Living in Manhattan turned me into a horrible person. For a while, I kept thinking everyone is trying to con me or compete with me. Escaped 6 months ago and it is only starting to heal.
I also had a long commute. I've never felt as poor as I did living in Manhattan. People on HN keep saying that you can live there for next to nothing but that is not what I experienced.
> People on HN keep saying that you can live there for next to nothing but that is not what I experienced.
It all depends on what you value. I could live frugally in Wichita, KS, but I'd probably prefer living frugally in NYC instead.
Manhattan is weird in that even a six-figure income doesn't guarantee you a moderately nice apartment in the trendy neighborhoods, but when incomes are adjusted for cost-of-living, New York is actually relatively cheap compared to many US cities. Part of it is that New Yorkers are incredibly idiosyncratic in terms of what purchases we prioritize.
For example, New Yorkers value location and environment/surroundings over material possessions, like cars (which we rarely own) and even the size/quality of our living space. We spend far less time at home than our suburban counterparts, so we're willing to settle for spaces that might seem less desirable to non-New Yorkers. So if you try to buy the same basket of goods that you'd buy in Wichita, yes, you'll find it very expensive - but most New Yorkers allocate their disposable income very differently.
(Also remember that uptown and/or the outer boroughs are always an option - Harlem is cheap and surprisingly accessible, especially if you live near an express stop.)
> Living in Manhattan turned me into a horrible person.
Living anywhere that doesn't suit your lifestyle will make you miserable. I'm sorry that Manhattan wasn't for you, but I hope you don't hold it against my city, just the same way I wouldn't hold it against wherever you're currently living that I'd likely be unhappy there as well.
I also had a long commute. I've never felt as poor as I did living in Manhattan. People on HN keep saying that you can live there for next to nothing but that is not what I experienced.