New York City apartments are known for being particularly spacious and cheap.
TikTok via @calebwsimpson
Perhaps that’s why the internet is so fascinated by one woman who comically flaunts a tiny 80-square-foot apartment and rents it for $650 a month.
Alaina Randazzo was interviewed by TikToker’s Caleb Simpson. Caleb Simpson often asks New Yorkers on the street how much they are paying for an apartment and whether they can take a tour.
@calebwsimpson @Alaina Randazzo ♬ Sunroof – Nicky Youre & dazy
Randazzo then takes the viewer to her apartment in midtown Manhattan as the camera shoots her down from above. Viewers get to see her one burner on the stovetop, some shelf space, and her one room (if you can call it that) combined with a loveseat.
When Randazzo (Simpson says “five feet five inches on a good day”) lays on the floor, her whole body is too long to even fit from wall to wall.
“No windows, but we’re fine,” Randazzo points out, after pointing to the skylight and loft bed.
Viewers gave an athletic meet that seemed to be evenly divided between feelings of awe and fear.
“I’m claustrophobic for this,” said one user.
“I actually want to live there,” another disagreed.
The New Yorker was also disgusted and flooded with comments, saying paying a meager rent in Manhattan was still “stealing” regardless of the size of the apartment.
“This is for sure. Anyone who doesn’t think so doesn’t understand the opportunity cost,” wrote one commenter. “Living this cheaply in Midtown gives him a very high ROI.”
Many pointed out that Randazzo didn’t mention anything about the bathroom, which seemed concerned.
thank you
She also revealed that she shares an apartment with her dog.
The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in New York City is now around $3,927, up about 27% from the same time last year, according to the latest data.
Currently, New York’s most expensive neighborhood for a one-bedroom apartment is the Upper West Side, where the average one-bedroom price is $4,198, about $3,548 more than what Randazzo is paying.
Small or not, it’s certainly not money wasted on rent!