I have my own room(big enough for a closet, queen size bed, table and chair and still have enough space for a yoga mat workout) for 812$/month. I share a bathroom with only 1 other guy. Utilities excluded, which does not cross over 50$ per month for me. (4b2b apartment, washer dryer included) in Brooklyn

My living expense also never crosses 1300$/month, which includes an occasional(bi-monthly) treating myself to a fancy restaurant (About 30-40$ meal). But this is excluding my tuition fees. Even I'm a research assistant but I still have to pay over 30k$ per year...