Tackling the Cost of Living in NYC
New York City ranks among the most expensive cities in the world. Recent reports show that rent and grocery prices here now rival places like Geneva and Zurich. A typical three-bedroom apartment in NYC averages around $8,500 per month.
Why It Matters
Sky-high rent: In Manhattan, median monthly rent recently hit $4,571, with Brooklyn at about $3,650 and Queens around $3,625.
Exploding grocery bills: High food costs are cutting into household budgets and pushing more families into instability.
Economic pressure: The rising cost of living is forcing longtime New Yorkers out and making it harder for essential workers to stay.
What Voters Are Saying
In the most recent Democratic primaries, affordability was a top issue. But the affordability crisis is bigger than housing alone.
A Real Solution: Ban Grocery Price Gouging
One step city leaders can take right now is passing legislation to ban price gouging at grocery stores—not just during emergencies, but year-round.
Too often, prices on everyday items like milk, eggs, and bread jump for no clear reason. While corporations report record profits, working families are choosing between food and rent.
A grocery price gouging ban would:
- Stop unfair markups on basic food items
- Require pricing transparency from large grocery chains
- Help small independent grocers compete fairly
- Put immediate money back into New Yorkers’ pockets
A Broader Path Forward
- Enforce rent protections and stop excessive increases
- Build 200,000 truly affordable housing units—not just “affordable” in name
- Use congestion pricing revenue to fund childcare, public transit, and safe streets
- Ban price gouging at the grocery store to bring fast, visible relief
Why It Matters to You
Grocery costs hit every household. If the city can act here—clearly and quickly—it will prove that elected officials are putting people over profits. Banning price gouging won’t fix everything, but it’s a clear step that shows voters their voices matter.
What You Can Do
- Ask candidates where they stand on grocery price gouging
- Demand transparency and action, not just campaign promises
- Vote for leaders who treat affordability like the emergency it is
People don’t just want a place to live. They want a neighborhood where they can afford groceries, send their kids to school, and still have money left for the subway home. Let’s make that New York a reality.