Viral TikTok of Tiny Apartment Shows Why NYC is Nation's Most Expensive City

Because NYC is by far the most densely populated city, New Yorkers place a premium on space.(Pingnews.com/Flickr)

TikToker shows off ‘the smallest apartment in New York’

New York City — "Take a bite out of the Big Apple," a comedian joked, "but that apple'll cost you $5, first." And such goes the hefty price of living in The City That Never Sleeps.

To live in Manhattan, residents can expect to pay a whopping 154% higher than the national average.

No wonder in his 46-second viral clip, AJ Webber showcases his tiny, 75 sq ft, low-ceiling West Village apartment. There's barely enough room for a sink, microwave and bed.

Though Webber didn't reveal the monthly cost of rent, the NY Post estimates a similar dorm-like room would be priced at roughly $1,600. Webber showed his tiny shelf space for food with a bowl, a plate and a window.

The $1,600 price tag — for such a tiny space — appears all the more eye-opening when compared with non-NYC rental properties.

“Here is what it’s like living in the smallest apartment in New York,” Webber said. But Weber isn't the first TikToker to go viral by giving the nation a tour of an NYC micro-apartment.

In May, college grad Via Hendrix's TikTok tour of her new apartment in New York City went viral. Most people around the country were stunned to see Hendrix's $1,345-a-month apartment. After all, her micro-studio is roughly 72 square feet.

Because demand for rentals is high while supply is low, NYC landlords now tout the charms of micro-apartments. Such a "minimalistic" approach, landlords argue, enhances a cleaner and clutter-free lifestyle.

As for minimalism, I've long been fascinated by the paradox:

Minimalism merely "maximizes" the use of space.