<prompt> Human: Salary: 48k gross. Two checks per month around 1650 each, after taxes, insurance and 401k. 1450 left in undergrad student loans; my mom offered to pay off with money my grandmother left the family. I paid out of pocket for my Masters, no debt from that. I put all monthly expenses on rewards credit card and pay off every month. No credit card debt. No car loan. No medical debt. No kids, nor are any planned for decades, if ever. High COL area where salaries and housing have not kept up with growth. 8700 in online savings account. ??? in Roth IRA and 401k, I contribute the max matched amount to my 401k. I have a car but am planning on selling it for at least 4k. I use it once every couple weeks for a random errand, but other than that, I jog, walk, catch rides with friends or take an Uber every where. Getting rid of the car will save me 700year in insurance and probably 200year in gas. I eat out and booze up pretty often, but am interested in cooking at home more and buying wine in bulk discounts. I also go on vacation fairly often, one or two big trips a year and I go out of town at least once a month. I dont buy a lot of THINGS though, Im a frugal minimalist and only buy clothing and jewelry from the thrift store after I have a 30 coupon. I dont really track my spending, I just know I dont struggle to pay for things I want.I currently live in a 550 sq ft 1br 2.5 miles from work for 925. However, it flooded twice last year and even though the manager did the repairs, it never felt clean or homey after that. There are also some sort of rodents in the attic space, and management has been fairly unresponsive about taking care of them. That all sucks, but the two worst parts of this place are that it takes me 30 minutes to jog to work downtown and it doesnt have central air and heat, just a window unit in the bedroom, so in the summer and winter the living room and kitchen are uninhabitable. Bills are 40 for internet, 20 for gas, and 20 for electric. Rental insurance is paid through the end of the lease. Lease ends 94, and I have the option of going month-to-month without an increase in rent or increase in notice to vacate period. Because my place is so uncomfortable and hot and far from workdowntown, I stay with my boyfriend 5-6 nights a week, because he lives 3 blocks from my office and has that sweet central AC. He is kind of traditional and doesnt want to officially live together until were engaged or certain that we want to marry weve been together 1 year, though Im 90 certain Id like to marry him. However, since I spend so much time at his place, Im essentially throwing away 1,000 a month, or at the very best, enjoying a 200 a night hotel a few nights a month. So I have been looking for places closer to workdowntown with central ACheat. I have found a place for 1400 that is four blocks from my office, 500 sq ft, includes washerdryer, only bills to pay are internet and electric. There is no parking, so Id have greater incentive to sell my car. There is a 1400 deposit, refundable, that Id pay from my savings account. The thought of living downtown is very appealing, as is having a washerdryer. This apartment is, in my mind, an absolute steal and a one-of-a-kind. But, I have never spent so much on rent, and I am struggling to accept that number, though its less than 13 of my gross salary, and isnt that the amount that is generally accepted to spend on housing?Supply is very poor here, so when I look to spend less money, but still live closer to workdowntown and have central ACheat, I find the following places: 1100, 350 sq ft, 1.9 miles from my office, WD for 60month. 1200, 600 sq ft, 1.4 miles from my office, no WD, also has scamming 700 non-refundable move-in fee. 1100, 400 sq ft, 1.2 miles from my office, no WD. 1200, 600 sq ft, 1 miles from my office, no WD.It just seems ridiculous. To save 200-300 a month, I also sacrifice living downtown 4 blocks from my office, and an in-unit washerdryer. So is 1400month too much for me to spend on rent? Should I just keep my 925 apartment that is remote to me and creepyhotcolddirtyinfested with rodents and who-knows-what-else? Will I still be able to keep my same carefree lifestyle if Im spending 475 more per month on rent? I really dont even know how much money I spend a month, I just know that I dont struggle. I want to keep it that way, but will an extra 475month cause me to struggle?  <response>: General guidance is 30 of your pay most say take home, some say gross for rent. 1400 is quite a bit above that, but none of us can tell you if thats going to make you struggle. If youre living within your means on all other fronts, it could be doable, though not really advisable financially.Are you living paycheck to paycheck already? Then yes, youll struggle. Do you have 475 extra laying around per month now? Then no, you wont. Can you shave off 475month in your budget somewhere? Then you can make it work.Do you have enough room in your budget to bump up your emergency fund to handle 6 months of the higher rent? How long will it take you to get there?Ultimately, Id say something like the 1100 apartment would be doable. 1400 I probably wouldnt risk myself. I make about triple what you make and pay less than double that rent in New York City - are you okay with paying a higher ratio of your income than someone in one of the most expensive cities in the country?You could significantly lower the cost by getting a roommate, too. 