At the higher end, it really isn’t a dangerous proposition, although the U.S. barriers to entry drive the advertising costs up for the escorts. The District Attorney in Manhattan years ago announced he would not pursue female sex workers who do not disturb the peace and are involved in consensual acts involving adults. The lower-end is a slightly different story.
What you have to appreciate is the sheer income and wealth inequality and the tourism. Particularly in the finance industry, there are lots of guys making a true shitload of money. At least hundreds of thousands but most often millions a year. There are also countless tourists in town from Shitsville, USA with no commercial sex scene at all. They have lots of time to save up money between trips.
The ladies get high rates because they can. There is little or no “middle class” hobbying among locals in NYC since it costs so much for them to live. They frequent the low-end Asian massage places, which aren’t as risk-free as high-end escorts, or guess what? They go to Toronto or Montreal. Of course, the high housing costs adds a hell of a lot to incall costs, further upping the prices of escorts.
There is certainly very high quality for $700 an hour, with discounts for longer sessions. I realize the unfavorable exchange rates add to this, but $1,500 is not the standard, in my opinion. NYC is certainly not Toronto, and you really can’t compare them. But be very glad you live in, or have consistent access to, Toronto.