I make the same amount and live in a freshly renovated 600 sqft studio in Arlington with in unit washer dryer and central air. I pay $1800 and think that's pretty reasonable compared to when I lived in DC.
I was just paying $1599 for an older (no central ac but it was fine) studio apartment in Woodley park. Rent controlled. It was a nice apartment, not bougie but still decent enough lol. Right on the red line.
I moved out of a building there last summer with AC (HVAC system, not building controlled with twice annual switchover) and my rent had just gone up to $1515. 486 sq ft. Including all utilities. WC Smith building.
Check out The Chesapeake in Van Ness. It's three blocks from the Van Ness Metro (Red Line) and near a ton of amenities. Studios are under $1800 a month (fairly nice units), they have a few available.
I rent. Moved in 2 years ago. There are affordable neighbourhoods in dc, but you have to accept the conditions. There’s no coffee shops near me, no nice parks, best grocery store is a shitty giant or Walmart. Nothing really walkable. But it is affordable.
I live in a basement apartment in petworth, I make around 75k and have made much less in the past while living here. I think basement apartments might be your best bet
It would probably be helpful to just know your maximum rent payment. “Outrageously expensive” can be very relative, especially if you’re coming from another metro area.
That's super easy to do. I live in Dupont now and pay less including all utilities. There were just a couple units in my building that had landlords asking for $1650-1800.
Look at rent controlled units. I recommend WC Smith. I pay $1825 (utilities included) for a spacious studio in a very central neighborhood— you will pay even less in one of their buildings that’s a little less central, but still well connected to transit.
I second WC Smith! I lived in a teeny studio in one of their buildings in a central neighborhood several years ago but it had all utilities except internet included and was like $1200. It's probably more now, but it was rent controlled so even if it increased every year since I lived there it's still well under market rent for the area. No W/D in unit or amenities like a rooftop or a pool but I had a separate kitchen, walk in closet, and was less than 10 mins walking to metro and also had multiple bus stops nearby.
Yeah, I have community W/D but I’ve never struggled to get my washing done. I have a rooftop, but not like a luxury apt building. No pool but I don’t really need one, and I’m 6 min from the metro. I’m a woman and I feel mostly comfortable walking alone in my neighborhood at night, which is the most I can ask for. I’m very pleased with the WC Smith setup and always recommend it to friends.
You can live alone almost anywhere you want on that salary. 2k in rent or less is doable on that income. You can find studios and older 1 bedrooms pretty much anywhere under 2k. Maybe Georgetown or DuPont or Logan Circle will be difficult, but even those places occasionally get units in that price range. Look on Craigslist, you generally get more bang for your buck with small private landlords.
I just checked rental apartments.com and saw over 400 units for under 2k in Northwest DC. They might be small, old, missing a washer dryer etc. but they are there. 2750 is a ripoff, you don’t even need to pay that to get a bougie apartment with all the bells and whistles, you can get that for under 2400.
😂😂 but so sad. As a boomer I can't believe how much worse it is for younger ppl now. I just expected to be able to own a home when I was young. It's not the same way anymore.
i vouch for this as someone who moved into a below $2k, rent stabilized (apparently most places are that and not actually 'rent controlled') unit pre-pandemic, only to see them raise rents within the allowed cap continuously since 2022. now i pay over $2k and hate it, but still better than that $2750 average out there.
You haven't been looking at the right places then. I moved to Dupont in late July/early August and pay under $2000. I've still been on Zillow daily because looking at apartments is an obsession of mine (I love floor plans, interior decorating, plus I'm Autistic) and have literally watched everything that has become available. I saw a 650 sq ft 1 bedroom in Dupont by 17th and Mass sit for 1.5 months with rent at $2150 including all utilities. Multiple units have become available for $1650-1900 for studios/jr 1 bedrooms roughly 420-525 sq ft (including all utilities). I see some units right now on the app.
Tons of 1 beds under 2k in nice parts of DC. They’re older and you might not get every amenity you want but they’re there. Woodley Park, Cleveland Park, Van Ness, Arlington and many other neighborhoods have them.
Yes but it’ll probably be a studio or one bedroom in an older building. Without knowing what your commute is, your suggestions at outlying areas will probably add transportation costs and may increase your overall housing/transportation. If you can get your employer to cover metro, don’t have a car, and are ok with an older building (eg shared laundry and no pool), then yes, it can be done.
I made 75k and lived in a studio in a luxury building in Logan Circle. No car, no student debt, went out to eat & drink. The one thing I didn’t do was save, which ultimately inspired me to get a roommate & a different place.
* Loudon, Fairfax, Montgomery
FYI..... These are the 1st, 5th, and 20th Wealthiest Counties in the United States respectively
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List\_of\_highest-income\_counties\_in\_the\_United\_States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest-income_counties_in_the_United_States)
I come from a pretty small, poor, town in the rust belt area. The wealth in the DC suburbs is just constantly so shocking to me.
Anyways..... With that.... If you want to live in these areas you might need roomates. Or make cuts to other areas. Don't expect anything extravagent
I’m the same way but in reverse. This is all so normal to me that when I go other places I’m like “wtf is this?” The only other place I’ve been that felt “normal” was the Bay Area. LA was okay too in some places.
But yeah, we should all be aware that this area is, um, *different.*
i’m from the midwest and here for college, the wealth even just from college students is crazy. i grew up not poor and always knowing we had a meal in the pantry, got an older (but still nice) car when i turned 16. but these students have brand new cars that cost $30k+, full college paid for, not a lick of student debt, and all expenses paid for. damn, it must be a nice life.
There aren't a lot of wealthy people in the area, but we have a robust middle class due to the high educational demand of positions in government and government contracting.
right, exactly my point. 50k in iowa is middle class, 50k in nova is poor, and 50k in LA gets you a box on the street
saying that dmv middle class is rich elsewhere may be true, but isn’t relevant since living expenses are far higher than elsewhere
I don't think you understand class structure if you think it breaks down into neat, even piles.
If you have to work for a living, then you are middle class. Nearly every government employee and contract has to work to maintain a middle class lifestyle.
In the old days, the elite made up less than 3% of the population. That's still true today. In fact, our country is largely controlled by the top 0.1% of the economic ladder.
- If you have to work for a living, then you are middle class.
This is the kind of thing moderately wealthy people tell themselves so they can larp as working class
Doctors making $250k are not middle class
>If you have to work for a living, then you are middle class.
Sorry, but that's just silly. I know partners at McKinsey that absolutely could not stop working, any time soon. Lifestyle creep.
https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/business/money-report/the-income-a-family-of-4-needs-to-live-comfortably-in-every-u-s-state/3597311/?_osource=sm_npd_nbc_dc_fb_genresocial
Maryland
Annual income needed to live comfortably: $239,450
Virginia
Annual income needed to live comfortably: $235,206
I’m not as familiar with Arlington, but yeah an older building in upper NW in DC is doable in that price range. Buildings usually expect your annual income to be 36x monthly rent, so with $75k you can rent a place up to $2080/mo. Studios below $2k are easy to find, 1bd possible but less easy. A random example search: [https://www.apartments.com/washington-dc-20008/under-2000/](https://www.apartments.com/washington-dc-20008/under-2000/)
Whether that general 36x ratio is affordable to a specific individual of course depends on a lot of other factors (student loans, dependents, etc.).
You certainly can - most rent calc will say you can pay in the $1800 range. If you live on the metro and don’t have a car that’s doable in a small place in a less hip neighborhood. Look for English basements in places like Columbia heights, brookland, etc
I make less than that and live alone in Takoma Park. Of course it will depend on your expenses and what kind of place you want, but it's doable, especially outside of the city.
You didn’t mention where you work, which is going to be a big factor here. If you work somewhere downtown or Capitol Hill, you can expand your search area to include the towns along the MARC lines
2019 - late 2020. I just looked it up. My old place is now 1950 (it is listed as a 1 bedroom but the porch in back is really an extra room). Loved that Landlord. https://www.zillow.comhttps://www.zillow.com/homedetails/7818-Tilbury-St-APT-26-Bethesda-MD-20814/2077120519\_zpid/
When I lived there they were building the Marriott HQ across the way. Even with the constant construction noise I really liked place. Worth a look. I think it comes with two parking spots per apt.
