You can totally share a 1-br apartment for $500/each + utilities. But, NYC apartments (in the low price range) are small, old, and dirty. I did a few months of

You can totally share a 1-br apartment for $500/each + utilities. But, NYC apartments (in the low price range) are small, old, and dirty. I did a few months of consulting out in NYC, and the company kept an apartment for just such an occasion. According to Zillow it was a $1500/month (this was some years ago) and about 400 square feet. It was a studio, so the bed was in the living room. What you're hearing is basically a quality of life argument. If that's the kind of situation you want to get into, you should go for it. If you have a family or, you know, want some of your own space, the price rises dramatically.