Hi thanks for the response! The city is on the east coast, and I accounted for roughly $1200 for rent and food monthly (living off campus). Add on books that tips it above 30k. Then transportation whether it's metro, bikeshare, or uber would need to be accounted for, moving costs (I either need to move stuff out there or buy furniture), other misc. bills and expenditures... perhaps 35k was more reasonable. Everyone says there is no time to work, although maybe you can squeeze in 10 hours max of a GA position.
My stats aren't terrible but not stellar either. Overall GPA: 3.65, CSD GPA: 3.79, GRE: 154Q 161VR 5.0W. I have experience as an ABA therapist, teaching English abroad, home support worker for adults with Autism, and 1 year undergrad language lab assistant. However, I graduated a few years ago and while I have professors that will write LOR on my behalf, it's frustrating because previous employers will have a more recent sense of my capabilities (but that's a different topic).
My other option is continue working as a learning support worker in schools (aka classroom aid for special needs kiddos) and apply again in the fall to schools in my home state (Minnesota) where cost of living is half of that on the east coast and I can potentially live at home. We also have reciprocity with Wisconsin so was considering some of the smaller state schools there (UW Whitewater, Stevens Point, etc).
Thanks again for the input!