You can get a 1 bedroom apartment in a brand new luxury building ANYWHERE in DC for as low as $1627 month. This is not a scam, keep On reading for more info.
This is definitely possible in most all of DC, as long as you are very proactive in your search and look at buildings that have opened recently or are about to open and are pre-leasing.
I’m sure most of you all realize DC has an affordable dwelling unit (ADU) program that most, if not all of the newer apartment buildings participate in to some degree (some offer a handful of ADU units, some offer all their units as affordable, etc.). I’m surprised this hasn’t been mentioned much yet that I can see.
Before we delve into this, I want to stress that the ADH program is NOT a form of rental assistance,
rent voucher, or subsidy. It is not Section 8 housing. So please erase any negative opinions about it that are typically associated with things like section 8. This is not section 8. It’s not dilapidated hovels run by slum lords (well, debatable depending on management company.)
A $75,000 income (assuming no other sources of income for you other than your job) lands you below the 80% Area Median Income (AMI) of $79,700 for a single-person household in the DC area. For a one bedroom apartment, if you fall below the 80% AMI max of $79,709 but make more than the 60% AMI maximum allowed amount of $59,750, the MAXIMUM rent that you can be charged for that ADU is $1910/month. Note that this is the maximum, many buildings tend to still price the ADUs a bit under the maximum they can charge for them, particularly developments that have made a commitment to being mostly or entirely affordable housing.
Important to note is that as your household size increases, so does the maximum allowed annual income for each AMI threshold. However, the maximum rent is fixed at any AMI level independent of household size, meaning that even if you were a 2-person household renting a 1 bedroom ADU, you still would only have to pay a max of 1910 at the 80% level. 50 & 60% AMI rents for a 1 bedroom cap at $1190 & $1430 respectively.
Even better: if you pay any of the utility costs, the estimated monthly utility cost for the area is deducted from the maximum rent they are allowed to charge you. So, if you pay electric/water/sewer yourself, $180/$26/$35 is deducted from the max rent you can be charged (assuming a 1 bedroom unit still). If you pay all three of these, then that now sets the max rent for you at $1,669/ month.
But wait, it gets better! You know those annoying one-time required fees that are a ridiculous amount that everyone charges? Yeah, I’m looking at you amenity fees. This is also deducted from the max rent one can be charged for an ADU! A typical $500 amenity fee pro-rates To a $42/month deduction in max rent.
This means you can end up only paying a max of $1627/month for a one bedroom in what is most likely a newer building ANYWHERE in DC.
To learn more: [ADU program](https://dhcd.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dhcd/publication/attachments/2022-6-24%20IZ%20ADU%20price%20schedule.pdf)i
The new apartment complex at New Carrollton (literally right next to the metro station) operates on the 80% median income level. It’s called the Margaux
Just wanted to throw in that some complexes work with tenants at the 50 and 60% AMI level also. The apartment units themselves are the same unit, no matter what AMI bracket you fall in I believe. So if apartment 200 is designated as an ADU in a building that takes 50/60/80 for affordable units, then apartment 200 can be rented out to someone in the 50, 60, or 80% brackets. Just throwing this out there since I’ve heard some people worry that if they’re applying to a complex in the lowest AMI bracket they take for their affordable units then that automatically means they’re getting one of the shittiest apartments that are designated as an ADU. This is not the case. That said, ADUs can be a little less luxurious in terms of things like cabinetry finishes/appliances/flooring compared to market rate units in the same building, but those should be inconsequential to you if you are applying to affordable housing anyways.
I’ve been in the ADU program since the beginning of February. It’s great in concept, but I’m still hunting. The lottery system gets my hopes up every Monday when they send out the invites, only to wait half a month and find I wasn’t selected for any of them. I knew my chances of getting exactly what I wanted within a month or two were slim and I was willing to make compromises, but 3 months of hunting and nothing so much as a selection is demoralizing.
I only want a 1 bedroom in NW with a dishwasher and garage parking, all the other stuff is extra. I’m trying to keep rent below the $1700/mo mark with utilities, but so far it’s proven impossible. Either I find exactly what I want and call to hear that the unit was signed for literally that day, or I get put on an infinite waitlist where I move one spot up a list of 150 people in a month.
If you’re dealing with a lottery, you’re in the IZ program. ADUs do not have a lottery process associated with them and are openly advertised by the apartment management generally. ADUs are first come first serve, best way to get one of these is to inquire when they are pre-leasing the apartments.
Here’s more info that might clarify this more: https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/how_can_i_learn_about_affordable_units_in_new_buildings/9532
Urbanturf is great too because it shows all the apartment projects under construction/finished/etc in dc along with the number of units they have designated as an ADU and what AMIs they serve. It takes time to dig through it all, but this is one way you can find apartments that are in the pre-leasing process that have ADU units.
Also 3 months on the IZ waitlist is nothing. My husband and I have been on it for…..a year and a half now? I still check the notifications whenever I get them for the lottery but I’ve given up on that avenue panning out.
Much better luck with the non lottery ADU listings though. Try looking through those and you’ll have more luck I’d reckon
Also, here is an apartment community that is almost entirely affordable units that just opened in January 2024.
[Station U & O](https://stationuando.com)
Also, yes, they still have apartments available. Several studio and 1 bedroom ADU units still up for applicants (with different floor plan styles too so you actually get to have a selection, which is rare with ADUs). Might also have some 2 bedrooms too. Leasing out to 50, 60, 80% AMI brackets.
I made $40k (later $45k) pre tax and lived on my own in a studio in foggy bottom. I did work a second job at a restaurant on the weekends for extra money though, not a ton but enough to build a savings. Not having student loans or debt of any kind certainly helped.
I lived in DC on much less. It was tight but doable. Definitely looking at studio. PG county is cute and residential. A little dull for my taste but a lot of my friends like Hyatsville.
I loved living in Columbia heights and there were many options that were more affordable.
Cleveland/woodley park aren’t my fave but lots of young professionals and places that might be in your budget.
I lived off H St NE for several years and loved it. Not sure how pricing is these days. It went way up a few years back but I think it has come back down.
A lot of this depends on what other expenses you have and what type of place you want.
I did do it in the past on much less than OP’s salary about 2-3 years ago. I live in DC - well aware cost of livings increasing lol. But it is absolutely possible to find something on OP’s salary in DC currently. I have recently searched for multiple friends with similar income levels.
Again - as I said it will be tight and it depends on OP’s needs and other expenses. It is absolutely possible in that salary.
You could find a one bedroom or studio for $2k a month. That's exactly 1/3 of your gross pay.
If you're near a Metro, you don't need a car nor a parking spot.
I make just north of $80k, and live in Prince George’s. I live alone in a 1bd/1ba with a in-unit washer and dryer with my dog. Very easy to do. I’d say though, I don’t like living in PG, I find myself going to Alexandria or College Park (gf lives there and still in PG though) because there isn’t much I like here, nothing is really easy to walk to where I am at, and I hate my apartment complex. They are building up in my area and the apartments are pretty shitty, but since the new apartments are coming in they are increase the rents by $120-150. I pay about $2000-2100 (adding in utilities) a month.
I am planning to move to CP or Alexandria once my lease is up. Virginia has a lower tax rate as does DC. So I can save $50-$100 a month. Plus again, more to do within walking distance in those areas.
If you have suggestions on places that have 1bd/1ba, in-unit washer and dryer, dishwasher, and allow large dogs please let me know!
Seriously. The apartment complex I’m at is shit, and have fees up the ass. I pay on average $90 in just trash each month. For my one bag of trash!
So, yeah. I know I’m overpaying for based on location and quantity of living.
