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New York woman’s Rs 1.7 lakh apartment rent with ‘bathroom unlike any other’ sparks debate

Living in Manhattan’s lower east side, Bonani pays a staggering amount only to live in conditions unfavourable to the apartment’s rent tag
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Screen capture via video posted by @bananabonani/Instagram
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New York City is infamous for its sky-high rent and compact living spaces, but one woman’s bathroom setup has taken the conversation to a whole new level.

Emily Bonani, a resident of Manhattan’s Lower East Side, recently shared a video of her minuscule 2.5-by-3-foot bathroom, featuring an unusual sink-toilet combo.

The clip, which has gone viral on TikTok and Instagram, has sparked widespread debate about the extreme compromises tenants must make in one of the world’s most expensive cities.

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A bathroom unlike any other 

Bonani’s bathroom setup is a stark example of space efficiency taken to the extreme. In the video, she showcases a tiny sink attached directly to the toilet tank, which only runs when the toilet is flushed. This means there is no way to use the sink independently, an aspect Bonani humorously points out.

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“If you’re thinking, ‘What if I want to flush the toilet but I don’t want to turn on the sink?’ … that’s not an option,” she says in the clip.

Despite its compact size, the apartment costs a staggering $2,000 per month—a price many find difficult to justify given the cramped conditions.

Viral reaction

Bonani’s video has amassed nearly 13 million views on TikTok and thousands of comments across social media, with users expressing everything from disgust to solidarity. Some users compared the setup to a “prison toilet”, questioning its hygiene and practicality. Others, highlighted similar space-saving designs in Japan and Korea, where compact bathrooms are more common.

Many were simply stunned by the rent price, with one user writing, "So you’re paying $2,000 to straddle a toilet just to wash your hands?"

Some even shared their own struggles with NYC rentals, revealing that paying thousands for tiny, oddly designed apartments is not uncommon. One user commented, "At least you have a sink! My bathroom doesn’t even have one—it’s outside, and I pay $3,000 a month."

NYC’s soaring rent crisis

The video has reignited discussions about New York City’s rental crisis, highlighting the extreme lengths tenants must go to in order to find affordable housing. While Bonani’s bathroom is unusual, it represents a larger issue: the shrinking size of apartments and the rising cost of living in the city.

As more renters share their experiences, it’s clear that high prices and unconventional layouts are becoming the norm rather than the exception.

A Space-saving innovation or a sign of trouble? 

While the sink-toilet combo might be a creative solution to space constraints, it raises questions about tenant quality of life. Should renters have to compromise on basic comfort and functionality just to secure a place to live?

Bonani, despite her frustrations, seems to have taken the situation in stride, even challenging her followers to find a smaller bathroom in NYC. Whether anyone succeeds or not, one thing is certain—her video has shed light on the reality of renting in one of the world’s most competitive housing markets.

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