Are apartments in New York normally so luxurious?

Yes, we ALL live like Donald Trump or Leona Helmsley here, so come on down, you'll love it!

Actually, you've stumbled onto the reason that there are SO MANY questions in here from people who have only seen New York City on TV or in the movies and they think it's really like that and they flock to move here, sight unseen, by the thousands!

No, sorry, unless you really ARE Donald Trump, life in NYC can be tough. VERY tough! And expensive, too (however much you just thought of when I said "expensive," double it!)

Good luck, and the link below is to a loooong list of movies set in New York City...

No, they're not the norm. In fact, many New Yorkers commented that the apartments on "Friends" were ridiculous, given that most of those people didn't seem to have regular jobs.

My son is making very good money as an attorney in Manhattan. He has a studio apartment on E. 45th Street that costs over $2000 a month. The view out the window is the brick wall of the building next to his. Believe me, he's got no zooms-zooms or wham-whams. His door lock doesn't even work properly.

It's the movies. Movies also portray countries in Eastern Europe and Asia to be poor, dilapidated and full of Mafia-type characters ready to kidnap tourists, but that's clearly not true, either, or no one would ever travel there.

Usually apartments in New York are small and over-priced. In Brooklyn you might find something a little larger, as well as in Queens, but it will doubtfully have french doors, walk in closets and six rooms like the movies portray Manhattan apartments to have. These amenities are usually found in penthouse apartments in the Upper West Side, where people like Donald Trump and old socialites reside. Normal, everyday students, middle class residents or struggling 20-somethings never live in places like this - unless they just signed a multi-million dollar record deal.

I always laugh when I'm in a bar and I meet a poor girl (or guy) who just moved here and signed a lease for an apartment in SoHo, Chelsea or the Upper East Side because they saw Sex and the City and thought it would be possible to work as freelance sex-columnist and afford a one bedroom apartment in Manhattan and buy a new pair of Jimmie Choos everyday. I don't know how some people live in the deluded little world of theirs, but it's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.

Hollywood does that to impressionistic youths that come here from all over the county looking for their big break in NYC.

For example, the apartment that Carrie had in Sex and the City was supposedly $450 a month (rent stabilized). She supposedly lived in the 70's and Madison...HAH! I'm sorry, i'm being cynical.

Real Estate in NYC is overpriced, that is why even the 6 figure salary people are moving to Queens and Brooklyn. There are areas (like the LES, El Barrio, Harlem, Washington Heights) that you would think is cheaper to live, but no.

They are there but at a ridiculous price.

They are now putting up "luxury" apts that are no better than a regular apt & smaller. But they may have a doorman & parking. You really have to weight the pros & cons of getting a huge apt that may need some work on the 5th floor of a 5 floor walk up against a Small recently renovated apt in a door man building.

You are watching too many movies! Apartments normally are small. There are some very upscale ones, but the Norm is the small box of an apartment.

Ahhh no.

You will find some well kept , older apt buildings w/ the details you see in the movies but for the most part are rare & very expensive if you find one.

Some older "brownstone " neighborhoods have private homes & apts that might have the old world charm you see in the flicks.

Best regards

I lived in a tiny loft in a brownstone that was between a youth hostel and day school. There was barely room for a sofa and tv, no ac and I was ecstatic to pay $1800 per month (9 years ago!). I loved it though.

Those apartments ARE available - for a lot of money and typically more than the characters can afford. Likely most live in boring apartments just like you.