New York City, United States

Capital City

The cost of living in New York City is sky-high, with a median one-bedroom rent of $4,443 per month. The population density of 27,744 people per square mile makes it the densest city in the U.S., and safety is a persistent headache - while crime has declined in recent decades, the city still recorded 386 murders in 2023. The winters are chilly and damp, with average temperatures dipping below freezing. But for those who can stomach the bureaucracy and $2,000 per square foot rents on Fifth Avenue, New York remains the global capital of business, culture, and opportunity.