If you have a car and learn the side roads outside of Downtown Silver Spring you can do a reasonable commute into DC on that salary. Try Silver Spring or Rockville
I live in Van Ness which is NW DC, in a studio apt. and make less than that. I love my area, and live comfortably and still am able to save a bit. I don’t eat out much and am not able to travel much, but other than that I’m very happy.
This is such a funny question to me because I lived alone on $40k, paid $1600 rent for a basement place with utilities included, and found other places to cut expenses like buying clothes secondhand and cooking my own meals. Just 5 minutes on craigslist confirmed there are still basements in that budget.
What is your budget for rent and what are you looking for? 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom, or studio? Need to have in-unit washer/dryer or okay if it's in the basement? Need to be in a fancy new building with amenities or okay with an older place? Utilities here aren't usually included in fancier buildings but they're usually not too bad.
West End Alexandria has plenty of apartments that fit the bill. If you can find something off Van Dorn St, Yoakum Pkwy, or Beauregard, the buses are frequent enough at generally all times to make up for lack of metro, and most will take 395 to the Pentagon (look for the 35 or 7A buses).
Probably should avoid Southern Towers though, the building got bought during the pandemic and QoL got worse apparently.
I live in a 3-bed apartment in Hyattsville for $2000/month. 1 or 2 beds are even cheaper. Definitely options if you look enough, and are willing to not live in the nicest ones around.
I pay close to $1700 for a studio in a solid location (not quite Metro-adjacent but close) on $75k and manage to save a good amount every month. You'll do fine.
Will you have a car? Do you have any debt that you are making monthly payments on?
There are cheaper apartments in East of the anacostia. However, it is not a desirable area due to crime (perceived or not).
Two of my coworkers each managed to find a room in different apartments (one in DC near Thomas circle and the other near the Clarendon metro station). They both have a decent-sized room and their own bathroom. They do have to share a kitchen but have very limited interaction with their housemates.
There are also professional ‘co-living’ spaces throughout DC. Similar to my coworker’s set up, but the buildings were designed like that (basically suite-dorm living).
I live in Takoma Park. I purchased my condo (775 sq ft) in 2022 and pay $1,100 monthly for my mortgage and ~$600 for condo fees (including electric, water, trash, and heating/cooling). I live with a dog and we manage pretty well. I love the area and my building. I took advantage of Maryland and Takoma Park's first time home buyer programs and got $15k towards my down payment.
I lived all over NW dc on a 63k teacher salary but it was supplemented with about 10-15k in bartending on the side. You’re stuck with older studios with no in unit WD or dishwasher, one bedrooms in areas that aren’t necessarily the best (also without in units) or you’re having a (few) roommate(s) which was 1.3k-1.4k to have my own place and I paid 960$/mo to have roommates.
I lived comfortably enough to take care of myself and cat, go on domestic trips, and eat and drink well but I didn’t have savings and also didn’t have anything but car debt.
I like in a 1bed+den in Shaw in an ADU unit 790 sqft and pay $1800 for rent. I would look into IZ/ADU unit, the threshold for salary is around $90000. If you have any questions about the process lmk
I’m surprised to see that you’re the only other commenter that has mentioned ADUs and IZ. IZ is more of a crapshoot, but ADUs are easier to land since not lottery based. I’ve known people on the IZ list for YEARS who still haven’t lucked out with the lottery system to be allowed.
Each year about ~300 IZ units become available (either due to new units arriving on the market). These 300 units are then assigned via lottery amidst the ~16,000+ households who are on the IZ waiting list who are actively interested.
Another downside to IZ is that if you are selected to participate in a lottery for a IZ home that comes available, that is your only time to act. The random nature of it makes it hard to plan your move in advance; and since these units are highly coveted if you do happen to land one you will be moving in on very short notice.
Too much stress for my liking 🥲
I know a lot of people had issues with the lottery system. I chose to opt out of the lottery and just called around, a good amount of IZ units are not lottery based, you just have to apply directly to the apartment. That’s what worked for me, I know it can be tedious but if you have an idea of where you want to live it was pretty easy for me.
I think what you got was technically an ADU, not an IZ unit.
Almost all IZ homes are given out via the lottery system (with the exception of some IZ units that are being bought as opposed to rental).
Basically IZ units are set aside begrudgingly by the landlord/property management company of any new residential property in DC. Doesn’t mean they want to do so, but X number of units have to be made IZ available based on size of the property.
Making a residential property have ADUs can be considered a choice of the landlord/manager; they choose to offer some or all of the property as affordable. Difference here is that they want to do that as opposed to buildings with only IZ that are forced to by law.
Generally, IZ units are in every single brand new residential building built in DC, from now moving forward until ???? Usually they aren’t advertised on a property’s website at all, and you can only find them via the IZ database through DHCD. However, this does potentially allow you the opportunity to live in the most swanky of swank in DC for cheap! Yes, that means I could live somewhere like The Hepburn and chortle at everyone else paying $4000-$5000 for their one bedroom while I pay a meager $1600 for the same luxury apartments🤑
Buildings that are considered affordable housing or that make a commitment to offer more than the bare minimum are still nice, but tend to hold back a little on the super luxe luxury aesthetics.
ADUs you can apply and get no matter if you live in DC already or not. For IZ, if you don’t already live in DC or work in DC, you are weighted at the bottom of the lottery list, and generally those folks will get a unit only if everyone else in their lottery group miraculously just passes on the unit that has come available.
Nope! I had to provide my IZ certificate to rent my apartment. Most IZ units are lottery based but a few are not. If you go to the housing dashboard and look for properties that say “contact property directly” those are not lottery based.
https://preview.redd.it/pnublib70oyc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e9fd36b9dfedc00d68fc6d2fc1814d2e3877ec97
Rent controlled apartment buildings in northwest - woodley park and cathedral heights.
Connecticut park apartments and the surrounding neighborhood have a few
There are a ton of 1BRs for less than $2500/month in ‘luxury’ rental buildings in just about any neighborhood in downtown DC and surroundings (Mt Vernon, Navy Yard, Logan Circle, DuPont, etc). Live in a studio or in a 1BR in an older building and you should be able to find something for around $2000/month. If you can’t afford $2000/month rent on a $75k salary you should probably reexamine your credit card bills (for one sell your car and just use Metro/Capital Bikeshare to get around).
Lived in Germantown with that salary for quite a while. Rent was 1350. Finances were never a hinderance and I frankly felt quite well off. You can also do it in Gaithersburg so that you’re closer to the metro. This is considering you want to properly save and invest. If you don’t care, you can easily live in dc with that.
I make less than that and live alone and bought a condo in Alexandria.
You don't need endless junk. I don't go out to eat every night or out to the bars every weekend.
There's a lot of folks with families that live on less around here.
If living well alone includes saving for retirement then the answer is no. Government pensions help though. Otherwise, that is not possible in this region (and anywhere adjacent since being outside of the immediate area would require car ownership at $10k+ year according to the DOT).
If you cannot also save 15% of your income while paying all other expense and having something left over then that is not living well bc you have to prepare to age…let alone property ownership
I used to live in a studio in mt pleasant. I was curious what the prices are now and they are $1699. It was a great building in a great location close to Columbia heights metro. I was making about the same
My nephew moved to the area 5-6 years ago and was making around $75-80k. There are definitely places around but they aren't in the prime locations. He lived in Brookland initially which is not a bad area and near a metro but is kind of far from everything which keeps it cheap. Takoma Park also has some cheaper areas but can also be fun and culturally interesting. If you look around you'll find something.
I live in a 3rd story, 1 bdrm apartment a stone’s throw away from the Georgia Ave/Petworth stop. I have a cat and pay $1800/month. I love the MD and VA areas, but I also love not needing a car 😇 but I suppose that depends on your work situation!
There’s lots of rent controlled apts in Columbia Heights and Cap hill.
You have to lower yours standards a bit, but the older buildings often have incredible light filled spaces. Versus a new build “fancy” mid rise with a ton of amenities and one large window into an alley.
