That's simply untrue. Average 1 beds on Zumper for all of Manhattan is $4k. In more central areas downtown it's absolutely going to be more right now. https://www.zumper.com/rent-research/manhattan-ny
And if you rent something that requires a brokers fee then that's another ~2 months of rent you're paying on your initial lease.
Looking at 1BR rentals in Bushwick and Ridgewood (not my areas, but similarly considered "cool"), the average is between $1800 and $2500. Studios average $1400 and $2100.
Yes, it's possible to rent for cheaper in the outer boroughs hence why I specifically said central and convenient. If something is $1800 it's because it's a dump or a tiny studio. It's not a normal amount rent someone is paying at all for their own place right now.
The rates provided on these kinds of sites don't necessarily reflect the median housing stock in neighborhoods in Brooklyn, which are frequently buildings where the owner lives in one of the units.
I’ve never paid more than $2,000/mo in rent in NYC, and that was a 1BR in Manhattan in 2018.
How was I able to sense that you lived in Bushwick before you stated it? :P . That said, Bushwick only makes sense (to me) if you don't need to commute.
(I live in another North Brooklyn neighborhood, one with much better subway access, including to Manhattan. I agree entirely about Bushwick not being an ideal neighborhood if your commute involves Manhattan.)