It gets you a roof over your head and free repairs when something breaks. Also it frees you from any of that “maintenance” stuff. It’s all about priorities and what you want to do with your time and money.
I live in a small apartment complex (not Section 8). Been here for the past 14 years. I’ve got two bedrooms, central air, and a dishwasher, plus storage area. My water and trash collection is included. I pay my own gas & electric, cable/internet, and phone. They plow the snow, shovel the walk, and cut the grass, plus provide maintenance when you need it. When I moved in, my rent was about $380. It’s now $435. I’m retired, and would be crazy to move from here.