I mean, I'm planning to move to Tacoma later this year and I make about this much per year. The main struggle is finding an apartment that doesn't require 3x rent.

You can get a decent 1 br apartment for $1k-$1.2k a month, figure $200 for power, $100 for internet, $500 for food, $100 W/S/G, $60 for bus fare, I already pay $180 a yr for Mint Mobile ($15/mo), $60 for health insurance...roughly $2,200 a month. Figure $2,400 assuming you go over at times for other expenses....$28,800 a year. It's cutting it close, but it's absolutely doable, and of course you can also rent a room for even less.

To be fair, my situation is probably far different, because I can earn more if necessary (whether by selling things I own or working longer hours), but I feel like the point is made. Like...I'm sure people get by on far less than this every day in Tacoma. The numbers I listed are like...for a more COMFORTABLE existence compared to what a lot of people probably have to deal with.

If the question was "can you live the most enriching and fulfilling life possible on $35k in Tacoma," that'd be another thing. Can you survive and keep a roof over your head? Yes. 100% yes.