Clodfobble, the prices you describe are exactly like Seattle's. In 1990. In 2016, fuggedaboutit.
http://www.zillow.com/seattle-wa/apartments/
https://seattle.craigslist.org/searc...ate=2016-10-28
just some ideas of our local prices. it's a very, very expensive housing market.
As for the ideas you talked about, I like the idea of helping her get some experience. I feel you left out the cliche' of real estate, location location location. Location truly matters.
Does she have a job or a school currently? Or lined up? Or hopeful for? Living close to the other main thing in her life makes a biiig difference. SonofV has a place, a shared bedroom, and he walks to work. He doesn't drive, so access to transit, or shank's mare is imperative.
I also think the experience of living with another person of the same age/situation (ish) has tremendous potential for encouraging the growth you're looking for. Roommates, you learn a LOT about life when you have roommates, amirite?
I think there's nothing to be gained by deliberately choosing a place with daylight roaches. Teach her to hate being there maybe. I don't think that's what you're going for.
Lots of stuff is nicer than back in the day. Cars. Appliances. Practically every kind of technology. I don't think that's a ... useful measure. There truly is benefit to be had in the experience of having a place that you want to work your way out of, unquestionably. If you are trying to optimize her learning curve to learn to shift for herself, especially economically, make that part easy for her to do by getting some place close to work so getting good at work so she can get good at getting (fungible) money will facilitate her getting good at all the other stuff she (and you) want her to get good at.