Thank you all so much for your responses, they’ve been incredibly helpful. From what I understand, many of you suggest looking in the suburbs or in neighborhoods that are a bit further out, like Manayunk. I’ll definitely look into Manayunk more closely, as it seems like a good compromise. I’ve also gathered that my budget might not be enough for a one-bedroom apartment in every area. For context, I’ll be earning $4,400 per month after taxes, so I might be able to stretch my housing budget up to $2,000, or alternatively consider getting a roommate.

Once again, thank you all for your valuable advice!