Manhattan has long been one of the best places for Orthodox Jews to live. It’s a great borough, with a special community, beautiful spaces, and quality apartments. However, considering that it has always been pretty crowded, the cost of rent is high.

When you live in an apartment in The City, you have other expenses as well. You need to get good renters insurance in Manhattan. You also need to cover increasingly expensive utilities. All of this while the cost of living is rising.

For the average Jewish family, is The City still affordable? What about those families who want to move to The City? Is it still worth coveting?

The Price of Rent

In the early days of the pandemic, it seemed like Manhattan might just empty out. People were scared, and living in a crowded borough did not seem all that wise. But as we learnt to live with the pandemic, people returned and the price of rent did not fall like many expected. On the contrary, it started going up.

Housing and rent prices across the country have been going up over the past two years at a rapid rate. Manhattan has seen a particularly steep rise. Median rent is now over $3,700 a month, which is up 24% from just a year ago. That is a full $700 more!

All signs point to a continuation in this trend, although real estate is always unpredictable. There are so few apartments available to rent that landlords hold all the cards when negotiating leases. If you are already renting, there are regulations that will keep your landlord from ripping you off. But if you want to move to The City, you’re going to struggle to afford even a studio apartment.

Jewish Families

The problem for many Jewish families in Manhattan is that it is our nature to grow. Many childless couples plan on having their first child. Many families with two or three children plan on having more. Most people start renting with what they need rather than an aspirational apartment.

In other words, there are many Jewish renters in Manhattan who need more space. They are in a good negotiating position with their current apartment, but that won’t help them when their family grows. The moment they need to move, they will have to venture into the out-of-control Manhattan rental market of 2022.

Cost of Living in 2022

This is a particularly bad time to start paying more rent, as well. The cost of living has gone up throughout the country, both because of inflation and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Few people have hundreds of dollars more to spare a month, especially if they plan on having another child.

There are certainly some who will postpone their plans of having more children, but many families are ready for the next step. There is no way for them to save money in the current climate and paying more rent simply is not possible.

Moving Out

Many Jewish families will face a tough decision: whether to stick it out in Manhattan or to move somewhere cheaper. Fortunately, the latter option is a little bit easier than it once was. This is because working remotely is an option for most people, and individuals with jobs in Manhattan may no longer need to live near the office.

Of course, that does not soften the blow of having to leave the community or neighborhood that you love. The fact is that the world is in a very uncertain place in 2022. People all over the country are making similarly tough decisions.

Is Manhattan still affordable for Jewish families? That depends on the family and its intentions. However, if you are looking to start renting a new place, you may face an uphill battle.