[draz]

$1800 is the very very low end for Manhattan (and likely a reflection of COVID price drops): https://streeteasy.com/studios-for-rent/manhattan

[jacques_chester]

Also: there's the Manhattan people typically think of, and then the reality that it's a large island with a wide variety of housing. Most folks who aren't from NYC think don't realise that world continues past 110th st (or, let's be honest, past 86th).

[draz]

Sure, but you’re trading accessibility/entertainment/<something else people value and typically accept as a given for living in Manhattan>. At a certain point, it makes more sense to leave Manhattan to one of the other boroughs, go across the river to New Jersey, or move further up to Westchester/ Long Island. Your money goes further there (housing, groceries).

[jacques_chester]

My point was that looking at median rents while dreaming of Midtown or Tribeca is not a realistic way to assess the realities of living in Manhattan.

[ivalm]

Splurge for 2.5k studio in midtown and you still have enough spare cash.

[missedthecue]

We can argue exactly what one would pay for Manhattan rent but

1. $1800 isn't that far off for studio rent, multiple listings on apartment.com show that right now

2. Most New Yorkers don't live in Manhattan anyway. I purposely overstated New Yorker's rent costs to prove my point.