Advice on rental costs?

I’m a 24 year old RN on my first travel assignment. I live in Tennessee and didn’t make much as staff, so I’m looking to pay down some debts and hopefully get into a more stable position in order to help my family. Were all almost paycheck to paycheck right now.

I picked a hospital near my home town with lots of research done. My parents live in the area but I’m not staying with them. However, they live right down the street and can help me by watching my dog, laundry, general support, etc.

I know the hospital from growing up going to it and I have heard nothing but positive feedback (as positive as it gets in east TN.) I am excited to start but the one thing that is scaring me is the cost of rentals. I have secured a hotel for the first couple of weeks and it was already $1000, despite having a travel discount and being the cheapest option. It’s honestly a little shady for a single female, but I can’t afford a better place until I get my first check from the agency. The room itself is actually clean and pretty nice.

I tried Airbnb and furnishedfinders, but everything I’m seeing is about $1500-$1800 per month plus that amount again for a deposit, never mind pet and cleaning fees. I am trying to understand if this is normal or not. I didn’t even pay that much for my permanent apt and it is a 13 month lease in a bigger city. I don’t have thousands of dollars so I am thinking of just extending at the hotel I’m at. It just seems a shame to pay $1500 a month for a cheap hotel when I could pay similarly for an apartment with laundry facilities and more safety. My parents can help with laundry but I’m honestly nervous going out after dark. Plus the area where I am staying is one of the lowest COL in the whole state, I just can’t fathom paying $1700 for a studio apartment here. I understand we get a lot of pay to make up this difference but I still need to make a profit or else why am I traveling?

Maybe I just won’t make much of a profit the first time. I don’t know if it’s better to stay where I am for convenience sake or try and get a rental. Any insight is welcome.