For a good bit less than $850 a month you can get a decent travel trailer with AC.
Isn't that even less square footage?
I know it's alien to most of us here, but here's the way I look at it:
1. Remember, different strokes for different folks.
2. Jettison the car. Between student IDs providing free bus rides, work benefits, walking, biking, etc... Not having one will save you ~$300/month. Not really an option if you live out where affordable houses in safe neighborhoods are
3. The apartment is small, but apparently the complex provides a lot of services. It's only an elevator ride to the gym, for example.
4. This is the internet generation - and Amazon delivers everything they need. Rather than having a large TV, they watch things on a laptop or tablet. Less need to *store* stuff. Hell, move me somewhere where I don't need my truck, get rid of everything I use once a blue moon, and I could almost fit into one of these.
5. Time is money. You can justify a half hour walk or bike ride as exercise. On the other hand, if you're an individual focused on going to things, being downtown makes reaching stuff quick and easy.