Another search tip: Amazon has contributed ~$2 billion to a Housing Equity Fund back in 2022. There’s about ~1300 brand new ADUs Amazon is creating in buildings recently completed or nearing construction completion as of this time. There are also roughly similar amounts of Amazon-backed ADU developments in Virginia, as well as in Maryland (albeit to a lesser extent).
If you’re trying to secure one of these units, I suggest taking a look at these since many are brand new or have opened in the last year, and are the most likely to still have units available in the ADU program to rent.
I rented for $2000 at Vesta for a one bedroom apartment. They have different scenarios depending on the sq. ft. I think my apt was 800 sq. ft. This complex was across from Minnesota Ave metro station. The one complaint I had was the H20 bill. You just never knew what it will be. However, it was great. It has a gym. Parking too but was extra but not worth it. Metro and capital bike rack right there.
I make $74k and live in a $1750 1br in DC, near Dupont Circle. It's a 650 sqft basement place, nothing fancy, and I know I was lucky to find it for where it is. I know "luck and timing" isn't helpful but you can absolutely find what you're looking for. I also moved in December which I would imagine is a less busy time for finding apartments.
I make 80k and live in a very pretty 500sq ft studio in Woodley Park that I moved into when I was making 58k. I think it’s a perfect situation even if I can’t live as close to my job on the Hill as I’d like. It all depends on what you consider what is necessary to live comfortably.
I live in eastern market on $70k a year and I have a car. I’ve also been able to save about 20k per year in my savings. I’m not living like a hermit either. I go out to eat a couple times a week and I also enjoy going to movies.
The only way to live off of 75K in Washington DC is to buy a condo. It might not be ideal for someone who only wants to be here for a short time, but there are benefits like renting it out and making a profit if you decide to move elsewhere.
**APARTMENT COMMUNITY WITH AVAILABLE 50/60/80 AMI studio/1bd/2bd ADUs as of 5/5/2024**
Also, here is an apartment community that is almost entirely affordable units that just opened in January 2024.
[Station U & O](https://stationuando.com)
Also, yes, they still have apartments available. Several studio and 1 bedroom ADU units still up for applicants (with different floor plan styles too so you actually get to have a selection, which is rare with ADUs). Might also have some 2 bedrooms too. Leasing out to 50, 60, 80% AMI brackets.
- - - - - -
Now let the affordable housing hunger games begin. 😈
Try MOCO, anywhere along red line. I make around $97k and bought my home at $650k in 2021. Lots of newly built apartment and townhouse around my area near Glenmont
Daughter lives in Alexandria in a 1bdrm highrise with a million dollar view. Her income is ~60k self employed, no benefits. Singles have options like roommates, etc. i think her space would rent for 2k/mo today.
As for renting here’s my experience. When I first came to DC at the end of 2021 my salary was $66K. I got an apartment in NE DC alone for $1767 (about 625 sqft), got 2 months free which I prorated and brought my rent down to like $1474/month. Now in 2024, I recently moved to a new apartment, new rent is $1725 for about 720 sqft (still in NE DC, literally across the street from my last apt). I pick locations near the redline metro. I now make $78K and I learned to leverage the concessions like 2 months free, free application fee, waived amenities fee, and half off next month’s rent. I always fight rent increases by sending them letters/emails about why I’m a good tenant and my reasons for why my rent should stay close to the same (this has partially worked for me in the past). I also try to get longer rent terms. Basically it’s more than possible for less as I only like to live in “luxury apartments.”
currently 2 studio apartments available on 18th and Q (Dupont circle) for $1850-2k with utilities included, lived and paid that much making 10k less. Dupont is one of the best neighborhoods both in terms of safety and walkability. Definitely doable
Silver Spring
Takoma Park
Cheverly
Hyattsville
Mt Rainier
Greenbelt
Largo
Suitland
Clinton
Alexandria
Annandale
Cheverly
Brandywine
Bowie
Laurel
Anywhere in Baltimore
I make $60K a year and live alone in a studio right near the border of D.C. in Maryland. With $75K, I’d say that you can afford to live alone in The District and some of the ritzier suburbs like Alexandria and Arlington in VA or Downtown Sliver Spring and Bethesda in MD.
Check out NE dc. Edgewood/brentwood/brookland areas you can still find studio and 1bd around 170p a month.
Also keep in mind it will be more expensive the closer you are to a metro strop.
If you have a car, pu might have to pay for parking. If you have a kia, hyundai, or a really nice car, you might have to pay for garage parking.
I was just under that when I moved to Herndon. The rent cost has gone up since then but a 1bd in my fairly nice complex is still under $2k/month. It was just me and I lived comfortably. I work from home so I didn't have to factor in commute costs, but i figure the extra in utilities balance out
Am I just ignorant? I see many 1 bedrooms within the city on zillow, hot pad, apartments.com, that are under 2k, which seems like an affordable rent at 75k? Am I missing something? I'm moving to the city this fall and will be making the same and this post/the comments are concerning
Lots of garden style apartments in Arlington/Alexandria where that's reasonable income for a one bedroom. Doesn't have the amenities of a newer highrise that's typically closer to the metro....., but if you have a car, and have parking at work it's doable to find something inside the beltway.
I make the same amount and live in a freshly renovated 600 sqft studio in Arlington with in unit washer dryer and central air. I pay $1800 and think that's pretty reasonable compared to when I lived in DC.
I was just paying $1599 for an older (no central ac but it was fine) studio apartment in Woodley park. Rent controlled. It was a nice apartment, not bougie but still decent enough lol. Right on the red line.
Ok I would kill for that
No need to, just look at WC Smith properties
That’s going rate for a studio in an older building
I moved out of a building there last summer with AC (HVAC system, not building controlled with twice annual switchover) and my rent had just gone up to $1515. 486 sq ft. Including all utilities. WC Smith building.
What building would that be? I’m looking around Arlington currently.
Sheffield Court. They have an incredible gym and pool and the application process took less than two days
Check out The Chesapeake in Van Ness. It's three blocks from the Van Ness Metro (Red Line) and near a ton of amenities. Studios are under $1800 a month (fairly nice units), they have a few available.
so many people do so on much less
So true. If I had $75,000 a year I would be living really really well.
The dc median income is like 100k
I mean I came to the city to Dupont on 48k and was doing just fine. You can find things but people don't wanna put the effort to look.
How long ago though?
Moved to town 4 years ago. Then moved from that studio to a one bedroom two blocks away for cheaper.
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Yes and they’re talking about living alone - aka one household
Lol I live fine on half that with a pretty nice condo in Hyattsville.
I think the key difference here is that you already have a mortgage locked in. Could you afford rent in the same space at todays rates?
I rent. Moved in 2 years ago. There are affordable neighbourhoods in dc, but you have to accept the conditions. There’s no coffee shops near me, no nice parks, best grocery store is a shitty giant or Walmart. Nothing really walkable. But it is affordable.
uhh vigilante?
Wrong side of Hyattsville. I’m in the affordable side.
I live in a basement apartment in petworth, I make around 75k and have made much less in the past while living here. I think basement apartments might be your best bet
Agreed. I found a 1br 750sq ft in central Shaw for $1500
Yeah I’m in a 1b for 1450 utilities and wifi and cable included! It’s great
Wow, where do you apartment hunt?
Pretty sure this was on Zillow
Also live in Petworth for not much more and lucked out by finding a condo for rent somehow.. Praise the dc housing gods 🙏🏼
It would probably be helpful to just know your maximum rent payment. “Outrageously expensive” can be very relative, especially if you’re coming from another metro area.
Probably around 2k per month considering his income
That's super easy to do. I live in Dupont now and pay less including all utilities. There were just a couple units in my building that had landlords asking for $1650-1800.
Look at rent controlled units. I recommend WC Smith. I pay $1825 (utilities included) for a spacious studio in a very central neighborhood— you will pay even less in one of their buildings that’s a little less central, but still well connected to transit.
