> Maybe Manhattan COL is insane, Manhattan COL is completely ludicrous. I knew a lawyer who lived in an actual closet; it was exactly long enough to hold a sma

> Maybe Manhattan COL is insane, Manhattan COL is completely ludicrous. I knew a lawyer who lived in an actual closet; it was exactly long enough to hold a small bed and about twice as wide. He shared a bathroom and a kitchen with the owners. He paid $3500/month for this, and he considered it a terrific bargain. (The kitchen was nice.) One-room appartments in southern Manhattan were being advertised for $1-2 million at the time. There are some cheaper options in northern Manhattan, and definitely in the other boroughs. But transportation in NYC means the subway and busses (or $$$$$ for taxis and parking), and it's really easy for trips to take 40-60 minutes. So living too far out means a brutal and unpredictable commute. There are options, obviously. But when living in a literal closet is a good option, plenty of the bad options are pretty awful.