Villa assignment is definitely a crap-shoot. You could get something nice with the allowance. Might be a good idea to take what you're given for six months and then move to something else. That will also give you an idea about what area you want to live in as well as where your preferred school is.
Passport rumour is rubbish.
Make 2k a month your goal and adjust once you get an idea of what things cost and how you want to spend your $$$. IMHO that is achievable without living like a hermit. Good luck