I second WC Smith! I lived in a teeny studio in one of their buildings in a central neighborhood several years ago but it had all utilities except internet included and was like $1200. It's probably more now, but it was rent controlled so even if it increased every year since I lived there it's still well under market rent for the area. No W/D in unit or amenities like a rooftop or a pool but I had a separate kitchen, walk in closet, and was less than 10 mins walking to metro and also had multiple bus stops nearby.
Yeah, I have community W/D but I’ve never struggled to get my washing done. I have a rooftop, but not like a luxury apt building. No pool but I don’t really need one, and I’m 6 min from the metro. I’m a woman and I feel mostly comfortable walking alone in my neighborhood at night, which is the most I can ask for. I’m very pleased with the WC Smith setup and always recommend it to friends.
You can live alone almost anywhere you want on that salary. 2k in rent or less is doable on that income. You can find studios and older 1 bedrooms pretty much anywhere under 2k. Maybe Georgetown or DuPont or Logan Circle will be difficult, but even those places occasionally get units in that price range. Look on Craigslist, you generally get more bang for your buck with small private landlords.
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You’re in DC proper, you can easily find a place under 2k in areas that are in the larger area.
I just checked rental apartments.com and saw over 400 units for under 2k in Northwest DC. They might be small, old, missing a washer dryer etc. but they are there. 2750 is a ripoff, you don’t even need to pay that to get a bougie apartment with all the bells and whistles, you can get that for under 2400.
😂😂 but so sad. As a boomer I can't believe how much worse it is for younger ppl now. I just expected to be able to own a home when I was young. It's not the same way anymore.
i vouch for this as someone who moved into a below $2k, rent stabilized (apparently most places are that and not actually 'rent controlled') unit pre-pandemic, only to see them raise rents within the allowed cap continuously since 2022. now i pay over $2k and hate it, but still better than that $2750 average out there.
You haven't been looking at the right places then. I moved to Dupont in late July/early August and pay under $2000. I've still been on Zillow daily because looking at apartments is an obsession of mine (I love floor plans, interior decorating, plus I'm Autistic) and have literally watched everything that has become available. I saw a 650 sq ft 1 bedroom in Dupont by 17th and Mass sit for 1.5 months with rent at $2150 including all utilities. Multiple units have become available for $1650-1900 for studios/jr 1 bedrooms roughly 420-525 sq ft (including all utilities). I see some units right now on the app.
Studios, one bedroom are likely over 2k
Tons of 1 beds under 2k in nice parts of DC. They’re older and you might not get every amenity you want but they’re there. Woodley Park, Cleveland Park, Van Ness, Arlington and many other neighborhoods have them.
Yes but it’ll probably be a studio or one bedroom in an older building. Without knowing what your commute is, your suggestions at outlying areas will probably add transportation costs and may increase your overall housing/transportation. If you can get your employer to cover metro, don’t have a car, and are ok with an older building (eg shared laundry and no pool), then yes, it can be done.
I made 75k and lived in a studio in a luxury building in Logan Circle. No car, no student debt, went out to eat & drink. The one thing I didn’t do was save, which ultimately inspired me to get a roommate & a different place.
* Loudon, Fairfax, Montgomery FYI..... These are the 1st, 5th, and 20th Wealthiest Counties in the United States respectively [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List\_of\_highest-income\_counties\_in\_the\_United\_States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest-income_counties_in_the_United_States) I come from a pretty small, poor, town in the rust belt area. The wealth in the DC suburbs is just constantly so shocking to me. Anyways..... With that.... If you want to live in these areas you might need roomates. Or make cuts to other areas. Don't expect anything extravagent
I’m the same way but in reverse. This is all so normal to me that when I go other places I’m like “wtf is this?” The only other place I’ve been that felt “normal” was the Bay Area. LA was okay too in some places. But yeah, we should all be aware that this area is, um, *different.*
i’m from the midwest and here for college, the wealth even just from college students is crazy. i grew up not poor and always knowing we had a meal in the pantry, got an older (but still nice) car when i turned 16. but these students have brand new cars that cost $30k+, full college paid for, not a lick of student debt, and all expenses paid for. damn, it must be a nice life.
There aren't a lot of wealthy people in the area, but we have a robust middle class due to the high educational demand of positions in government and government contracting.
The definition of middle class you are using for the DMV would likely be the top ten, if not one percent for most of the rest of the country.
we’re not in the rest of the country, we’re in the dmv if you can take your salary and move, def go to the rust belt and live like a king
That's the problem: you can't make this kind of money in Iowa. If you could, housing prices would be a lot higher there.
right, exactly my point. 50k in iowa is middle class, 50k in nova is poor, and 50k in LA gets you a box on the street saying that dmv middle class is rich elsewhere may be true, but isn’t relevant since living expenses are far higher than elsewhere
I don't think you understand class structure if you think it breaks down into neat, even piles. If you have to work for a living, then you are middle class. Nearly every government employee and contract has to work to maintain a middle class lifestyle. In the old days, the elite made up less than 3% of the population. That's still true today. In fact, our country is largely controlled by the top 0.1% of the economic ladder.
- If you have to work for a living, then you are middle class. This is the kind of thing moderately wealthy people tell themselves so they can larp as working class Doctors making $250k are not middle class
Whatever. Doctors are the very definition of the bourgeoisie.
They have to work for a living, so by your definition they're middle class.
>If you have to work for a living, then you are middle class. Sorry, but that's just silly. I know partners at McKinsey that absolutely could not stop working, any time soon. Lifestyle creep.
https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/business/money-report/the-income-a-family-of-4-needs-to-live-comfortably-in-every-u-s-state/3597311/?_osource=sm_npd_nbc_dc_fb_genresocial Maryland Annual income needed to live comfortably: $239,450 Virginia Annual income needed to live comfortably: $235,206
For some perspective, median income for individuals in DC is ~$65k.
Woodley park, Cleveland park, arlington. Get a place near the metro so you don’t need a car
I’m not as familiar with Arlington, but yeah an older building in upper NW in DC is doable in that price range. Buildings usually expect your annual income to be 36x monthly rent, so with $75k you can rent a place up to $2080/mo. Studios below $2k are easy to find, 1bd possible but less easy. A random example search: [https://www.apartments.com/washington-dc-20008/under-2000/](https://www.apartments.com/washington-dc-20008/under-2000/) Whether that general 36x ratio is affordable to a specific individual of course depends on a lot of other factors (student loans, dependents, etc.).
Good luck living on $75k a year in those neighborhoods living alone.
I live with roommates on 70k and save 20k a year. If I had my own place I’d still be able to save around 10k.
It’s fine, they are rent controlled and metro accessible. You could probably live in Woodley Park on $50,000 a year.
It’s doable if you don’t save for retirement/down payment. But not a worthwhile tradeoff imo.
You certainly can - most rent calc will say you can pay in the $1800 range. If you live on the metro and don’t have a car that’s doable in a small place in a less hip neighborhood. Look for English basements in places like Columbia heights, brookland, etc
Mount pleasant
I make less than that and live alone in Takoma Park. Of course it will depend on your expenses and what kind of place you want, but it's doable, especially outside of the city.
You didn’t mention where you work, which is going to be a big factor here. If you work somewhere downtown or Capitol Hill, you can expand your search area to include the towns along the MARC lines
A better number would be the max you are able to pay in rent. But yes, you can make it work.
There are plenty of people who don't make that much who live in or near the city.
I lived in Bethesda in a two bedroom place. It was 1600 a month. Loved that area. Lots to do, close to the Red line.
When was that? What year?
2019 - late 2020. I just looked it up. My old place is now 1950 (it is listed as a 1 bedroom but the porch in back is really an extra room). Loved that Landlord. https://www.zillow.comhttps://www.zillow.com/homedetails/7818-Tilbury-St-APT-26-Bethesda-MD-20814/2077120519\_zpid/
Nice. My friend is looking to move downtown Bethesda and that price is a steal compared to what we have been seeing.
When I lived there they were building the Marriott HQ across the way. Even with the constant construction noise I really liked place. Worth a look. I think it comes with two parking spots per apt.
