Quote from nutmeg:
I'll offer up my observation like this.
Suppose a one bedroom apartment in the suburbs is about $900 a month. You need a car in the burbs to get to work, maybe $350 a month car payment, another $200 a month for gas, another $300 a month for auto insurance. Your min total is $1750 a month for transportation and a place to put your clothes.
In NYC you can probably get a studio apt (no bedroom) for about $2300 a month and then walk to work.
Even if you consider a wage premium (not enough to offset the housing expense) for a like job in the burbs vs the city you're going to be eating ramen noodles unless you a have a plan.