I don't know why anyone wants to live in NYC.  

On your chart, I am a little surprised that LA isn't higher.  Maybe people are finally realizing how awful it is and leaving.

I also notice that 2 of the 10 are high because of the ever increasing number of high paid government bureaucrats. (Arlington & D.C.) 

 It's crazy to me that people will pay those kind of prices for RENT, and just for a one-bedroom apartment! That's more than what most people probably pay on their mortgage on a house with several rooms. It would be interesting to also see what the median home mortgage price is in all of those cities.