<prompt> Human: Im a recent college grad and the types of jobs Im interviewing for pay between 35-40k before taxes 3.55 state, plus whatever federal is, 6.8 if I individually make 37k to 90k, but its IT so Ill most likely be able to move up within 2-5 years of starting. My girlfriend is likely going to be making 10-11hr. In this city the average 1BR is between 750-900. Said city is a large metropolitan area full of people between 20 and 35, and I think it would be fun to stay here. Before someone says look in a suburb outside the city, Im counting the suburbs as part of the aforementioned large metropolitan area, as the city itself is very small. The suburbs are pretty much the same price as the city, and outside the suburbs theres no residential housing whatsoever, mostly government farmland. My girlfriend desperately wants to move to a different city our plan B, its kind of a funky little steel town near where her grandparents live where the average 1BR is 550-700 because wed be more likely to afford it, but after doing some research mostly on Indeed and Glassdoor I found that her salary would likely be 7-8hr, and mine would be around 26-30kyr if I can even find a job there arent many computer oriented jobs there at all, and I dont have any other skills so Im SOL if I cant. Oh, and just because I included it for the first city, taxes in City B are a flat 3.07 for the state, and 1.9 for the county, which Ive never heard of but apparently thats how they roll. Federal is the same because its federal. Long story short, she grew up super poor and I grew up middle class enough to not have to worry about basic necessities, and as a result were both kind of skewed when it comes to how much will x cost in the long run types of problems because half the time shed rather live with crackheads and eat ramen to save up for frivolous shit, and half the time I factor personal happiness into decisions where it probably shouldnt be there. Realistically, what can we afford? Edit: Because Ive been reading around this sub and these are the first questions people usually ask: Im 25 and shes 21. This is our first apartment together. Were not planning on getting married or having kids, as I have a hereditary illness and am against the idea of children in general.  <response>: Realistically you should be focusing on getting a job first. Before you even consider the apartment. 