Second for NYC. When I moved here four years ago I was not prepared for the lack of consideration for personal space and common courtesy, and the way that people can take offense at the slightest unintentional provocation. I learned to walk around without ever removing my earbuds or looking people in the face, which backfires sometimes when I encounter people who know me and I accidentally snub them. Recently a guy I have a friendly acquaintanceship with tried to get my attention at a bar and I totally ignored him without even giving it a second thought that I might know him, and he was pretty hurt. I have to move away from this terrible city – I remember a time when I didn’t automatically hate other human beings. And it’s not just that I’m a country mouse, though I am – Philly isn’t like this at all!
This is not to say that there aren’t occasional bits of extreme kindness to be encountered on the streets or trains – I’ve seen people help, and chipped in myself, when a homeless person’s cup was overturned, I’ve been let into the subway when I was obviously in a terrible hurry and fumbling for my Metrocard by a helpful stranger who was exiting the system [legal; works with unlimited cards], and had all sorts of other unexpected, touching moments with such single-serving friends. But, the city is still by far the worst place ever, as a newcomer.
Though now that I reread your details, maybe you meant a place where newcomers are persecuted in particular? NYC is not like that at all – in fact, when I want to get a little human sympathy, I like to let a bit of a Minnesotan flavor creep into my speech. It lets others think of me as a hapless out-of-towner, and they’re usually more than happy to help.