why owuld someone want to live in NYC
Because you can actually find a job? You get paid way more than other places?
It's a huge source of our economy in the USA which means literally anything you do in NYC will make you more money then anywhere else. That basically means once you're sick of it and move away you're going to have insane savings compared to someone working in New Hampshire or some stuff.
If you buy a house in NYC it might cost more to start with but in the long run it will accrue more value than other places in the same amount of time I'm pretty sure too. If you can outright buy the house and you rent it rent is also higher so you'll make way more money.
Then you can sell the house move to someplace else and buy 3 houses.
edit:
To expand on this, if you can work and live in any place with a red marker you can afford anywhere there is a green marker.
If you live on a green marker... ur fukked