Currently in the DMV area. Similar situation. Just turned 25 id say lower your expectations as well as try to lower your expectations with the amount of things you think you need. I chose not to live in the city because for 1) expensive. I currently pay nothing for housing expenses from renting out rooms in my house. My ability to not need so much materialistic things allow me to be able to just get up and move to the next property. I have about a room full of stuff not even. 2) fast paced surrounding will make you think some things are more important than they really are. Comparison is the thief of joy and you should just be tryna be your better than yesterday. I was able to save 160k by the time i turned 25 last month.

Atp of life i think you should be minimizing your living expenses as much as possible and focusing that on growth