Why is New York City so expensive?

[Darth_Kitten]

Gee whiz, I live in central Canada and it would be cheaper for me to visit England or France for a week than it is to spend a week in New York.

What gives? :shrug:

[leftofthedial]

1. moxy

[crispini]

2. It's Manhattan, baby!

Check into hostels.
http://www.hostels.com/en/us.ny.ny.html

[DS1]

3. Lots of high-paying jobs, LOTS of things to do, something for

everyone, and I mean ~everyone~.

People actually want to live there :shrug:

[GalleryGod]

6. Well put, indeed!

Neighbors like these two!

[Midlodemocrat]

12. That does happen to be true.

I have two brothers who live there and for the life of me, I can't figure out why...although they would sooner die than live in the 'burbs like me.

I couldn't handle the constant food shopping. I am used to going to store once every two weeks and loading up both fridges. I absolutely detest food shopping.

[Fredda Weinberg]

4. conspicuous consumption

Did you venture to the outer boroughs? Life is more reasonably priced here.

In the financial capital, the market will bear premium prices, especially around tourist meccas.

[xchrom]

5. i know, huh?

i went there for a week in august -- i used to live there.

it's just because everyone wants to be there.

[pitohui]

7. paris yes, london you are just wrong

you can't compare a city, new york city, to a country, england, i am sure there is some distant bit of countryside you could visit more cheaply than manhattan, tho i don't know where it would be -- but there are plenty of places in new york state cheaper than london, so there

in fairness while paris is quite a bit cheaper than nyc, i don't see how anyone can claim straight-faced they can visit london cheaper than new york, you'll have to offer proof of that assertion i'm afraid

[Darth_Kitten]

9. I'm going to Paris...

I've checked with expedia.ca and travelocity....seems I can get better deals going overseas.
Yes, I know London is expensive...but...

[MadAsHellNewYorker]

8. I found London to be 2x as much as Manhattan

when I was last in London, a half pack of cigs was MORE expensive then a full pack in manhattan. Also, meals were about 2x as much too! I really dont think NYC is that unreasonable. Execpt for rent, which is sky high, I can eat a meal out for about 5-6 bucks.

[GOPisEvil]

10. A variety of reasons.

Land is at a premium because there's not much of it. So, space on that land costs a lot. Second, as others have mentioned is the demand. People want to go to New York to visit. Third, since there's so much to offer, lots of people want to live there. Good ol' supply and demand.

[Midlodemocrat]

13. Yup. You nailed, it sir.

I have two brothers that live there, (remember Thanksgiving :eyes:) and one of them lives in an absolutely gorgeous doorman building overlooking Broadway with a kitchen the size of my half bath. I don't know how people live there.

Visiting is always nice, but I couldn't handle living there.

[Deja Q]

11. I asked a hooker in NYC once. She said it's because

the cost of living (and STD treatment) was very high.