I hadn't thought about how living arrangements is a more prominent theme in this game, but I agree. Interesting!
I can't remember all the details about this, but even though Ashley could choose where to live in GGGB, it didn't feel important to the story. At that point her path was already quite set, and I don't think there were any ways she could really fuck up things with her roommates. Whether she lived with her dad, her mom or with Jess, the main choice was basically whether to be in a sexual relationship with them or not.
The way both Ian and Lena can backstab their roommates, I also imagine they could either decide to move out themselves, or be forced to do it. I don't think Ashley could move in with any of her partners before the epilogue, so that could be another difference between the games. It kinda complicates things; if, as an example, Ian and Lena move in together, and he then one day comes home to find Lena riding his best friend's monster cock in their bed, it would make sense if one of them have to move out again. Unlike in GGGB, where Ashley simply stopped hanging out with Eric (or any other partner) if they broke up towards the end of the game.
I also like the idea about both of them having to balance the budget together. It seems like a plausible feature, and could give a lot of interesting situations where the lack of money and the power dynamics in the given relationship really affects their possibilities.