As an extension to the common advice here (move where the academics are), check what research you enjoy and find out which universities produce that research. T

As an extension to the common advice here (move where the academics are), check what research you enjoy and find out which universities produce that research. Then, secondly see if there is a meetup scene where the people doing this research at the graduate level hang out. That should get you into some network or another once you filter the alternative by living cost threshold.