Rent prices in New York City have skyrocketed so high that some renters have been forced to move in with nuns. According to Realtor.com, the average asking rent in New York hit above $3,616 USD ($5,000 AUD) for the first time this year, 20 per cent above pre-pandemic levels.
Convents Offer Cheaper Alternatives
Some convents are charging as much as $2,300 AUD a month, while others charge as little as $1,100 — almost a fifth of the average price of a normal rental in the city. Youngsters on starting salaries told The Wall Street Journal that living in convents is their only option.
Strict Rules and Perks
While convents are a much cheaper option, the accommodation does come with a set of strict rules. Being religious is not a requirement, but some have curfews of 11pm or midnight. Women's houses ban male visitors from the rooms, with the same usually going for alcohol. However, there are some perks too, including free breakfasts and weekly movie nights.
It's understood each morning the nuns, some of them in their 90s, cook breakfast for the house. The meal includes pancakes, eggs, sausage, fruits and juice. The building is regularly cleaned and parties are held so that residents can get to know one another.
One nun who lives in a four-story red brick convent with five sisters and 21 residents said she loved the set-up. "I love living with the girls. They keep me young," she told the WSJ.
