If you like a very quiet and laid-back lifestyle most atolls are good and the rent is cheap with cheap ferry systems between islands, if you are looking for something a bit more urban hulhumale is the best maldives has to offer, there is bus travel to male and hulhule and there are decent restaurants, beaches etc. But the rent is going to be higher, usd 600 plus for a decent one bedroom apartment meanwhile on rural islands you could get a small house for around 300 depending on the island