I have commuted to NYC in two separate periods of time, yes. I hated it but you don’t move to a base for a regional or near NYC on regional pay.

If I was at delta and it was an 8-10 year upgrade where I currently live or a two year upgrade in NYC I would move my family to within two hours of NYC and collect my extra $1 million plus over the next 6-8 years and then think about moving out if I could or wanted to at that time. That doesn’t even account for what my extra retirement contributions and profit sharing on captain pay would grow into by my retirement horizon. This also assumes I couldn’t hold widebody FO at my base of choice at or before the time I could hold marrowbody captain in NYC. That’s not everyone’s gig though I know that. For a new hire at any major airline it’s worth noting if they are doing a financial comparison