Writer Lola Méndez moved to New York City in 2009 to finish her college degree. AdvertisementWhen I moved to New York City from Los Angeles in 2009 to finish my college degree, I was stunned at how much more expensive rent is in New York City and how little you get for the hefty price. I paid rent from scholarship funds, grants, and student loans. I was living in studios in New York, but it wasn't sustainableI paid $1,300 for a tiny studio on 64th and West End in 2009. AdvertisementI thought I had to live in New York to be successful, but it wasn't worth the lack of saving in my 20s.

---

Persons: Lola Méndez, Méndez, —, Louis Vuitton, I've, New York I'm, haven't, Chaing, I'm Organizations: Service, West Hollywood, NYPD Locations: New York City, Los Angeles, West, New York, Lower, Stanton, Ludlow, Manhattan, Uruguay, California, Madrid, Chaing Mai, Thailand, Vietnam, Montevideo, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico