How does a young guy manage to live in an international city/popular area?

[Indian Race Troll (IRT)]

I am in Tennessee right now (aka the "south") and quite frankly, there is little here to do. Always wanted to live in a place like Southern California or NYC but it seems

- cost of living in unrealistically high
- hard to find a job as everyone wants to live there
- real estate and housing is through the roofs


How does a young person manage to live there and enjoy life?

 

[Thinkingenigma]

I am in Tennessee right now (aka the "south") and quite frankly, there is little here to do. Always wanted to live in a place like Southern California or NYC but it seems

- cost of living in unrealistically high
- hard to find a job as everyone wants to live there
- real estate and housing is through the roofs


How does a young person manage to live there and enjoy life?

What part of Tennessee? I'm from Memphis, but I know the majority of West TN very well, so I could probably give you some help.