I grew up in NYC but moved to DC years ago and enjoy it a lot. Cost of living is noticeably lower, still no need for a car (though having one isn’t prohibitively expensive like in NYC), and it’s got a better vibe than people give it credit for (At least if you’re not in politics). A bit slower paced but you can also Amtrak or Jet bus up to NYC any time you want.

NYC is incredible, but when it came down to value… it was hard to justify the $5k+/mo rents. Delis are great but its just not worth it

That said, if you are interested in NYC, I wouldn’t look in Manhattan these days. Brooklyn or the more accessible parts of Queens are where I’d look for a better vibe and good values