Apartments must be furnished, which can add a lot to the cost even if the furniture is secondhand. It can be a major expense to buy these things. For other considerations, check this site . It's important to make sure you have answers to your questions before the lease is signed. What seems like a minor problem that can be settled easily can mushroom into a lawsuit if issues are not resolved.
Many students do move into apartments and are very happy in their new location.
But it takes advance planning to make it work.