Is NYC Doomed? The SHOCKING Reasons Behind the City's Biggest Exodus

New York City is facing an unprecedented exodus of residents, with the state experiencing the most significant population decline in the country. As a lifelong New Yorker who recently decided to leave the city, I wanted to investigate the reasons behind this mass departure. This video explores the key factors driving people away from the Big Apple, from the high cost of living and cramped apartments to safety concerns and the rise of remote work. Despite the city's booming tourism industry, many residents are seeking a better quality of life elsewhere. Join me as I delve into the data and personal stories behind this alarming trend and ponder whether NYC is slowly transforming into a destination for visitors rather than a home for its once-proud residents.

[LargeDude]

Old news. People have always said, "its a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there."

[angelolivencia]

1- Dirty city.
2-Crime is out of control.
3- Rats and garbage all over the place.
4- Rents are out of control.
5- Smells like weed wherever you go.
Etc. Etc.
6- Everyone is stressed and uptight. Attitude is horrible.
7- Everything is so expensive.
8- City is falling apart. Everything is so ugly.
9- Overcrowded .
10- Taxes are high.

[Kennypeagler]

I spent 17 years of my life in Manhattan and I got tired of high crime, high taxes, high rents, and crowds.

[WillFlannigan]

As somebody who moved to NYC last year from Cleveland, I've never felt more broke in my life. I have a good job, a decent wage and competitive skills, but it's nearly impossible to get ahead. Every day I wonder if I made the right choice.

[TOKObee]

As a New Zealander, I visited NYC last year on a work trip. I absolutely loved my time there, but also noticed a lot of these things mentioned in the video, even as just a visitor. What got me was all the fees you pay on an Uber just to get around! Crazy to think there is a tax you have to pay if the vehicle is black? Like wtf haha

[gmwilliamsful]

In 2023, you need to make AT LEAST $250, 000 PER ANNUM to be comfortable in New York City. That is the NOW REALITY.

[mcpivSC]

I work in health care in South Carolina and I've noticed a hugh up tick in patients who have relocated here from the northeast. I remember a patient that came in with her son who was wearing a JETS t-shirt, being a BILLS fan, I used to live near Rochester (Scottsville, NY) and when I asked him about what he liked about living here as apposed to NYC and he said that he was so happy to have a yard to play in.

[K-Star]

You get what you are willing to tolerate and vote for. So enjoy it NYC

[DanielByrnes-tv]

I'm smart. My wife and I left NYC 7 years ago. I guess we were prophetic not pathetic.

[TravelChannelOne]

There's also the 40x rent thing. With a rent of $4000, just to get in the cramped space you need to prove you make $160k.

[DevlogBill]

Born and raised in New York City. Two of my best friends left New York and most of my family is either planning on leaving or have already left. On a positive note at least, it can be said that New York isn't as bad as California. Is it true California is making into law an Exit Tax? Sounds scary to me! Great video by the way!

[fxaman]

Prague is the same. When I moved here 17 years ago if you had a decent office job you were able to pay a mortgage on your two bedroom apartment, go on a vacation once a year, have a car and raise a couple of kids. Nowadays apartment is absolutely unaffordable (prices went up three times) and most people have one kid because they can't afford more. The quality of life here is much worse then outside the city, even though people from the countryside still think the opposite (because it used to be good here). We only stay because we really love this city and because we were able to buy our apartment before the prices went up. But we live in a one bedroom apartment with two kids (third on the way) and two dogs on fifth floor with no elevator, it's a hustle to make it work :D

[buffalohead]

$15 to cross the bridge everyday is as worst as getting carjacked, mugged or pickpocketed.

[UNDERTAKER]

Great video. But I do have to admit, I myself have been questioning whether or not I'm going to leave New York because it's really starting to get to me mentally.

[hansonel]

As someone managed to fulfill a childhood dream of moving to NYC after college in 2010 only to have to move away in 2015 to Chicago (the more affordable version of NY) since the COL was unaffordable for me (and so many other young professionals) I was completely devastated at the time. I loved New York but doing the math I couldn't afford to live there unless I was at least making $100, 000+ per year (It's insane how making $70, 000 is almost low income in NYC now).

During and after COVID however I think I most likely made the right choice seeing how things have only gotten more expensive, seeing more videos of long time NY YTer's move out and crime has gone up post Pandemic. It's a sad situation New York is in and the city overall feels unsustainable and unaffordable for the average resident.

You can really see the population loss in Manhattan and the borough also has noticeably less people there since watching NYC walking channels this past year a lot of the sidewalks look kind empty for such a large city. Sort of creepy after dark with desolate streets in some areas that used to be bustling at all times of day when I lived there.

Agree that NYC is likely to become a city where only the wealthy will be able to live and will become more reliant on tourism to sustain itself.... kind of like how Paris and Venice are now.

[alexk]

NYC favors those who profit from it and make it more profitable; it does not adequately look out for those who make it all function

[davefisch-yt]

So unless you have a full time career here there’s no use in staying,

[Baheieujlsksnen]

Honestly I think so.
I'm a Legal immigrant and gad lived in midwest. Shocked so much to see how dirty and shitty NYC is than my home country.

[jjamerican]

I had seriously considered moving to NYC when I was just starting to seek out full-time work, and now I'm glad that plan didn't pan out. It would've been too expensive and crowded. But I do try and visit from time to time, which works for me.

[redrojo]

So I went in 2016 for 3 days. NYC was a shitstain
Trash at night is everywhere.
Rats yes
Every block has a scammer
Subway had a pissed off homeless man cussing everyone out
Eating was expensive AF
Everything in general cost something which was ridiculous