The city

I was born and brought up in Mumbai. Now, I stay in New York. Both cities make me feel home.  Both are beautiful cities but terrible places to stay(1). 

I think the most contributing factor that makes both of these cities what they are is an ability to make a person with any financial capacity or personal wealth profile feel at home. New York and Mumbai can cater to richest of the rich as well as the poorest of the poor. You have top class restaurants, expensive shopping areas, costliest real estates as well as dirt cheap street food, in-expensive street side shopping vendors and a place you can survive no matter what and how. One can earn, stay, enjoy life as per one's financial capability. Both cities offer good living conditions - parks, education institutes, hospitals, good public transportation and so on. Similarly both has usual other darker side as well - slums, poverty, violence, drugs and so on. But, no matter what, in New york or Mumbai - you are always home! You are always independent yet you feel so connected in the sea of people around.

I think, those who continue to stay, take time and appreciate what these large cities has to offer. They blend into the character of these cities. New York and Mumbai can suck you in, if you let it. I now stay in 'The burbs' and visit 'The city' on the weekends. It's my trade-off between the charm and laziness vs character and fast pace. 

(1) Stated earlier by architect Charles Correa in reference to Mumbai