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. Before committing, test the weekday version: school drop-off, grocery routine, commute, doctor access, and evening energy. The first few months were not a fair test. They were setup, loneliness, paperwork, and too many small decisions.