> The majority of the affordability crisis stems from car dependency and excessive need for infrastructure due to bad zoning policy.

New York City is one of the most expensive places in the world. Housing is more expensive than SF.

No cars needed in NYC, yet expensive as hell.

NYC, and a handful of neighborhoods from the other top 5 cities, are the only places in the entire country that have semi-functioning urban design. The entire population of America who wants human centered urban design only have a few square miles to pick from. So of course the cost of living will be high.