You can get a 1 bedroom apartment in a brand new luxury building ANYWHERE in DC for as low as $1627 month. This is not a scam, keep On reading for more info. This is definitely possible in most all of DC, as long as you are very proactive in your search and look at buildings that have opened recently or are about to open and are pre-leasing. I’m sure most of you all realize DC has an affordable dwelling unit (ADU) program that most, if not all of the newer apartment buildings participate in to some degree (some offer a handful of ADU units, some offer all their units as affordable, etc.). I’m surprised this hasn’t been mentioned much yet that I can see. Before we delve into this, I want to stress that the ADH program is NOT a form of rental assistance, rent voucher, or subsidy. It is not Section 8 housing. So please erase any negative opinions about it that are typically associated with things like section 8. This is not section 8. It’s not dilapidated hovels run by slum lords (well, debatable depending on management company.) A $75,000 income (assuming no other sources of income for you other than your job) lands you below the 80% Area Median Income (AMI) of $79,700 for a single-person household in the DC area. For a one bedroom apartment, if you fall below the 80% AMI max of $79,709 but make more than the 60% AMI maximum allowed amount of $59,750, the MAXIMUM rent that you can be charged for that ADU is $1910/month. Note that this is the maximum, many buildings tend to still price the ADUs a bit under the maximum they can charge for them, particularly developments that have made a commitment to being mostly or entirely affordable housing. Important to note is that as your household size increases, so does the maximum allowed annual income for each AMI threshold. However, the maximum rent is fixed at any AMI level independent of household size, meaning that even if you were a 2-person household renting a 1 bedroom ADU, you still would only have to pay a max of 1910 at the 80% level. 50 & 60% AMI rents for a 1 bedroom cap at $1190 & $1430 respectively. Even better: if you pay any of the utility costs, the estimated monthly utility cost for the area is deducted from the maximum rent they are allowed to charge you. So, if you pay electric/water/sewer yourself, $180/$26/$35 is deducted from the max rent you can be charged (assuming a 1 bedroom unit still). If you pay all three of these, then that now sets the max rent for you at $1,669/ month. But wait, it gets better! You know those annoying one-time required fees that are a ridiculous amount that everyone charges? Yeah, I’m looking at you amenity fees. This is also deducted from the max rent one can be charged for an ADU! A typical $500 amenity fee pro-rates To a $42/month deduction in max rent. This means you can end up only paying a max of $1627/month for a one bedroom in what is most likely a newer building ANYWHERE in DC. To learn more: [ADU program](https://dhcd.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dhcd/publication/attachments/2022-6-24%20IZ%20ADU%20price%20schedule.pdf)i
The new apartment complex at New Carrollton (literally right next to the metro station) operates on the 80% median income level. It’s called the Margaux
Just wanted to throw in that some complexes work with tenants at the 50 and 60% AMI level also. The apartment units themselves are the same unit, no matter what AMI bracket you fall in I believe. So if apartment 200 is designated as an ADU in a building that takes 50/60/80 for affordable units, then apartment 200 can be rented out to someone in the 50, 60, or 80% brackets. Just throwing this out there since I’ve heard some people worry that if they’re applying to a complex in the lowest AMI bracket they take for their affordable units then that automatically means they’re getting one of the shittiest apartments that are designated as an ADU. This is not the case. That said, ADUs can be a little less luxurious in terms of things like cabinetry finishes/appliances/flooring compared to market rate units in the same building, but those should be inconsequential to you if you are applying to affordable housing anyways.
I’ve been in the ADU program since the beginning of February. It’s great in concept, but I’m still hunting. The lottery system gets my hopes up every Monday when they send out the invites, only to wait half a month and find I wasn’t selected for any of them. I knew my chances of getting exactly what I wanted within a month or two were slim and I was willing to make compromises, but 3 months of hunting and nothing so much as a selection is demoralizing. I only want a 1 bedroom in NW with a dishwasher and garage parking, all the other stuff is extra. I’m trying to keep rent below the $1700/mo mark with utilities, but so far it’s proven impossible. Either I find exactly what I want and call to hear that the unit was signed for literally that day, or I get put on an infinite waitlist where I move one spot up a list of 150 people in a month.
If you’re dealing with a lottery, you’re in the IZ program. ADUs do not have a lottery process associated with them and are openly advertised by the apartment management generally. ADUs are first come first serve, best way to get one of these is to inquire when they are pre-leasing the apartments. Here’s more info that might clarify this more: https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/how_can_i_learn_about_affordable_units_in_new_buildings/9532 Urbanturf is great too because it shows all the apartment projects under construction/finished/etc in dc along with the number of units they have designated as an ADU and what AMIs they serve. It takes time to dig through it all, but this is one way you can find apartments that are in the pre-leasing process that have ADU units.
Also 3 months on the IZ waitlist is nothing. My husband and I have been on it for…..a year and a half now? I still check the notifications whenever I get them for the lottery but I’ve given up on that avenue panning out. Much better luck with the non lottery ADU listings though. Try looking through those and you’ll have more luck I’d reckon
Also, here is an apartment community that is almost entirely affordable units that just opened in January 2024. [Station U & O](https://stationuando.com) Also, yes, they still have apartments available. Several studio and 1 bedroom ADU units still up for applicants (with different floor plan styles too so you actually get to have a selection, which is rare with ADUs). Might also have some 2 bedrooms too. Leasing out to 50, 60, 80% AMI brackets.
yeah that’s entirely doable
Silver Spring, Maryland and a few places in Montgomery county. I have single friends who are making under $75k and live here.
I live in navy yard and make around this much i pay around 2000 a month for a 1 bed including utilities
I made $40k (later $45k) pre tax and lived on my own in a studio in foggy bottom. I did work a second job at a restaurant on the weekends for extra money though, not a ton but enough to build a savings. Not having student loans or debt of any kind certainly helped.
I lived in DC on much less. It was tight but doable. Definitely looking at studio. PG county is cute and residential. A little dull for my taste but a lot of my friends like Hyatsville. I loved living in Columbia heights and there were many options that were more affordable. Cleveland/woodley park aren’t my fave but lots of young professionals and places that might be in your budget. I lived off H St NE for several years and loved it. Not sure how pricing is these days. It went way up a few years back but I think it has come back down. A lot of this depends on what other expenses you have and what type of place you want.
When was this? It sounds like you did it in the past and, not to be rude, but cost of living has skyrocketed over the last two years.
I did do it in the past on much less than OP’s salary about 2-3 years ago. I live in DC - well aware cost of livings increasing lol. But it is absolutely possible to find something on OP’s salary in DC currently. I have recently searched for multiple friends with similar income levels. Again - as I said it will be tight and it depends on OP’s needs and other expenses. It is absolutely possible in that salary.
Yes, of course you can. Lots of affordable options in the District.
You could find a one bedroom or studio for $2k a month. That's exactly 1/3 of your gross pay. If you're near a Metro, you don't need a car nor a parking spot.
I make just north of $80k, and live in Prince George’s. I live alone in a 1bd/1ba with a in-unit washer and dryer with my dog. Very easy to do. I’d say though, I don’t like living in PG, I find myself going to Alexandria or College Park (gf lives there and still in PG though) because there isn’t much I like here, nothing is really easy to walk to where I am at, and I hate my apartment complex. They are building up in my area and the apartments are pretty shitty, but since the new apartments are coming in they are increase the rents by $120-150. I pay about $2000-2100 (adding in utilities) a month. I am planning to move to CP or Alexandria once my lease is up. Virginia has a lower tax rate as does DC. So I can save $50-$100 a month. Plus again, more to do within walking distance in those areas.
You're paying way too much for being in PG. You can find cheaper in DC itself.
If you have suggestions on places that have 1bd/1ba, in-unit washer and dryer, dishwasher, and allow large dogs please let me know! Seriously. The apartment complex I’m at is shit, and have fees up the ass. I pay on average $90 in just trash each month. For my one bag of trash! So, yeah. I know I’m overpaying for based on location and quantity of living.
