How far can $45K go in DC?

[dave134]

I know a lot of people here live in the DC area. How far will $45K go assuming you got a pretty nice, but affordable place in Arlington? I guess this is a two part question cause I am considering both a 1 bedroom and a 2 bedroom with a friend.

[nikorock28]

I know a lot of people here live in the DC area. How far will $45K go assuming you got a pretty nice, but affordable place in Arlington? I guess this is a two part question cause I am considering both a 1 bedroom and a 2 bedroom with a friend.

there is no simple answer to this question. nobody knows except you how far $45k will go, regardless of the city. do you have school loans? car loans? credit card debt? personal loans? health insurance? rental properties? transportation costs? expensive hobbies? utilities, phone, gym, food expense? medical bills? pension contribution? obviously, all of the above vary from person to person.

my best advice is to take the per person cost of each living situation, add all of your other expenses (only you know what expenses you have), factor in taxes and social security, and see if you have any money left over.

[yankeeyosh]

It should be OK...esp. if you have roommates. It's not a glamorous livelihood, but it's sufficient. You definitely won't be "poor".

[winneythepooh7]

I've survived on that much and less in NYC. I also have lots of expenses and loans.

[pisces2473]

Ask biodork, mishl, shimma, oldschoolsoul, weary...anyone else I'm forgetting?

[old_school_soul]

When I had my first apartment in DC.. The rent was $1000 and I was making the same as you are now.. Had a car note, and student loans on top of regular month to month expenses. I don't remember having problems. You can't party like a rockstar, but you can become friends with the bartenders and bouncers :).

[mishl982]

Depends on what part of Arlington, and like another poster said, other factors like what other bills you have to pay.

I will tell you that getting a nice place in Arlington without roommates will be pretty tough on 45K. If you want to live on your own you could probably swing a studio the size of a closet in the shady part of town.

ETA: Oh yea I forgot to add that when I moved into my first apartment I made around $36k. I also lived with 2 other girls in a shady part of Alexandria (also close to DC but not a happenin neighborhood) and we were lucky that utilities were included, but that area was so scary and such a craphole.

Definitely figure your takehome salary and take out your regular bills, gas, utitlies, and other expenses a month to determine if you could swing living alone, with one roommate or more.

[yankeeyosh]

As a previous post indicated, Wash., D. C. is at the same caliber as boston and N. Y. However, people DO survive on that salary and even less. Yes, you may need to live with roommates, but unless your loan payments are astronomical, you should be able to manage fine.

[teeny]

not sure about arlington- i have some friends that live in cleveland park (off conneticut avenue- close to chevy chase- pretty affluent) and they get by and i dont think they make over 30, maybe 35K. They have a nice place too- small yard, decent sized bedrooms, two floors, and they rent out their parking space to save on rent costs. So i think you should be okay (though- like said- only you know what additional bills you have to pay). if a 2 br isn't THAT much more, then maybe you should do that w/a friend- you can always upgrade later if you find out that its easily affordable.

[old_school_soul]

Umm, DC is not the same caliber as NY, not even close, as far cost of living is concerned. I'm not keen on the Boston market, but I would guess DC is a bit cheaper than Boston. On top of that, this guy wants to live in Arlington for some reason, which is a huge 'burb outside of DC in Virginia and is a totally different market. And you can definitely live comfortably in something larger than a shoebox while making $45k--I've done it myself, in the city proper.

I always love to see what folks consider "sketchy neighborhoods". It always seems people use the word sketchy when there aren't a lot of white people.

[mishl982]

I always love to see what folks consider "sketchy neighborhoods". It always seems people use the word sketchy when there aren't a lot of white people.
To me, a "sketchy" area is an area where I am afraid to go out when it's dark. Where the aparment complex sends out notices about recent attacks or rapes or how everyone needs to be more careful when it starts getting darker earlier in the day. Where my car gets keyed for no reason. Where the police hang out in my apartment building because one of my neighbors is a drug dealer and houses 10 other people in their apartment. Where someone will go into my roommate's laundry and cut freakin holes in her panties.

If you don't think that's sketchy then I don't know what is.

[old_school_soul]

To me, a "sketchy" area is an area where I am afraid to go out when it's dark. Where the aparment complex sends out notices about recent attacks or rapes or how everyone needs to be more careful when it starts getting darker earlier in the day. Where my car gets keyed for no reason. Where the police hang out in my apartment building because one of my neighbors is a drug dealer and houses 10 other people in their apartment. Where someone will go into my roommate's laundry and cut freakin holes in her panties.

If you don't think that's sketchy then I don't know what is.

That's not sketchy, that's the ghetto. :)

[mishl982]

That's not sketchy, that's the ghetto. :)
Heh, yea that too.