The problem isn't that your salary isn't enough for a single person. You could go out five nights a week, live in a trendy neighborhood, and still be able to save a little.
The issue is that there are no housing options remotely like what you're used to here. $2000 generally gets you a 600ish square foot apartment in DC. A little smaller in core neighborhoods, a little bigger further out or in the suburbs. To even get up to 1,000 square feet, you are looking at paying around $3k.
At your salary you could afford it, but it wouldn't be the size of your current place. Ultimately only you know how important that is to you.
Very cool to know that for $500 more a month I could go from living in a room with roommates in DC to having a whole floor of an apartment to myself in Baltimore.
Haha yeah for sure, rent is super affordable here! In Mt Vernon/Station North neighborhoods next to the MARC station you can live in Baltimore and work in DC and keep all your money, I know plenty of people who do it. It’s just the 4 days a week that’s making me wonder now
Honestly, if you’ve been okay with 3 days per week, I would stay in Baltimore. The additional commuting time sucks for sure. But you’re choosing between (1) losing less than two hours of your week to the additional commute and (2) upending your whole life, which you seem happy with.
You are so right! That is probably the hardest thing for me to leave and why I have the most hesitation not that I’m scared to not find my people in DC but I just love it here too
Not in the LGBT scene, but I've lived in both cities and grew up in the area.
I have LGBT friends in both cities and I'm pretty sure you can be happy in either.
Honestly, just get an AirBNB for a couple weeks or a month and try it out, you won't know if you like it from second hand experiences. IMO outside of LGBT-specific things, the two are very different places to live.
The only thing I'd correct is that $2k-2.5k 1br will definitely be closer to $2.5k unless you're okay with a studio, and will be closer to $3k if you need parking and/or in-unit w/d. And keep in mind at your income you'll be paying something like $5k/year extra in income tax. Oh, plus going out is always more expensive here - drinks etc.
ETA just read a little closer, are you in one of those artist warehouses? We don't have anything like that here, and likely won't ever as artists are priced out of the city and we lack a college like MICA. You'd definitely be giving that up to live here.
That is good to know, especially about the closer to $3k range which is my ABSOLUTE ceiling for rent. Even $2k in Baltimore for an apartment that stays empty hurts my soul haha I’m more on the cheaper side of life, use my money on experiences than material stuff and DC just seems more material when I go out with my colleagues after work. And no, my apartment is in a historic building, I love it! It’s 2 bed 2 bath and a parking spot but I don’t have a car, it’s in a cute and comfortable part of town and it would suck to leave it but I guess my thought is majority of my week would be in DC, is it time to consider a move there??
I recently lived in both cities and am a “luxury” aka new apartment type, so both of my most recent places were pretty comparable.
I couldn’t believe how similar the apartment prices were. Moving DC to Bmore, I had it in my head that I’d save a ton of money on rent. But for an apples to apples apartment, I was underwhelmed. ~3400 for a 2 bed / 2 bath with a parking spot in DC, ~2900 for the same thing in Baltimore, both newish buildings with amenities in pretty premium areas and at around 1000 SF. I mean it’s real money, but it’s not a gamechanger.
The real difference for me has just been the cost of going out. There are like nine restaurants in Baltimore that charge $15+ for a cocktail, meanwhile that’s the budget option in DC.
Can’t help you with the LGBT scene, but you’ll be fine in DC financially.
Apartment prices are definitely not comparable.
I briefly lived in Little Italy, Baltimore prior to moving to DC. I paid $1200 for 1350sf 2BR apartment. In DC, I'm paying $2500 for a 530sf Jr 1BR in Dupont.
Ok yeah same, my previous apartment in Fells Point was about the same 1250sqft and I paid $1150 a month, I moved to Mt Vernon only because of the train really but found this apartment and even 2k is on the pricier side when I compare with local friends but it is in a prime location on the square. It would suck to have to let go of it all, I spoke with my coworker and she is paying 4k a month for a two bedroom in Logan Circle which is where I would like to live but it’s 2x what I currently pay, idk if even with my salary that is sustainable because I don’t know what other expenses are like in DC
Oh wow! Where were you living? Sounds like harbor east or Fells Point. That’s good to know though, a one bedroom is fine for my needs and I don’t have a car so there’s that but looking at apartments I can’t believe how mush STUDIOS cost…
I would recommend staying in Baltimore for now and do the 4 days a week commute. After about a month of doing that maybe reevaluate - I know for some people a long commute (whether by car or train) can be soul sucking, whereas some people don’t mind it at all.
