We basic workers cannot live here

I moved here from NC in December to be near family, who have lived here before prices escalated. I am single and a nurse, and in NC, I could live comfortably in a new home and commute by moped safely to work. I tried applying to rent in this area where I got my new job here (in Bellevue) and would sometimes be 18th in line with a credit score over 700 and no debt and still could find very few places that would even accept my application because of the demand and applicants ahead of me in line. Few, if any, in my wage bracket can buy, so I guess rental demand skyrocketed to the moon. I finally found a place to rent, but at almost $3000/mo, old, dated, moldy smelling, no a/c, funky, and taking almost half of my take-home pay, I am greatly disheartened that I cannot ever get ahead trying to live in the city I work in. And forget commuting by scooter or bike like I did before. How scary the horrendous traffic is here.