Defaults are expensive
It is easy to normalize premium rent, frequent dining out, and paid convenience in New York.
That default drift matters because FIRE responds more to recurring spending than to occasional splurges.
The income side can still be powerful
New York also gives many professionals access to high-paying work, dense networks, and career upside.
When those opportunities are real, FIRE becomes a balance problem rather than a simple cost problem.
Design your version of the city
A New York FIRE plan works best when you decide what version of New York you actually want to fund long term.
Once that picture is clear, your spending target becomes far more grounded and useful.