I guess I missed the part about NYC.
I lived out there, well "Joisey" for a couple years as a kid.
If you're IN the city it may not be too bad from a traffic standpoint as you can take subways or walk if you're near to your destination(s), but you won't get anything but an outhouse for $2k/mth. Well, maybe something out a little further in one of the other 4 boroughs and even then... But weather is not necessarily as cold as here, but subject to Noreasters bringing lots of snow. Lots of humanity packed on a couple islands, expensive to drive anywhere, etc, etc...
I lived out there, well "Joisey" for a couple years as a kid.
If you're IN the city it may not be too bad from a traffic standpoint as you can take subways or walk if you're near to your destination(s), but you won't get anything but an outhouse for $2k/mth. Well, maybe something out a little further in one of the other 4 boroughs and even then... But weather is not necessarily as cold as here, but subject to Noreasters bringing lots of snow. Lots of humanity packed on a couple islands, expensive to drive anywhere, etc, etc...