rent (or mortgage) is a killer expense that government does not help with. Section 8 is closed to new receipients, and has been so for well over a decade. (At least in NYC.)
There is no Chiyuv to live in NYC. Meshane Makom Meshane Mazal.
Recent times have been tough financially on almost everyone I know. Even people who are fortunate enough to have six-figure salaries have difficulty paying for all their expenses.
Tuition hurts everyone. Rebbes need to be paid too.