> But you can still easily get a solid apartment for $3k/m. What does the same apartment cost elsewhere though? Cost of living calculations are not for calcula

> But you can still easily get a solid apartment for $3k/m. What does the same apartment cost elsewhere though? Cost of living calculations are not for calculating how little you can possibly spend in a given location, they are for comparing the same standard of living in various places. It sounds like you are willing to sacrifice your standard of living to make more money, which is fine, but not comparable to the parent's calculations.