<prompt> Human: This Fall, Ill be starting a STEM PhD in a very low COL location. My stipends expected to be 1600 per month. Ive been browsing rent of the apartments near campus, and they all run 500 dollars per room to live with roommates, and 800 dollars if you want to live alone studio or 1 bed. I dont enjoy living with others, so Im more than likely to hop on the latter. However, I started looking into houses for sale, and theyre ridiculously cheap. Two bedrooms run just under 100k. I have 10k saved up, and can definitely get that to at least 15k before I move, so I was wondering if itd be a smart move to purchase a home. Trulia estimates Id pay around 350 a month in mortgage I expect to live there at least 5 years. Afterwards, I will most definitely be moving whether it be for a post-doc or industry job.Any and all advice appreciated. Edit: If it matters, Im talking about the Urbana-Champaign Metro area, Illinois.  <response>: Since you are moving in 5 years for sure... Just rent. The benefit of a house is paying it off and either renting it out when the rent market far exceeds your costs to own, OR to achieve financial independence one less bill. Leaving in 5 years, you wont get either of these benefits. Not worth it. 