Well, somewhere like NY you also have to consider the cost of storing the car. You live in a dense city and transportation tends to be expensive one way or the other.

It really depends on a whole host of factors both related to the economics and the convenience. There are a few cities that tend to be particularly car unfriendly. Many where cars are essentially a requirement. And some that can go either way depending upon your lifestyle, where you work, and a variety of individual preferences.

But figure that a car is going to cost some X thousands of dollars a year plus whatever it costs you to park it. (The government rate is $0.57 or so per mile though that may not be that directly applicable to car vs. other transportation analysis.)