Seattle

NEW York City is officially throwing its hat in the ring to lure Amazon.com Inc's proposed second headquarters, hoping its large, diverse workforce, extensive university system, big-city living and status as an epicentre of industry will overcome its major drawback as one of the country's most expensive housing markets.

The city is highlighting the example of Alphabet Inc's Google, which has 5,000 employees in Manhattan, as a prime example of how West Coast tech can thrive in the Big Apple.