Run the full monthly number before deciding. Rent or mortgage is only the loud cost; the quiet costs are what wear you down. Coming from New York, the biggest shock may not be space. It may be how much planning replaces spontaneity. My advice is to rent or stay flexible at first if you do not fully understand the area yet. The first few months were not a fair test. They were setup, loneliness, paperwork, and too many small decisions.