TikTok is the place to go if you want to look at New York apartments without actually visiting the city. Unfortunately, the most viewed videos are usually the ones where renters showcase their spacious luxury units, which cost an insane amount of money. But sometimes, you get a hint of how bad the housing crisis has gotten in the Big Apple.
This video of a $1,200/month apartment made quite a few people upset and angry in the comments. I don't blame them. If you watch the video, it's not really an apartment but more like a room - a small one at that. It was called "the smallest apartment in NYC" in the title. The location is listed as "Midtown West", meaning the west side area under Central Park, primarily Hell's Kitchen and Hudson Yards, but not Chelsea, as such a unit would probably cost 5x more in Chelsea.
You get a room that's 6x9 feet. A room in an old building. It doesn't even have a closet but a few shelves. The floor and walls look like they weren't renovated in 20 years. The bathroom is shared, and the creator didn't even specify how many units are sharing the same bathroom! Is it a few or the entire floor?? That's crucial, you know.
Anyway, this is a (very sad) reminder that the median rent in New York is currently at $4,050/month, with the average rent for a 1-bedroom being at $4,104 and $5,026 for a 2-bedroom apartment. Welcome to New York, people! I guess you can always find a realtor who will rent you a hole-in-a-building 9x6 unit for just over a grand a month.