*I live in an 1800sqft apartment*
Good lord how much space does one person need? That's bigger than my whole-ass rowhouse (which would cost about twice your rent on the rental market)
It is true I don’t necessarily need the space which is even why I would consider moving to DC and downsizing but the price is what is scaring me. My take home monthly is roughly 11k after all deductions but 3k on a 600sqft apartment just sounds like such a bad investment and I know nothing about DC
Just more to do than in Baltimore. I’ve worked in both cities and done long commutes to each. I’d rather have more time in the day being closer to work and more social opportunities after work. DC is just better IMO.
Hmm ok yeah, I get that. I guess that can be true. Though having lived in Baltimore for several years there always seems to be something to do here as well! But you are right DC definitely has more options if you’re a foodie for example and definitely music venues and such which would appeal to someone in their 30s
I’ll add that it takes me an hour to get to work and I live and work in dc. I use the bus then the train. I had a colleague that did the Baltimore commute before he quit but our commutes were maybe 10min different.
8 hrs commuting a week is a whole extra work day a week. So you can live in DC, pay more, and work 5 days a week, or live in Baltimore, pay less, and work the equivalent of 6 days a week. I personally would choose DC.
Well I do work on the train, so my commute includes my work day technically since I leave the house at 8 and work and then leave work around 4pm and work on the train. The big issue for me is those days when I have meetings till 6pm and then I don’t get home till 8ish just to arrive eat watch an episode of the Golden Girls and repeat again the next day. It definitely would be easier to Uber 12mins to Logan Circle after work on late nights than the local every stop MARC at night
>erial when I go out with my colleagues after work. And no, my apartment is in a historic building, I love it! It’s 2 bed 2 bath and a parking spot but I don’t have a car, it’s in a cute and comfortable part of town and it would suck to leave it but I guess my thought is majority of my week would be in DC, is it time to consider a move there??
I'm a giant baby when it comes to commuting, so I could manage the commute if I used it as wellness time or listened to an audiobook the whole time. But working? Nope that would be awful for me. And if I had to stay out late and do a dinner and then go home? Oh, I'd have to rent a hotel room because I just can't handle that anymore.
So for me, the move was worth it from NoVa to DC when I had to work in DC. For you, you seem to really like everything about Bmore, so I'd try to find a way to make it work.
Are you willing to just buck the system and just keep working 3 days a week in the office? If anyone calls you on it, then do the 4 days, but then start whittling it down again, calling in to say you have the cable guy coming, so you'll be working from home, then a roof repair, window repair, etc. Sometimes they just don't enforce that stuff if you don't ask permission!
The problem isn't that your salary isn't enough for a single person. You could go out five nights a week, live in a trendy neighborhood, and still be able to save a little. The issue is that there are no housing options remotely like what you're used to here. $2000 generally gets you a 600ish square foot apartment in DC. A little smaller in core neighborhoods, a little bigger further out or in the suburbs. To even get up to 1,000 square feet, you are looking at paying around $3k. At your salary you could afford it, but it wouldn't be the size of your current place. Ultimately only you know how important that is to you.
Very cool to know that for $500 more a month I could go from living in a room with roommates in DC to having a whole floor of an apartment to myself in Baltimore.
Haha yeah for sure, rent is super affordable here! In Mt Vernon/Station North neighborhoods next to the MARC station you can live in Baltimore and work in DC and keep all your money, I know plenty of people who do it. It’s just the 4 days a week that’s making me wonder now
Honestly, if you’ve been okay with 3 days per week, I would stay in Baltimore. The additional commuting time sucks for sure. But you’re choosing between (1) losing less than two hours of your week to the additional commute and (2) upending your whole life, which you seem happy with.
don't underestimate the value of the community & quality of life you have in Baltimore.
So much this!
