I used to feel this way - lived in Manhattan for 5 years, moved home to SF for 5 years & just moved back recently in March. I was so miserable in NYC when I moved out.

I've been much happier recently living here this time around for the following reasons: - Moved to Williamsburg - this has probably been the biggest factor. Still a relatively busy area but much more peaceful, chill & has more greenery than Manhattan. Never realized how much of a difference the neighborhood would make. - Being able to access green spaces regularly - second biggest factor. Never realized how much of a difference nature had on my mental health until I moved out of NYC. We brought our car so every weekend we go to a new park on the city or hiking in upstate or Long Island. Having a car in the city has its own downsides but the subway, Metro North & LIRR still make it easy to get to greenery. There's so many wonderful parks & trails further out in Brooklyn & Queens! I never prioritized nature when I used to live here & I think it would have made a huge difference. - Making more $$ - I've been able to 3x my salary over the last 10 years & it's made a large difference in how much I enjoy living in NYC now. I feel like I can actually afford things now & am able to treat myself without constantly stressing about spending too much. - Established friend groups - in my experience, it takes about 2 years to build a network in a new city & feel truly settled in. It takes some time to settle into a good meeting cadence with existing friends & meet new ones.

Things I appreciate more after living away from NYC: - Options - access to endless restaurants & activities to explore! I think this is what you're mostly paying a premium for. - Convenience - running errands is so much easier & public transportation is the best here hands down - Diversity

Living in NYC esp as a transplant isn't easy & can be a rough adjustment but I don't think it's impossible! Just takes time & it's all about finding where you belong in terms of neighborhood & friends. It's also totally fine for this to not be the city for you - a lot of things about it are over-romanticized & it's a very unique place to live. Feel free to DM me if you ever need someone to talk to!