There’s no need for a full ring to have centripetal 'gravity', just a living compartment, a strut (or cable as it's in tension) and a counterweight (or second compartment). Making the strut long enough so there aren't significant tidal effects in the living compartment(s) doesn’t increase cost significantly.
That said, rotating presents some issues for docking spacecraft, so maybe a hub at the center of mass. (queue scene from Kubrick's 2001).