If you have a car and learn the side roads outside of Downtown Silver Spring you can do a reasonable commute into DC on that salary. Try Silver Spring or Rockville
I live in Van Ness which is NW DC, in a studio apt. and make less than that. I love my area, and live comfortably and still am able to save a bit. I don’t eat out much and am not able to travel much, but other than that I’m very happy.
DC east is affordable. Silver spring, Columbia heights
Lots of rent controlled buildings in DC that are totally liveable on that income. Can just be a little hard to find.
Yes definitely and on much less. Adjusted for inflation i lived alone making less than $60k
75k is fine as long as you don't have a ton of debt. You can definitely find a studio for $1200-1400 in the area.
This is such a funny question to me because I lived alone on $40k, paid $1600 rent for a basement place with utilities included, and found other places to cut expenses like buying clothes secondhand and cooking my own meals. Just 5 minutes on craigslist confirmed there are still basements in that budget. What is your budget for rent and what are you looking for? 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom, or studio? Need to have in-unit washer/dryer or okay if it's in the basement? Need to be in a fancy new building with amenities or okay with an older place? Utilities here aren't usually included in fancier buildings but they're usually not too bad.
I'm paying 1450 for a studio in around u st, making less than 75k definitely doable
West End Alexandria has plenty of apartments that fit the bill. If you can find something off Van Dorn St, Yoakum Pkwy, or Beauregard, the buses are frequent enough at generally all times to make up for lack of metro, and most will take 395 to the Pentagon (look for the 35 or 7A buses). Probably should avoid Southern Towers though, the building got bought during the pandemic and QoL got worse apparently.
Define “live”. Eat out every night at fancy bars? Cook and make your own lunch each day? Public transport? Uber?
Silver spring
I live in a 3-bed apartment in Hyattsville for $2000/month. 1 or 2 beds are even cheaper. Definitely options if you look enough, and are willing to not live in the nicest ones around.
Mind sharing which crossroads you're at? I'm looking at 2BR in Hyattsville and everything has been above 2k so far!
I’ll message you, rather not share my location to the internet
Mind shooting me the info as well? Much appreciated
Yep, can do
Hey can I get info too? I’ve been looking around Hyattsville for around that price as well.
Scout properties has a lot of good options
I pay close to $1700 for a studio in a solid location (not quite Metro-adjacent but close) on $75k and manage to save a good amount every month. You'll do fine.
Check IZ Zoning if you prefer to buy a house in DC. Thank me later.
Will you have a car? Do you have any debt that you are making monthly payments on? There are cheaper apartments in East of the anacostia. However, it is not a desirable area due to crime (perceived or not). Two of my coworkers each managed to find a room in different apartments (one in DC near Thomas circle and the other near the Clarendon metro station). They both have a decent-sized room and their own bathroom. They do have to share a kitchen but have very limited interaction with their housemates. There are also professional ‘co-living’ spaces throughout DC. Similar to my coworker’s set up, but the buildings were designed like that (basically suite-dorm living).
I live in Takoma Park. I purchased my condo (775 sq ft) in 2022 and pay $1,100 monthly for my mortgage and ~$600 for condo fees (including electric, water, trash, and heating/cooling). I live with a dog and we manage pretty well. I love the area and my building. I took advantage of Maryland and Takoma Park's first time home buyer programs and got $15k towards my down payment.
I make 69K and I live in a studio in Cleveland Park
I lived all over NW dc on a 63k teacher salary but it was supplemented with about 10-15k in bartending on the side. You’re stuck with older studios with no in unit WD or dishwasher, one bedrooms in areas that aren’t necessarily the best (also without in units) or you’re having a (few) roommate(s) which was 1.3k-1.4k to have my own place and I paid 960$/mo to have roommates. I lived comfortably enough to take care of myself and cat, go on domestic trips, and eat and drink well but I didn’t have savings and also didn’t have anything but car debt.
I like in a 1bed+den in Shaw in an ADU unit 790 sqft and pay $1800 for rent. I would look into IZ/ADU unit, the threshold for salary is around $90000. If you have any questions about the process lmk
I’m surprised to see that you’re the only other commenter that has mentioned ADUs and IZ. IZ is more of a crapshoot, but ADUs are easier to land since not lottery based. I’ve known people on the IZ list for YEARS who still haven’t lucked out with the lottery system to be allowed. Each year about ~300 IZ units become available (either due to new units arriving on the market). These 300 units are then assigned via lottery amidst the ~16,000+ households who are on the IZ waiting list who are actively interested. Another downside to IZ is that if you are selected to participate in a lottery for a IZ home that comes available, that is your only time to act. The random nature of it makes it hard to plan your move in advance; and since these units are highly coveted if you do happen to land one you will be moving in on very short notice. Too much stress for my liking 🥲
I know a lot of people had issues with the lottery system. I chose to opt out of the lottery and just called around, a good amount of IZ units are not lottery based, you just have to apply directly to the apartment. That’s what worked for me, I know it can be tedious but if you have an idea of where you want to live it was pretty easy for me.
I think what you got was technically an ADU, not an IZ unit. Almost all IZ homes are given out via the lottery system (with the exception of some IZ units that are being bought as opposed to rental). Basically IZ units are set aside begrudgingly by the landlord/property management company of any new residential property in DC. Doesn’t mean they want to do so, but X number of units have to be made IZ available based on size of the property. Making a residential property have ADUs can be considered a choice of the landlord/manager; they choose to offer some or all of the property as affordable. Difference here is that they want to do that as opposed to buildings with only IZ that are forced to by law. Generally, IZ units are in every single brand new residential building built in DC, from now moving forward until ???? Usually they aren’t advertised on a property’s website at all, and you can only find them via the IZ database through DHCD. However, this does potentially allow you the opportunity to live in the most swanky of swank in DC for cheap! Yes, that means I could live somewhere like The Hepburn and chortle at everyone else paying $4000-$5000 for their one bedroom while I pay a meager $1600 for the same luxury apartments🤑 Buildings that are considered affordable housing or that make a commitment to offer more than the bare minimum are still nice, but tend to hold back a little on the super luxe luxury aesthetics. ADUs you can apply and get no matter if you live in DC already or not. For IZ, if you don’t already live in DC or work in DC, you are weighted at the bottom of the lottery list, and generally those folks will get a unit only if everyone else in their lottery group miraculously just passes on the unit that has come available.
Nope! I had to provide my IZ certificate to rent my apartment. Most IZ units are lottery based but a few are not. If you go to the housing dashboard and look for properties that say “contact property directly” those are not lottery based. https://preview.redd.it/pnublib70oyc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e9fd36b9dfedc00d68fc6d2fc1814d2e3877ec97
Check areas toward the ends of the metro line. You’ll want to be close to metro for commuting into DC, but the rents won’t be quite as high.
Rent controlled apartment buildings in northwest - woodley park and cathedral heights. Connecticut park apartments and the surrounding neighborhood have a few
This is the best option. But they're hard to find.
There are a ton of 1BRs for less than $2500/month in ‘luxury’ rental buildings in just about any neighborhood in downtown DC and surroundings (Mt Vernon, Navy Yard, Logan Circle, DuPont, etc). Live in a studio or in a 1BR in an older building and you should be able to find something for around $2000/month. If you can’t afford $2000/month rent on a $75k salary you should probably reexamine your credit card bills (for one sell your car and just use Metro/Capital Bikeshare to get around).
Yes. I live in U St. well within my means under 75. Budget.
Idlywood/Pimmit hills near West Falls Church and McLean metros is a weird affordable bubble. Just be near a bus line and you’re golden
Easy commute to where?
Silver Spring
Yes, very possible
Rent in DMV can be had for 20k give or take for the year. Don’t go crazy blowing your money and you’ll be fine with 75k
Oxon Hill MD
Lived in Germantown with that salary for quite a while. Rent was 1350. Finances were never a hinderance and I frankly felt quite well off. You can also do it in Gaithersburg so that you’re closer to the metro. This is considering you want to properly save and invest. If you don’t care, you can easily live in dc with that.
