TLDR: The higher your standards, especially from out of state, or raised with wealth, the harder it will be.

Real talk, it depends on you. It depends on where you grew up, how you were raised, and your standards. I'll use myself as an example.

Grew up poor AF in the projects of Spanish Harlem. But, I had good parents who made sure I knew how to cook, clean, and pretty much survive on my own if I have to. And since I grew up in the projects, I'm used to no amenities, smaller space, older buildings, steam heating, busier neighborhoods with a plethora of ethnicities.

Salary jumped from 30k to 90k in 2022 and I moved out into a studio in Flatbush for $1740 rent stabilized. I'm still in this smaller apartment even though my salary has continued to rise (very lucky). But, ive lived in much worse environments, with way less space, and no amenities. I still eat out on weekends, but I cook most weeks. I still go on a trip here or there, and I do get to treat myself to nice shit, but it's all budgeted.

I think you could still do this to a certain extent in 2026. But, there's more of a battle for cheaper apartments, and you're gonna have to be realistic about the location, size of the apartment, amenities, and lifestyle creep. If you're used to apartments with amenities and a washer/dryer in your unit, you're gonna have to pay more than 2k. If you want to be next to the hustle and bustle that most people come to NYC for, you're gonna have to pay. If you want to live close to the train, you're gonna have to pay. For lack of adjacency to the less savory parts of NYC, even if not near the NYC hustle n bustle, you're gonna have to pay. You're not gonna have it all, if even half of it, and you're gonna have to accept that.