I guess it comes down to:
---what kind of job?
and
---what living accommodations do you require?
Sorry, but there are plenty of lesser expensive places to live. They may not meet your "requirements", but they're out there.
Why is there such an issue with kids living at home? I'm living at home with my mother. I help her with house expenses, housekeeping and I help her on her job. Not all kids who stay at home with parents are losers. I rather stay with my mom than live in some apartment by myself.
My "requirements" are pretty simple: low crime. I've lived in too many bad neighborhoods, and my current complex has turned into a ghetto for the disaffected hispanic masses of Tampa. I'm honestly one of the few white males left in the area, and I never leave my apt. without my XD40 on my hip, regardless of the time of day.
I don't have much of a choice concerning my move back with my mother. I've worked for 4 years since graduating from college to get my credit in line. I have a stellar credit rating and very low debt, but I have no assets to bring to the table for a home loan. In this part of the state, two teachers, married, at the area's teacher's salary cannot afford a starter home, which is apparently in the low 200's.
I've looked around, and even the condos in this area are out of reach. If I lower my standards to going back to the ghettos, I'll wind up with a property that will never grow in value.
And for those who say to get another apartment: last weekend I went out apt. hunter. After 13 complexes, 11 of them were going condo and the other 2 had misc. issues (no pets, for instance). It's impossible to find a decent place to live, so I'm going to help mom around the house, fix it up, clean up the yard, and maybe she'll leave it to me and move out to a condo of her own (she's talked about this).