agree with 吃糖.

Your renting an apt. close to your work is a guarantee to your good performance. I think it is reasonable to negotiate your compensation based on this. Employment is a two way street rather than a life time contract. If the boss is nice and really want to hire you, he/she would increase the base salary to your comfortable zone. I don't know the whole story about yours, it is just my 2 cents based on the post.