Hi,
You can find an apartment at a comfortable rate of $950 up to $1200. Depends on where you look though. I live in Allston, but in the neighborhood, where I am...there is a lot of Latino/Asian immigrant families...and its not as nice where the students tend to live. (Note: Allston is filled of rats...)....if living 5 minutes away from Brighton Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue is a big deal for you, then go ahead and live in those parts...but I do understand rent prices are a tad higher.
Its all about planning and doing things ahead of time!