People often have strange ideas about New York and the East in general.
New York is much larger than the center of Manhattan. One can't get a
house here for $100k, but one can get a large 6 room apartment for
$100k. One can rent a goiod size apartment for say $800. I can get a
wonderful dinner for two with wine for under $50, never mind $100. Food
shopping here is cheaper than any other area of the country I have
looked in and the variety is unbelievable. One can pay an absolute
fortune to live in New York and one can live extremely reasonably and
well also (but not in the center of MAnhattan).