I don't really see you point. When you pay "NYC rent" that money of course ends up somewhere. Some of your work hours becomes their margin. It's pretty obvious if you manage to find cheap accommodations or work remotely. Suddenly your income to expense ratio might be something like 6 to 1. Meaning you only _have to_ work two months a year.

The whole idea of the "real world" in contrast to "everything should be free" seem more like an example of western society than reality.