I'm new to living on my own and paying rent. My place is pretty cheap but my salary isn't exactly what I would like to be making.

My lease is ending soon and I will need to find a new place. I fear that I won't find rent as low as I currently have- I found similar spots for about $200 more a month.

Moving is imminent, as I cannot keep my current lease. But If I find a place and rent is more (say $800 vs $600), my budget will be spread pretty thin, which it already is to begin with.

Ever since being told a raise won't happen until next January (18 months after my start date), I have been looking for better paying jobs, but have had no such luck lately.

Would asking for a raise anyway be advisable, being that my cost of living will be going up?