New York’s dreamy life looks perfect on screen, but what does it really cost? Rent, living expenses and the price of the big-city fantasy explained

Hollywood has been selling a particular kind of dream about living in New York for decades, from the apartment-filled world of Friends to the glamorous Manhattan life seen in Sex and the City. The skyline, spacious apartments and big-city lifestyle often looks effortless on screen but for people actually living there, that dream can come with a hefty annual bill.

Financial influencer Sharan Hegde recently talked to New York-based content creator and entrepreneur Khushi Jain who offered a glimpse into the cost of that lifestyle, with rent alone potentially reaching five figures a month in parts of Manhattan.

Manhattan apartment cost per month

In a video shared on Instagram, Hegde asked Jain about the rent for an apartment with the kind of New York view shown in the video. “If you get one in Manhattan, it could be upwards of $10,000 per month, yeah,” Jain said.


When Hegde pointed out that this was roughly Rs 10 lakh a month, Jain agreed. She added that someone could get lucky and find a place in another area for around $8,000 to $9,000.

“But when I was looking, I didn't find anything like below 10k. So I was like, okay, gotta move out of Manhattan,” Jain said.

What she said was specifically about her apartment search and should not be taken as a fixed rent for all Manhattan homes.

Brooklyn, Queens can offer cheaper options

Moving away from Manhattan can make a significant difference, according to Jain.

“But I think in other boroughs, Brooklyn, Long Island City, Queens, like other areas, Astoria, you can find stuff in like 5,000, 6,000 as well,” she said.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sharan Hegde (@financewithsharan)

The comments on Hegde's Instagram post also showed that renters have reported a wide range of prices. Some users disputed the $10,000 figure, with one commenter claiming that a “nice 2b2b” apartment could be found for $4,000 to $5,000 and around $6,000 with amenities.

Another commenter said they had lived in New York for six years and described the $10,000 figure as overhyped, suggesting people compare listings on Zillow or StreetEasy.

At the same time, another user said they had been paying $12,000 in Tribeca, highlighting how much location and the type of apartment can affect the cost.

The yearly New York bill goes beyond rent

The conversation then moved from housing to the broader cost of living. Hegde asked Jain how much a couple would need to spend over an entire year to live a comfortable life in New York City.

“Yeah, as a couple, we end up spending around 10k per month, including rent, including all our expenses,” Jain said.

She put the annual figure at $100,000 to $120,000.

“Essentially in a whole year, you're spending like $100,000 to $120,000 a year. Yeah, definitely,” Jain said.

That means the couple's stated annual spending can reach $120,000, with the figure covering rent as well as their other expenses.

For an Indian audience, Hegde noted during the conversation that this amounts to more than Rs 1 crore.

Why the $10,000 figures need context

There is an important distinction between the two figures discussed in the video. The first $10,000 refers to the potential monthly rent for the type of Manhattan apartment Jain was discussing about. The second is the couple's estimate of their total monthly spending, including rent and other expenses.

The Instagram comments also made clear that viewers had different experiences with New York housing. Some said apartments could be found for considerably less, while others said they had paid similar or higher amounts in expensive neighbourhoods.

One commenter also argued that converting the rent directly into rupees does not fully reflect the difference in earning levels between New York and India. Others said the figures appeared to represent an expensive lifestyle rather than the experience of an average renter.