Affording New York How a Family of 4 (and One Kid in College) Live on $85,000 a Year in the Bronx By Eliza Shapiro Photographs by Elinor Kry June 8, 2026 Share full article How can people possibly afford to live in one of the most expensive cities on the planet? It’s a question New Yorkers hear a lot, often delivered with a mix of awe, pity and confusion. We surveyed hundreds of New Yorkers about how they spend, splurge and save.