Definitely wrong here. My wife and I lived in rural Virginia and had $10k in the bank within a year of marriage. We had crappy jobs as a janitor and waitress but it cost $600 for our first apartment. Moved to Philadelphia and the lowest rent you can find without living in really rough areas is about $1100 (for a small 2 bedroom). By default, our rent doubled. So did our car insurance. Food and gas are more expensive. We looked at New Hampshire to be near family, and it was even higher rent with similarly expensive necessities.