New York

New York is one of the strongest cities in the world for a software engineer who wants maximum career density, high-end compensation upside, and a life outside work that feels constantly alive. Redditors consistently point out that NYC has abundant opportunities, and that if you land at the right finance, hedge fund, HFT, Big Tech, or high-growth company, compensation can be on par with or better than other top US tech hubs.

The resident sentiment is not subtle: people love NYC because it is walkable, social, ambitious, diverse, and endlessly interesting. Several commenters say it is easier to make friends here than in most American cities, and others who left for places like SF, Chicago, suburbs, or other countries said they missed NYC’s energy and came back. The appeal is not just jobs; it is the feeling that whatever you care about, there is a place and a community for it.

But the warnings are just as consistent. NYC is among the least affordable cities in the dataset, and Redditors emphasize that high software salaries do not make the city cheap. Rent, taxes, restaurants, clothes, nights out, and basic convenience spending can eat through income quickly. Many advise not living in Manhattan, considering Queens/Brooklyn/Bronx or Jersey City/Hoboken, and being realistic about roommates or smaller apartments.

The biggest quality-of-life tradeoff is intensity. Residents complain about dirt, noise, crowds, smells, crime concerns, and constant stimulation. People who hate it tend to figure that out quickly and leave within a year or two. People who love it often cannot find another US city that gives them the same energy.

Overall, NYC is a high-reward, high-friction move for software engineers: excellent for ambitious, socially curious, city-loving people with strong job prospects, but a poor fit for anyone expecting space, quiet, cleanliness, low costs, or an easy immigration process.