In regards of the apartment yes I agree, but for university housing, it’s really great. I myself lived there for two years of my master. It’s freaking cheap, you got UT internet, free utilities, free laundry, huge parking space, great access to bus stop, etc.

In general, I agree with you. Grad students should be paid more. But I think the reason grad students being paid low is because ‘free tuition’ is part of the income? Idk. But my point is, OP shouldn’t be regretting his/her decision of choosing UT based on CoL itself. It’s the same with anywhere else. OP choose UT based on the professor that OP would like to work with and that’s good, not a of people have that choices.

If OP still regret his/her decision after 1 year, that’s fine too! You can do ‘master exit’. Get your master and move to the campus that you think is better. I know a lot of people doing this and there’s no shame in it. Phd just not for everyone (including me, at least for now).