NYC, in my experience, is cheaper, yes. We just hired someone who left Apple to come out east because they were being priced out.
Obviously NYC can be ridiculously expensive and the real estate market is annoying to navigate (broker's fees, wtf) but there is more housing stock available here, with decent-to-great public transportation that makes living in the outer boroughs pretty convenient.
Brooklyn, Queens, and Jersey City (NYC metro area) are all much cheaper than SF. Even parts of Manhattan above 59th st are quite affordable.
Obviously NYC can be ridiculously expensive and the real estate market is annoying to navigate (broker's fees, wtf) but there is more housing stock available here, with decent-to-great public transportation that makes living in the outer boroughs pretty convenient.
Brooklyn, Queens, and Jersey City (NYC metro area) are all much cheaper than SF. Even parts of Manhattan above 59th st are quite affordable.