New York City is the most expensive city in the United States, with the average one-bedroom costing over $5,000 a month. Add in gym memberships, food, and nights out, and the price of living here feels impossible. So how do New Yorkers actually afford it?

In the video WTF Do New Yorkers Do for Work!, creator Brett Conti interviews six young professionals to uncover how they make it work — from side hustles to startups.

 

👉 Watch the full video here: 

 

Amelia: The Multi-Hustle Actress

  • Primary dream: Acting.
  • Side hustles: Server, Pilates studio worker, freelance content creator, brand interviews, modeling, dancing.
  • Average monthly expenses: ~$4,000.
  • Advice: “High risk, high reward. Get roommates, challenge yourself, and just do it.”

Scotty: The Salesman Turned Lender

  • Started in HR software sales, grinding with 500 cold calls a day.
  • Now in private lending, selling loans to businesses.
  • Rent hack: A 5-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn locked in at $5,600 total rent — thanks to networking and timing.
  • Money tip: Costco bulk orders delivered by Instacart to cut grocery bills.

Jen: The Bond Ratings Analyst

  • Works in finance, giving credit ratings to major infrastructure projects like JFK Airport.
  • Monthly budget: $4,000–$5,000.
  • Life hack: Live outside Manhattan — she pays less than $2,000 for a luxury Queens apartment with a pool.
  • Advice: “Be flexible. Consider Brooklyn or Queens and look for ‘flex’ apartments to split costs.”

Tyler: The Run Club Founder

  • Early jobs: Startup founder, coder, app builder.
  • Now runs Endorphins, one of NYC’s largest in-person running communities, plus a marathon training app.
  • Hosts 2,000+ events a year connecting runners worldwide.
  • Advice: “NYC pushes you. The opportunities here wouldn’t exist in smaller cities.”

Mu: The Beauty CEO

  • CEO of RealSelf, a global cosmetic procedure platform.
  • Former head of digital for Paris Hilton’s media company.
  • Moved HQ from Seattle to NYC to be at the heart of beauty, culture, and talent.
  • Monthly expenses: ~$10,000.
  • Advice: “NYC is the Ivy League of cities. Surrounding yourself with the best makes you better.”

Nire & Asia: The Startup Couple

  • Asia founded NAS.io, helping creators build one-minute businesses.
  • Nire: Serial entrepreneur who moved from Dubai and Singapore to NYC for its mix of tech and creativity.
  • Visa hack: O-1 visa for “extraordinary ability.”
  • Honest take: “If I had only $10,000, I wouldn’t start here. It’s too expensive. But if you’re building both creativity and entrepreneurship, NYC is #1.”

Why People Still Choose NYC

  • Networking: The city connects good people to great opportunities.
  • Pressure to Perform: You either thrive or get pushed out.
  • Access: Living here feels like paying for a membership to the most interesting community in the world.

As Brett Conti puts it:

“No one moves to New York to be mediocre. They move here to become a CEO.”

Bottom Line

From actors with side hustles to CEOs of global companies, New Yorkers survive the high cost of living through hustle, networking, and creativity. It’s tough, but the city rewards ambition like no other.
👉 Credit: Brett Conti. Watch the full video here: WTF Do New Yorkers Do for Work!
 

Photo by Christopher Burns on Unsplash