How can people possibly afford to live in one of the most expensive cities on the planet? It’s a question New Yorkers hear a lot, often delivered with a mix of awe, pity and confusion.

We surveyed hundreds of New Yorkers about how they spend, splurge and save. We found that many people — rich, poor or somewhere in between — live life as a series of small calculations that add up to one big question: What makes living in New York worth it?

As an Uber driver in New York City, Anup Baniya works long hours behind the wheel of his S.U.V., navigating snarled traffic.

The passengers he ferries across the city may be surprised to learn how little he earns.

Mr. Baniya, an immigrant from Nepal, brings home roughly $25,000 each year after paying for his vehicle and other business expenses.

His wife, Sonu Khadka, stays home with their 7-month-old son, Ivaan. There is little money left at the end of each week.

“If I make a few extra bucks, maybe we can get some things for the baby,” he said.

Mr. Baniya, 36, said it had become more difficult over the years to make a living driving for Uber. His costs have risen, and trips are harder to find.

He has considered doing other jobs like becoming a data analyst. But he likes choosing his own hours. It was important for him to join his wife for her prenatal appointments and to attend his son’s pediatrician visits.

“I like the freedom I get from it,” he said. “Through my wife’s pregnancy, I had flexibility.”

A Family Friendly Complex in Queens

The family lives in a small apartment in LeFrak City, a housing complex in Corona, Queens, that has long been a haven for working class and immigrant families.

The rent is $2,500 per month, which they split in half with a roommate. Mr. Baniya pays roughly $400 per month for internet and utilities.

The complex feels like its own village with 20 high-rise buildings and sprawling lawns of green space. Ivaan recently started using the swing set at the playground.

Their apartment is cramped, and Mr. Baniya worries about rent increases. Their roommate sleeps in a small room that typically serves as a den.

Mr. Baniya used to pay for a parking garage, but now parks on the street to save money.

His work day usually starts at 7 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m., except for Tuesdays which he takes off to spend with his family. He drives for Uber and sometimes for Lyft.

“The more jobs we do, the more income we get — I’m usually on the road for 10 hours,” he said.

A recent Monday was a “bad day,” he said. Business was slow. He spent five hours on the road with passengers and made about $125, or $25 per hour before expenses.

The Economics of Driving for Uber

Mr. Baniya’s greatest expense is the vehicle he uses for work. He pays $2,400 per month to rent a hybrid RAV 4 S.U.V. and $450 per month for car insurance.

He spends about $100 per week on gas, though that could increase with the recent jump in gas prices. He visits the carwash twice a week and gets regular oil changes. All together, his business expenses cost more than $30,000 per year, according to a copy of a recent tax return.

His family relies on a low-cost health insurance plan through a federally-subsidized program called the Essential Plan.

Around 2017, he joined the Independent Drivers Guild, a group that represents Uber drivers, to help fight for higher pay.

Mr. Baniya said that the city’s minimum pay rules for ride-share drivers had not kept pace with inflation and that Uber was keeping too much of the fare — nearly one-fourth per trip, according to research by the driver group. The city’s cap on new vehicle licenses raised the cost of renting a vehicle, and he argued that the city should instead limit the number of new drivers.

“I feel like customers are paying way more than they used to pay, but drivers are making way less than they used to make,” he said.

Uber, which is expanding its offices in New York, has argued that drivers do make a good living, roughly $52,000 per year for many full-time drivers, and that congestion pricing tolls and airport fees have contributed to higher costs for passengers.

When Mr. Baniya is working, it is often difficult to find a place to stop for a break. Parking spots are elusive in Manhattan, and he worries about violating the city’s complex parking rules, which carry large fines, including $115 for parking near a fire hydrant or $50 to $250 for blocking a bus lane.

“There is nowhere for us to rest or to try to run and get a cup of coffee,” he said.

Many drivers rely on tips from passengers in the app, but he said they were rare.

“Out of 10 riders, maybe one tips,” he said.

Living on a Budget

The family spends about $800 per month on groceries and baby food. They cook at home and eat at a restaurant once a month.

The couple recently visited Food Bazaar and picked up chicken breasts for $7.66, along with chickpea spaghetti and tomato sauce for dinner. Mr. Baniya’s job is sedentary, and he tries to eat healthy because he does not get much exercise.

“You’re sitting the whole day,” he said. “I considered myself more healthy before I started driving.”

The family did not take a vacation last year and does not have plans for one this year. Someday, Mr. Baniya wants his son to be able to visit family in Nepal.

When his wife was pregnant and a passenger unexpectedly tipped him $500 for a long trip from Manhattan to Philadelphia, he knew immediately how he would spend it.

“I went out and bought a stroller and car seat for the baby,” he said.