How can people possibly afford to live in one of the most expensive cities on the planet? It\u2019s a question New Yorkers hear a lot, often delivered with a mix of awe, pity and confusion.<\/p>\n
We surveyed hundreds of New Yorkers about how they spend, splurge and save. We found that many people \u2014 rich, poor or somewhere in between \u2014 live life as a series of small calculations that add up to one big question: What makes living in New York worth it?<\/a><\/p>\n Rent is not the largest monthly expense for Anala Gossai and Brendon O\u2019Leary, a couple who live on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. That would be child care.<\/p>\n They spend $4,200 each month on day care for their 1-year-old son, Zeno.<\/p>\n \u201cWe really liked the center,\u201d Ms. Gossai, 37, said. \u201cNeighbors in our building love it. It\u2019s actually pretty middle of the road for cost. Some were even more expensive.\u201d<\/p>\n The rent for their one-bedroom apartment is $3,900 per month. Space is tight, but the location is priceless.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re right across from Central Park,\u201d she said. \u201cWe can walk to the subway and the American Museum of Natural History.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018Middle Class\u2019 in Manhattan<\/p>\n Ms. Gossai, a data scientist, and her husband, 38, a software engineer, met in graduate school. Their household income is roughly $500,000 per year. While they make a good living, they try to be frugal and are saving money to buy an apartment.<\/p>\n They moved into their roughly 800-square-foot rental eight years ago when it was just them and their dog, Peabody, a Maltese poodle. Now their son\u2019s crib is steps away from their bed. They installed a curtain between the bed and the crib to keep the light out.<\/p>\n Like many couples, they have discussed leaving the city.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we talk about the possibility of moving to the suburbs, we both really dread it,\u201d Mr. O\u2019Leary said. \u201cI don\u2019t like to drive. Anala doesn\u2019t drive. I feel like we\u2019d be stuck. We really value being able to walk everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n Ms. Gossai is from Toronto, and Mr. O\u2019Leary is from Massachusetts. In New York City, wealth is often viewed in relation to your neighbors, and many of theirs make more money. The Upper West Side has the sixth-highest median income of any neighborhood in the city, according to the N.Y.U. Furman Center<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we\u2019re middle class for this area,\u201d Mr. O\u2019Leary said. \u201cWe\u2019re doing OK.\u201d<\/p>\n The couple tries to save about $10,000 each month to put toward an apartment or for an emergency. They prioritize memberships to the Central Park Zoo at $160 per year and the American Museum of Natural History at $180 per year.<\/p>\n Their son likes the museum\u2019s butterflies exhibit and the \u201cInvisible Worlds<\/a>\u201d light show, which Mr. O\u2019Leary said felt like a \u201cbaby rave.\u201d<\/p>\n Ordering Diapers Online<\/p>\n