does anyone work in DC if so where do you live?

[Clocker]

i was thinking about working in DC but i was wondering where to live . if i lived in dc my base salary would be about 65,000. but i dont know if that is enough in DC. i am assuming cost of living is enormous.

 

[MiniDoom]

The further away from DC the cheaper. If you are single/no kids you should be fine with that salary.

 

[ngvepforever2]

most of the people I know that work on DC live somewher in Northern Virginia.

Regards

ng

 

[Clocker]

northern va? i will look into it

 

[davestar]

NoVA and Montgomery County MD (Silver Spring, Rockville, Chevy Chase, etc) are the prime suburbs for DC workers. You can get by in DC on 65K, though.

if you want to live in a city, don't want DC prices, and don't mind driving, many people commute from Baltimore.

 

[Darkstar757]

I live in Silver Spring.

PM me if you need details on good Apts and locations.


Cheers,
Darkstar

 

[Turkish]

65,000 is plenty for D.C. but you won't be able to save much, if anything.

I work in D.C., live in Alexandria (Northern Virginia), 10 minute drive (around 45 minutes to an hour during rush hour).

 

[GTaudiophile]

Good timing on this thread. I will be moving to DC in mid Septmeber...and will be making a little less! So the info is helpful.

I still can't decide if I want to live in town with no car or outside and commute by train but keep the car.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: Turkish
65,000 is plenty for D.C. but you won't be able to save much, if anything.

I work in D.C., live in Alexandria (Northern Virginia), 10 minute drive (around 45 minutes to an hour during rush hour).

Can't save?!? I find that very hard to believe. What is rent like for a studio in Alexandria?

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: davestar
NoVA and Montgomery County MD (Silver Spring, Rockville, Chevy Chase, etc) are the prime suburbs for DC workers. You can get by in DC on 65K, though.

if you want to live in a city, don't want DC prices, and don't mind driving, many people commute from Baltimore.

That commute would take you well over an hour each way, probably between 90 - 120 minutes. I work in columbia and live in silver spring, and drive up 95 every day. 95 south (which is what you would be taking from baltimore to dc) is like a parking lot the entire time I'm on it going north for about 12 miles.

I would recommend living in rockville. Rockville is a very nice area and it's not quite as expensive as Bethesda or DC, and it's very close to DC. Silver Spring is also pretty nice (that's where I live) but I would prefer to live in Rockville.

 

[Linflas]

I worked downtown for 10 years and live in Manassas. The commute was pure hell. My advice would be to avoid living anywhere along the I 66 corridor unless you know for sure you can use Metro to get to work and back. The 395/95 corridor is much better depending on where you work in DC as you can take advantage of the slug lines and pay nothing for commuting costs. This is all Virginia BTW, I know nothing of the commute in from the Maryland side.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Where can I get a studio with utilities for around $900/month??? Possible? I'll be working in the China Town area along the red line.

I pay around $625/month here in the ATL, including utilities. I currently share a 2-bed/2-bath with full garage. I live just outside the I-285 perimeter, about 15 miles from work. My commute usually takes me 15-20 minutes on a good day.

 

[Turkish]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile

Originally posted by: Turkish
65,000 is plenty for D.C. but you won't be able to save much, if anything.

I work in D.C., live in Alexandria (Northern Virginia), 10 minute drive (around 45 minutes to an hour during rush hour).

Can't save?!? I find that very hard to believe. What is rent like for a studio in Alexandria?

Can't save if he lives in D.C., not Alexandria.

 

[MiniDoom]

Originally posted by: Turkish

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile

Originally posted by: Turkish
65,000 is plenty for D.C. but you won't be able to save much, if anything.

I work in D.C., live in Alexandria (Northern Virginia), 10 minute drive (around 45 minutes to an hour during rush hour).

Can't save?!? I find that very hard to believe. What is rent like for a studio in Alexandria?

Can't save if he lives in D.C., not Alexandria.

I know of some places in Anacostia.

 

[Turkish]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Where can I get a studio with utilities for around $900/month??? Possible? I'll be working in the China Town area along the red line.

I pay around $625/month here in the ATL, including utilities. I currently share a 2-bed/2-bath with full garage. I live just outside the I-285 perimeter, about 15 miles from work. My commute usually takes me 15-20 minutes on a good day.

Sorry to bust your bubble but Atlanta is one of the cheaper metros. Don't expect such prices in and around Capital Area.

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Where can I get a studio with utilities for around $900/month??? Possible? I'll be working in the China Town area along the red line.

