from what I have been hearing, I think it would be very hard to find a 2,000 one bedroom in manhattan these days. my friend has a tiny efficiency condo that she is renting out for 1500 a month. she didn't even try to see how much she could get.
Even rents in Astoria, fifteen minute subway ride or less from Manhattan has rents that are going up...that might be a good bet for your friend.
I forgot what degrees you had to have but some teachers here get paid ninety thousand thousands a year. Tell that to your friend in Asheville North Carolina. When I heard that I flipped out. I also flipped out when another friend said how her ex sister in law was making 300,000 a year working for a publisher...in Boston...that has to be uncommon right?
Bobby