I also don't understand why everyone in NYC insists on comparing apples to oranges. If median rent basically everywhere else in the US outside of a select few

I also don't understand why everyone in NYC insists on comparing apples to oranges. If median rent basically everywhere else in the US outside of a select few neighborhoods gets you at least a decent sized one-bedroom apartment - then comparing it to a 200 sqft room you share with another person without a kitchen or a bathroom is strange. I don't need a lot to be happy - but I think I want at least 600 sqft with a decent floor plan, good natural light, my own bathroom and kitchen, and a tiny outdoor space big enough to sit a couple people comfortably. That's A LOT of money in Manhattan - probably more than ~$4400 on average. It's not a lot of money almost everywhere in the world.