Is it ever actually worth it to buy a place in the city these days?

Assuming you’re not extremely wealthy and paying 10 million is like spending pocket change, is it even worth buying in the city these days?

Maintenance fees/taxes and interest on a mortgage are almost always more expensive than renting. Am I missing something? I don’t think there’s much expectation for New York real estate prices to appreciate dramatically in the next 20-30 years.