First of all you would bring in $2250 after tax with a $30k income, not $1500, you probably pulled that data out of your ass. Then you have to live in a affordable neighborhood, median rent doesn’t matter because half the apartments cost less than the median, then balance out other bills.

Now $30k won’t buy you a home but that’s literally the minimum wage in NYC, a double income in a minimum wage would be almost $60k, as most families are double income this isn’t much of a deal.