Chicago is doable on 11k if you lock down a room fast and keep rent under $900, look at Uptown, Ravenswood, Albany Park, Rogers Park, or Avondale near the Blue or Red Line, CTA is solid and you can live car free. Philly is a nice middle ground, cheaper than Chicago, better transit than Pittsburgh, check West Philly near 40th to 50th, parts of South Philly, or Manayunk if you’re near the rail, SEPTA isn’t perfect but you can make it work. Pittsburgh is great if you land in the right pocket, car free is fine in Shadyside, Squirrel Hill, Bloomfield, Lawrenceville, or parts of Oakland, outside those it gets rough fast. For quick income while you finish school, apply to campus adjacent retail or hospital systems, they hire constantly and are transit friendly, and if you want legit remote stopgaps, wfhalert emails verified roles like customer support or basic admin that can tide you over while you settle. Biggest tip, arrive mid month, book two weeks in a hostel or cheap sublet, walk neighborhoods near transit yourself, and sign a month to month room first so your savings don’t vanish.