If you want your own apartment, it will be hard to live in the District with your budget. However, if you don’t mind sharing an apartment or living in a shared house, you are likely to be able to find something that works. For a general notion, start with Craig’s List.
Based on where you are working, it sounds lik Alexandria might be a good bet for you. There are also trains that go from both MD and NoVa. I think the VA train might be VRE, and I don’t know what the MD train is - maybe AMTRAk.
Do lots of research before you make a final decision. Hopefully you can visit before you come. Does your employer give you money for a house hunting trip? Do they have suggestions?
The MD commuter rail is called MARC. I have to say, it’s a happy train. I’ve only been on it once but people seemed to know each other, the conductor comes around and punches your ticket. It’s a very non-Metro vibe. This was the route between DC and Baltimore.
MARC also has a line that runs from Harper’s Ferry, WV to Union Station in DC with a number of stops along the way including Germantown, Gaithersburg, and Rockville, MD. Here’s a link: http://mta.maryland.gov/sites/default/files/Brunswick_Jan2015.pdf
I’ve known a number of people who used that route to get to/from DC every day.
The MARC Brunswick line is the most unreliable, often late since it shares tracks with freight trains. The Camden Line isn’t much better. The best line is the Penn Line, which rides on the Amtrak dedicated passenger tracks. But no commute on the MARC is a short one.
When trying to figure out where to live in the DC area make sure you consider the state income tax rates. DC itself is high compared to Va and Md. This amounts to impacting the money in your pocket and s/b considered along with other factors such as rental cost, commute hassles/costs (whether by car or by metro), and others. Do the calculations of the difference in state income taxes for your salary to make this data point objective and see whether you think it’s significant in your case/mind or not.
Note - you should strongly consider using the Metro for the commute. Use your car for weekend jaunts outside the city - which leads me to another note - consider the cost of parking your car where you live. Many of the apartments and areas around the DC area charge for parking.
Just got this email message from AAA.
In the coming week, nearly two million people are expected to travel from around the country and throughout the world to take part in Pope Francis’ first visit to the United States.
Know Before You Go - Papal Visit Cities/Dates
• Washington, DC – Tuesday through Thursday, September 22–24
• New York City – Thursday through Saturday, September 24–26
• Philadelphia – Saturday and Sunday, September 26, 27
Travelers in and around these areas should expect extensive delays, road closures and security measures, as well as last-minute changes.
S2, who lives and works in DC, told me that his employer will encourage employees to work from home during the Pope’s visit.
I have a friend who is leaving 4 hours early to get to work! Not sure which day that is for.
I think you might be able to afford it if you got rid of your car. Without the costs of maintaining a car, you might be able to spend a little more on rent, and a little more is all you probably need.
My daughter worked and lived in the District for her first 3 years after college. She didn’t have a car and found that she didn’t need one. Her apartment was two blocks from a Metro station and there were also buses nearby. She had no trouble getting to where she needed to go.
There are dedicated spaces for zip cars at every metro station that has parking. I’ve also seen them in other lots in the city.
Remember that you might have to pay for parking at your residence. And again if you drive. My daughter had a one month overlap when she moved - $90 a month for parking at her apartment and $145 a month for parking at work. Her boyfriend would have to pay $300 a month for parking at his apartment, if he had a car
We lived in Montgomery County for three years without a car. The apartment was on two bus lines, near two more, and easy walking distance to the Red Line and to a supermarket. Now that there is a ZipCar base right at that Metro station, it would be even easier to live without a car.
My D lives in DC and is so glad she doesn’t have a car. She lives in U Street corridor and shops at Trader Joe’s across the street. There is hardware nearby and plenty of restaurants and nightlife within blocks. Her BF works in Arlington and takes metro every day with no problems. You would want green line to Anacostia and there is a shuttle from Anacostia to Bolling. I’m sure lots of people who work there rely on that shuttle.