[otnemem]

Just don't expect to live in Manhattan. A studio will generally run you a minimum of $1500. Look in Queens/Brooklyn, but even these places are getting bad. I know someone in Woodbridge, Queens who pays $1000 a month for a studio.

Do you know people in NYC? I think the best description I've ever heard is that it's a city filled with millions of lonely people. So it's definitely a much more enjoyable place if you already know people here.

I think if you found a cheap place, you could definitely pay rent/bills etc on a decent bartender salary. Then again, I have no idea how much bartenders expect to make.