Well, even at $2000 a month, you are paying 33% of your income on housing. Top that off with NYC high tax rates and higher prices on consumer goods, and I think you will still be struggling to get by. I rent apartments, and we wouldn’t qualify someone to rent if the rent is 33% of their income, because it’s too much, and they usually end up defaulting.
RE: Well, even at $2000 a month, you are paying 33% of your income on housing.
Notice I said less than or equal to $2,000. If you shop around town and don’t mind an extra 15 minutes of subway ride to work in Manhattan, you could get a decent apartment for less than 30% of your annual income.