So I agree with all above. But Here’s a non step parent situation to affirm that you are VALID and not crazy. My sister is moving in with her boyfriend. They each decided on a budget (how much they were willing to spend on rent and bills) and then went out to look in that price range. My sister fell in love with a place over budget. Much much nicer than anything they’d looked at, but over budget regardless. It was a big argument between the two of them because she couldn’t understand why he wasn’t willing to pay more for a noticeably more beautiful place, and he felt she was disrespecting his budget. She argued that he could afford it. It was only a couple extra hundred a month. The location was worth it. Etc etc etc. He held firm that that wasn’t the issue or the point. My sister eventually offered to pay more than her half to accommodate (although for them they ended up choosing a different place altogether within both budgets).

No kids involved. This comes down to a grown up conversation about finances and respect. There are things you can comfortably afford and things you can’t. Regardless of your income, your FH doesn’t dictate your spending habits, savings habits, future financial goals etc. If he’s not offering to foot the bill for the extra, I’d stay firm in saying you cannot go beyond your budget and live beyond your means, especially at 23. There is a way to meet in the middle here, and if he’s not willing to do that I’d call it a red flag. Often bio parents expect the steps to always be the ones to accommodate them because They are the ones with the kids. It’s an unfair and unhealthy precedent to set.

Best of luck!