My experience:

"NYC is the most expensive place to live in America"

My experience:

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