I pay around $625/month here in the ATL, including utilities. I currently share a 2-bed/2-bath with full garage. I live just outside the I-285 perimeter, about 15 miles from work. My commute usually takes me 15-20 minutes on a good day.

Gallery Place-Chinatown is actually a convenient area for all the metro lines. Metro Center station is only a couple of blocks from the Gallery Place station so you can really look for a place along any of the Metro lines.

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Where can I get a studio with utilities for around $900/month??? Possible? I'll be working in the China Town area along the red line.

I pay around $625/month here in the ATL, including utilities. I currently share a 2-bed/2-bath with full garage. I live just outside the I-285 perimeter, about 15 miles from work. My commute usually takes me 15-20 minutes on a good day.

My co-worker lives in Rockville, right off of 495 and literally accross from the red line metro station. He has a studio apartment in there that is around 400 SQFT I believe. He pays $1K/mo and it includes utilities.

It's actually a building I am considering buying a condo in as well. It's in a great location, lie 2 minutes from bethesda, 5-10 minutes from DC, and right on the beltway. It's called "Grosvnor Place" and it's right on Tuckerman and 355.

 

[MiniDoom]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Where can I get a studio with utilities for around $900/month??? Possible? I'll be working in the China Town area along the red line.

I pay around $625/month here in the ATL, including utilities. I currently share a 2-bed/2-bath with full garage. I live just outside the I-285 perimeter, about 15 miles from work. My commute usually takes me 15-20 minutes on a good day.

check here. I have been out of the rental loop for a while so I'm not too sure of prices.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: Turkish

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Where can I get a studio with utilities for around $900/month??? Possible? I'll be working in the China Town area along the red line.

I pay around $625/month here in the ATL, including utilities. I currently share a 2-bed/2-bath with full garage. I live just outside the I-285 perimeter, about 15 miles from work. My commute usually takes me 15-20 minutes on a good day.

Sorry to bust your bubble but Atlanta is one of the cheaper metros. Don't expect such prices in and around Capital Area.

So, let's make it even harder. Is there anywhere I could live along a metro line, preferably in Maryland, where I could pay $800-$850/month for a studio? We're talking one room with a kitchen and bathroom for fvck's sake.

If not, I may need to quit my job and stay here. My job is moving to DC, and they are giving me a 27% increase in pay to compensate (at least partially) for the cost of living. But that still may not be enough.

 

[Turkish]

and check out craigslist for listings...

a couple areas you may like in VA:

crystal city, bolston, or if you are into small but big town setting, then old town alexandria

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Where can I get a studio with utilities for around $900/month??? Possible? I'll be working in the China Town area along the red line.

I pay around $625/month here in the ATL, including utilities. I currently share a 2-bed/2-bath with full garage. I live just outside the I-285 perimeter, about 15 miles from work. My commute usually takes me 15-20 minutes on a good day.

Some to look at
More listings

 

[Turkish]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile

Originally posted by: Turkish

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Where can I get a studio with utilities for around $900/month??? Possible? I'll be working in the China Town area along the red line.

I pay around $625/month here in the ATL, including utilities. I currently share a 2-bed/2-bath with full garage. I live just outside the I-285 perimeter, about 15 miles from work. My commute usually takes me 15-20 minutes on a good day.

Sorry to bust your bubble but Atlanta is one of the cheaper metros. Don't expect such prices in and around Capital Area.

So, let's make it even harder. Is there anywhere I could live along a metro line, preferably in Maryland, where I could pay $800-$850/month for a studio? We're talking one room with a kitchen and bathroom by fvck's sake.

If not, I may need to quit my job and stay here. My job is moving to DC, and they are giving me a 27% increase in pay to compensate (at least partially) for the cost of living. But that still may not be enough.

Well, I don't know your salary, but you can easily live comfortably if you are willing to commute long hours. you can find a studio for $1K around D.C., but you'll have to ride the train or metro. Metro and train are also pretty expensive in D.C. area (compared to other cities).

 

[GTaudiophile]

The OP will be making $65K. I'll be making about the same, possibly $2-3K less/year.

 

[GTaudiophile]

I would also like to add that my mom lives on Connecticut Ave. near the UDC stop on the Red Line. She has a beautiful studio for $940/month including utilities.

She also does not have a car.

 

[Clocker]

i am not single and i do plan on having a family so i need to plan this in the equation. it seems the best option is to take the metro. this will be very different from me since i have been living in the midwest for a few years.