<prompt> Human: Sorry if this isnt in the right r! I just was offered a full time job of 40kyear before taxes and 5 is mandatory for my jobs retirement fund in the metro DC area where I went to college. Ill be starting my masters at the same university and working full time within a 5 minute drive. The issue that comes into question is: housing. As most know, the traffic in the DMV is asinine 4 miles in 30 minutes?! and rent isnt cheap 1br starting at 1400 minimum?!. While Ive found a few places on Craigslist with roommates, Im still new to this whole adult making money thing. I have 500month in expenses car paymentinsuranceCCphonefood. How much is reasonable to pay for rent, especially with a roommate? And in the DMV area, with the bad traffic, is it better to pay a higher rent with a lesser commute or a farther commute with lesser rent? Ive never had to commute before and my starting hours are 8am-4pm until Im done with training and then its TBD. Classes from 430-10pm once a week. Any advice would help!! Sorry for the confusion: im looking at a few places. The commute ranges from walking distance to 20ish miles.  <response>: youre studying and working at the same time. The most precious asset is your energy and time. Commute saps both. If you can live with room mates for the duration of masters, close to both places thatd be ideal. 