New York City... Not for me.

    My beautiful city is called New York. I have lived here all my life. Now that I think about it, I have lived in every borough. People outside of New York City must wonder how it is to live here. It’s probably a lot different from what they are used to. My city is very fast paced and has and the people can be a little aggressive. One thing I can say is that you can never run out of things to do unless you go broke. Now if you were to ask me if this was a good city to live in, I would probably say no. I can’t wait till I make it out of New York City. New York City is the most expensive city in the United States, so the cost of living is sky high.

    According to Ginger Adams Otis, a columnist for Daily News, “The Economic Policy Report said living in New York costs twice as much as Mississippi.” That to me is outrageous. A family of four in New York City would have to have an income of at least one hundred thousand dollars annually just to live in the city. The cost of living in Mississippi is half that to live the same lifestyle. “A family of four trying to scrape by in Manhattan on $93,500 — which would cover food, transport, housing, health care, child care and taxes but not vacations, eating out or savings — could do the same on $48,000 in Marshall County, a new study says” (Otis). By living here all my life, I can tell you that those studies aren’t far off. It is extremely hard to maintain a good lifestyle. I would rather move out of state and live like a king with all the extra money I would have left. Just imagine the thing I can buy if I wasn’t living here. Imagine the kind of house I can live in. “In Holly Springs — the seat of Marshall County — $48,000 can have you living high on the hog. The average monthly rent in the small city of 7,900 people is about $500 a month, and spacious houses can be snapped up for less than $100,000” (Otis). With these numbers, I probably wouldn’t have to go to college and search for a miracle to live a good life. I can live elsewhere like a boss, and be content. In this city I find it so hard to be content and have peace of mind. “In contrast, New Yorkers are shelling out a media price of $3,150 for a cramped one-bedroom, and it’s hard to find a true two-bedroom in Manhattan for under $1 million” (Otis).

    New York is not for me. Unless you have the money, and willing to spend it, don’t move here. It’s just not logical. As for me, once I get the opportunity I’m leaving and never moving back! Forty thousand for a good life in the country? Sounds like a plan to me. It would just be absurd to spend more for less instead of spending less for more. Can’t wait to say goodbye. I love New York City but not that much.

Work cited

Otis, Ginger,”New York City has highest cost of living in U.S. for families: report”. July 4, 2013. New York Daily News. n.p. Web. February 26, 2014