Manhattan != NYC<p>One can live in e.g. Kew Gardens, have a 35 minute commute to midtown, and pay $2000 &#x2F; month for a spacious two bedroom shared with spouse and child. No trust fund needed.<p>If your friends prefer Austin to Queens, more power to them. But they ought not to go around saying it is impossible to live&#x2F;raise a family in NYC on less than $125k when it isn&#x27;t true.