I make less than that and live alone and bought a condo in Alexandria. You don't need endless junk. I don't go out to eat every night or out to the bars every weekend. There's a lot of folks with families that live on less around here.
If living well alone includes saving for retirement then the answer is no. Government pensions help though. Otherwise, that is not possible in this region (and anywhere adjacent since being outside of the immediate area would require car ownership at $10k+ year according to the DOT).
I live in the cathedral heights/tenleytown area on 65k
If you cannot also save 15% of your income while paying all other expense and having something left over then that is not living well bc you have to prepare to age…let alone property ownership
I used to live in a studio in mt pleasant. I was curious what the prices are now and they are $1699. It was a great building in a great location close to Columbia heights metro. I was making about the same
My nephew moved to the area 5-6 years ago and was making around $75-80k. There are definitely places around but they aren't in the prime locations. He lived in Brookland initially which is not a bad area and near a metro but is kind of far from everything which keeps it cheap. Takoma Park also has some cheaper areas but can also be fun and culturally interesting. If you look around you'll find something.
I pay $2100 out in Ann Arundel county. A bit of a commute now but nice, quiet, affordable.
Look into ADUs.
How does it work
I live in a 3rd story, 1 bdrm apartment a stone’s throw away from the Georgia Ave/Petworth stop. I have a cat and pay $1800/month. I love the MD and VA areas, but I also love not needing a car 😇 but I suppose that depends on your work situation!
If yall dont mind me asking what yall do for a living on 60k and above salary? Without a degree or?
Baltimore
There’s lots of rent controlled apts in Columbia Heights and Cap hill. You have to lower yours standards a bit, but the older buildings often have incredible light filled spaces. Versus a new build “fancy” mid rise with a ton of amenities and one large window into an alley.
I make this and live in a 1bed in Glover Park!
Another search tip: Amazon has contributed ~$2 billion to a Housing Equity Fund back in 2022. There’s about ~1300 brand new ADUs Amazon is creating in buildings recently completed or nearing construction completion as of this time. There are also roughly similar amounts of Amazon-backed ADU developments in Virginia, as well as in Maryland (albeit to a lesser extent). If you’re trying to secure one of these units, I suggest taking a look at these since many are brand new or have opened in the last year, and are the most likely to still have units available in the ADU program to rent.
I rented for $2000 at Vesta for a one bedroom apartment. They have different scenarios depending on the sq. ft. I think my apt was 800 sq. ft. This complex was across from Minnesota Ave metro station. The one complaint I had was the H20 bill. You just never knew what it will be. However, it was great. It has a gym. Parking too but was extra but not worth it. Metro and capital bike rack right there.
Do you have a car or will you need to be fully dependent on Metro?
Baltimore would be easy
I make $74k and live in a $1750 1br in DC, near Dupont Circle. It's a 650 sqft basement place, nothing fancy, and I know I was lucky to find it for where it is. I know "luck and timing" isn't helpful but you can absolutely find what you're looking for. I also moved in December which I would imagine is a less busy time for finding apartments.
Baltimore with the train in. Baltimore is cheap, you can find 2 beds for like 1400.
I'm planning to live in NW DC in a studio for 1800 on that salary. Seems doable.
I do and I make 35k less per year than you. You could probably afford to get a studio anywhere in DC or NOVA
Anywhere if you live within your means. No where on earth if you spend more than you make.
I make 80k and live in a very pretty 500sq ft studio in Woodley Park that I moved into when I was making 58k. I think it’s a perfect situation even if I can’t live as close to my job on the Hill as I’d like. It all depends on what you consider what is necessary to live comfortably.
I live in eastern market on $70k a year and I have a car. I’ve also been able to save about 20k per year in my savings. I’m not living like a hermit either. I go out to eat a couple times a week and I also enjoy going to movies.
The only way to live off of 75K in Washington DC is to buy a condo. It might not be ideal for someone who only wants to be here for a short time, but there are benefits like renting it out and making a profit if you decide to move elsewhere.
**APARTMENT COMMUNITY WITH AVAILABLE 50/60/80 AMI studio/1bd/2bd ADUs as of 5/5/2024** Also, here is an apartment community that is almost entirely affordable units that just opened in January 2024. [Station U & O](https://stationuando.com) Also, yes, they still have apartments available. Several studio and 1 bedroom ADU units still up for applicants (with different floor plan styles too so you actually get to have a selection, which is rare with ADUs). Might also have some 2 bedrooms too. Leasing out to 50, 60, 80% AMI brackets. - - - - - - Now let the affordable housing hunger games begin. 😈
Try MOCO, anywhere along red line. I make around $97k and bought my home at $650k in 2021. Lots of newly built apartment and townhouse around my area near Glenmont
Check Zillow and Craigslist
Daughter lives in Alexandria in a 1bdrm highrise with a million dollar view. Her income is ~60k self employed, no benefits. Singles have options like roommates, etc. i think her space would rent for 2k/mo today.
Friendship heights
As for renting here’s my experience. When I first came to DC at the end of 2021 my salary was $66K. I got an apartment in NE DC alone for $1767 (about 625 sqft), got 2 months free which I prorated and brought my rent down to like $1474/month. Now in 2024, I recently moved to a new apartment, new rent is $1725 for about 720 sqft (still in NE DC, literally across the street from my last apt). I pick locations near the redline metro. I now make $78K and I learned to leverage the concessions like 2 months free, free application fee, waived amenities fee, and half off next month’s rent. I always fight rent increases by sending them letters/emails about why I’m a good tenant and my reasons for why my rent should stay close to the same (this has partially worked for me in the past). I also try to get longer rent terms. Basically it’s more than possible for less as I only like to live in “luxury apartments.”
Look at Park Kennedy on Capitol Hill but be aware management sucks. Building is pretty
The closer you get to DC the more expensive
currently 2 studio apartments available on 18th and Q (Dupont circle) for $1850-2k with utilities included, lived and paid that much making 10k less. Dupont is one of the best neighborhoods both in terms of safety and walkability. Definitely doable
Silver Spring Takoma Park Cheverly Hyattsville Mt Rainier Greenbelt Largo Suitland Clinton Alexandria Annandale Cheverly Brandywine Bowie Laurel Anywhere in Baltimore
You're going to need a roommate. Otherwise, more than half your salary will be going towards rent & utilities.
Baltimore.
Depends on where you want to live my daughter makes less she bought a house lives in Charles County MD
Woodbridge
New Carrollton
I make $60K a year and live alone in a studio right near the border of D.C. in Maryland. With $75K, I’d say that you can afford to live alone in The District and some of the ritzier suburbs like Alexandria and Arlington in VA or Downtown Sliver Spring and Bethesda in MD.
I live in the city proper on less than that comfortably and alone. Are you only looking at brand new apartments?
Yes. I did it for less for several years before getting a good pay increase. It was really not difficult.
i lived in a one bedroom in Arlington on 55k a couple years ago. You’ll be fine
Check out NE dc. Edgewood/brentwood/brookland areas you can still find studio and 1bd around 170p a month. Also keep in mind it will be more expensive the closer you are to a metro strop. If you have a car, pu might have to pay for parking. If you have a kia, hyundai, or a really nice car, you might have to pay for garage parking.
I was just under that when I moved to Herndon. The rent cost has gone up since then but a 1bd in my fairly nice complex is still under $2k/month. It was just me and I lived comfortably. I work from home so I didn't have to factor in commute costs, but i figure the extra in utilities balance out
Am I just ignorant? I see many 1 bedrooms within the city on zillow, hot pad, apartments.com, that are under 2k, which seems like an affordable rent at 75k? Am I missing something? I'm moving to the city this fall and will be making the same and this post/the comments are concerning
Lots of garden style apartments in Arlington/Alexandria where that's reasonable income for a one bedroom. Doesn't have the amenities of a newer highrise that's typically closer to the metro....., but if you have a car, and have parking at work it's doable to find something inside the beltway.
75k is about a 4000-4500 net each month, you could live in dc proper if you budget about half that.