Similar story, also 2003. Think the pay was £24K, but I had to be in for work quite early in the morning so that limited the location. Rent was £800 a month for new building, but in a not-so-nice neighborhood. It was a 1BR, the sort of size that's big for a student but small for anyone else. Had its own kitchen and bathroom.

Moved in with a friend after that, saved about £100 a month, but also in a nicer part of town.

Have to say the budget felt stretched at £24K, luckily that went up a lot pretty fast.