How expensive is D.C.??

[rhyno]

I hope to be moving to D.C. next fall to contiue my education (working on Phd.) I am still not sure where i will be attending, though it looks like it could be either GW or George Mason. My concern is finding a place relatively close to campus while still being able to afford it. Are there any areas that you recommend I look it? If not in D.C., what surrounding areas?

Thanks for any help

:dallasuck

[BlueTalon]

Afford it. HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!

[PleaseBlitz]

I hope to be moving to D.C. next fall to contiue my education (working on Phd.) I am still not sure where i will be attending, though it looks like it could be either GW or George Mason. My concern is finding a place relatively close to campus while still being able to afford it. Are there any areas that you recommend I look it? If not in D.C., what surrounding areas?

Thanks for any help

:dallasuck

Fairfax. Outside the beltway so its cheaper, but you still have metro access.

[Larry]

I know it's a cliche, but if you ave to ask, . . . .

Frankly, I haven't been there for a few decades, but I'd bet that Fairfax isn't exactly cheap. (It may even cost more than DC, but it'll likely be a lot safer.)

[HOF44]

It all depends on your definition of affordable. I don't know about rents in DC. The area of fairfax your talking about would have apts starting at probably about 1000 per month for a 1 bedroom. Thats for an older smaller one.

[PleaseBlitz]

Which isn't saying much. Fairfax is one of the more expensive counties to live in in the US . . .


Some parts yes, some parts no.

[Barney B]

Being the helpful ****er that I am, I dug up some websites that I once used to determine that I can't afford to live... well, anywhere at all:

According to this one, DC is a whole lot (25%) more expensive than J-Ville, and Fairfax is much worse (67% more expensive):

Salary calculator (http://www.homefair.com/homefair/servlet/ActionServlet?pid=200&tool=salarycalculator&previousPage=116&cid=homefair&fromState=FL&toState=VA&salary=100000&fromCity=1235000&toCity=5126496&ownrent=own)

This sight seems to agree, more or less:

Cost of Living Index (http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0883960.html)

And this one has DC at 46% more expensive:

Sperling's Best Places (http://www.bestplaces.net/col/?salary=50000&city1=3600&city2=8840)


Sorry for the bad news, but overall, if you don't mind some of the worst traffic in the US, it's a good place to live, and of course, you can drive to Fed Ex Field. :cheers:

[Extreme]

:rotflmao: affordable living in DC? that' an oxymoron. That's like a safe neighborhood in P-Town.

[Slacky McSlackAss]

Yeah, i live like 10 min from Mason and theres no affordable housing here. in the last 10 years our house price has nearly quadrupled.

[bmpuglez]

I've gotta agree with chocolatecityskin. It's several people in one house sharing expenses, ghetto or high dollar. Personally I'd take a few roommates any day. Honestly I really do sympathise with your situation and wish you the best.

[rtbasye]

thats funny, I'm in the same boat- getting ready to move to the Fairfax area to go to GMU. I'm not quite so smart as to be going after a Phd, but rather my master's degree. I'm looking to live in the Manassas area, and just commute to school. Houses are a little more reasonable out there, so they are somewhere between 1600 a month for a decent townhouse, and starting and about 1800 for a decent house.

As for affordablity- yikes I'm cringing moving back but it'll be okay after I get settled. Lets just say that the Army's housing allowance in the DC area is more than twice what it is out here in Hell-Paso Texas.

[gortiz]

I just rented out the second bedroom in my condo for 850 a month including all utilities and cable. I could have probably gotten a 1000 if I wanted.

that is scandalous man....850 month got you a 3 bdrm townhouse 10 min from the beach and under 10 from Downtown West Palm Beach Florida.

If your gonna buy somethin now is the time, we bought our first place a year ago and we had to go up against 21 other contracts...this year our neighbor is going on his 3rd open house with out a contract.

[Prosperity]

live in the ghetto

[RDSCNZ20]

it all depends on how much your looking for housing etc...
i live in alexandria about 7 miles from DC and a two bedroom condo was listed in the 420's.. which means rent for the area is prolly in the 1700-2000 a month....
but i would use craigslist.com to see prices.. seems like most people in the area find roomates or cheaper place via that website..
but its pretty damn expensive in NOVA..

[gbear]

honestly check out the washington city paper on line. I can't remember if it is washingtonciitypaper.org or .com, but they release there a few days before print (either mondya or tues afternoon). It's by far the best place to find places looking for a roomate. I used it twice before I got married. The Washinton post and the times will never have these places as it's a local newspaper, and most vacancies are full before the print eddition much less before people get around to the post or times.

Good luck.

[vinva]

What are you looking to pay in rent?

[rhyno]

Money, isn't the MAIN concern. Scholarships, grants etc. will help out. Still , the cheaper the better. My real concern is location. Somewhere easily accessible to school. Thanks for all the advice guys, you've ofered a ton of help already.

[HOF44]

Money, isn't the MAIN concern. Scholarships, grants etc. will help out. Still , the cheaper the better. My real concern is location. Somewhere easily accessible to school. Thanks for all the advice guys, you've ofered a ton of help already.

If moneys not a concern, you'll be fine at either place. Just pick the one you like better.

[HokieJ]

Reading this thread reminds me why I don't want to live in Nova. Ouch.