Dont live in Manhattan, and if you are in the heart of NYC sell you car. Places like Brooklyn, Queens, are not that expensive and there are nice areas. I am commuting from Philadelphia. I thought about moving to North Jersey or NYC, but the drive is not that bad and I can get a place 10 times nicer for the price in philly, and I am from there..a 2 hour drive is not a bad commute compared to what some people do (aka flying across the country to go to work) I know people who commute from philly and areas of equal distance and it is not bad. considaring reserve is not very long, it will be even easier to commute.