CTRebbe – do you know any OOT yeshivas charging anywhere close to $4K tuition? In NY that can be found (as well as less for the underprivileged). Cholov Yisroel is going to be more expensive OOT as well as most kosher foods including glatt. In NY your can find wedding halls with discounted “takana” pricing. And how many Manhattan-type salaries can be found away from the metro area? Much harder and far fewer.
newbee – In every frum neighborhood in NY there are tens of thousands upon tens of thousands of former OOTers who moved to NY. (You have this in Lakewood as well.)
http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/coffeeroom/topic/why-new-york-is-the-best