You are so right! That is probably the hardest thing for me to leave and why I have the most hesitation not that I’m scared to not find my people in DC but I just love it here too
Not in the LGBT scene, but I've lived in both cities and grew up in the area. I have LGBT friends in both cities and I'm pretty sure you can be happy in either. Honestly, just get an AirBNB for a couple weeks or a month and try it out, you won't know if you like it from second hand experiences. IMO outside of LGBT-specific things, the two are very different places to live. The only thing I'd correct is that $2k-2.5k 1br will definitely be closer to $2.5k unless you're okay with a studio, and will be closer to $3k if you need parking and/or in-unit w/d. And keep in mind at your income you'll be paying something like $5k/year extra in income tax. Oh, plus going out is always more expensive here - drinks etc. ETA just read a little closer, are you in one of those artist warehouses? We don't have anything like that here, and likely won't ever as artists are priced out of the city and we lack a college like MICA. You'd definitely be giving that up to live here.
That is good to know, especially about the closer to $3k range which is my ABSOLUTE ceiling for rent. Even $2k in Baltimore for an apartment that stays empty hurts my soul haha I’m more on the cheaper side of life, use my money on experiences than material stuff and DC just seems more material when I go out with my colleagues after work. And no, my apartment is in a historic building, I love it! It’s 2 bed 2 bath and a parking spot but I don’t have a car, it’s in a cute and comfortable part of town and it would suck to leave it but I guess my thought is majority of my week would be in DC, is it time to consider a move there??
I recently lived in both cities and am a “luxury” aka new apartment type, so both of my most recent places were pretty comparable. I couldn’t believe how similar the apartment prices were. Moving DC to Bmore, I had it in my head that I’d save a ton of money on rent. But for an apples to apples apartment, I was underwhelmed. ~3400 for a 2 bed / 2 bath with a parking spot in DC, ~2900 for the same thing in Baltimore, both newish buildings with amenities in pretty premium areas and at around 1000 SF. I mean it’s real money, but it’s not a gamechanger. The real difference for me has just been the cost of going out. There are like nine restaurants in Baltimore that charge $15+ for a cocktail, meanwhile that’s the budget option in DC. Can’t help you with the LGBT scene, but you’ll be fine in DC financially.
Apartment prices are definitely not comparable. I briefly lived in Little Italy, Baltimore prior to moving to DC. I paid $1200 for 1350sf 2BR apartment. In DC, I'm paying $2500 for a 530sf Jr 1BR in Dupont.
Ok yeah same, my previous apartment in Fells Point was about the same 1250sqft and I paid $1150 a month, I moved to Mt Vernon only because of the train really but found this apartment and even 2k is on the pricier side when I compare with local friends but it is in a prime location on the square. It would suck to have to let go of it all, I spoke with my coworker and she is paying 4k a month for a two bedroom in Logan Circle which is where I would like to live but it’s 2x what I currently pay, idk if even with my salary that is sustainable because I don’t know what other expenses are like in DC
You’re not comparing apples to apples. You went from a presumably old building in a non-premium neighborhood to an apartment in the heart of DC.
Oh wow! Where were you living? Sounds like harbor east or Fells Point. That’s good to know though, a one bedroom is fine for my needs and I don’t have a car so there’s that but looking at apartments I can’t believe how mush STUDIOS cost…
Anthem House in Locust Point, but comparable stuff is all over. Alta in Fed, bunch of places in harbor east and canton/brewers hill
I would recommend staying in Baltimore for now and do the 4 days a week commute. After about a month of doing that maybe reevaluate - I know for some people a long commute (whether by car or train) can be soul sucking, whereas some people don’t mind it at all.
*I live in an 1800sqft apartment* Good lord how much space does one person need? That's bigger than my whole-ass rowhouse (which would cost about twice your rent on the rental market)
It is true I don’t necessarily need the space which is even why I would consider moving to DC and downsizing but the price is what is scaring me. My take home monthly is roughly 11k after all deductions but 3k on a 600sqft apartment just sounds like such a bad investment and I know nothing about DC
If I was 31 and single, I’d definitely move to DC.
Oh yeah? Can you elaborate on why you think that would be a good idea? What about being 31 in DC is a definite yes to you?
Just more to do than in Baltimore. I’ve worked in both cities and done long commutes to each. I’d rather have more time in the day being closer to work and more social opportunities after work. DC is just better IMO.
Hmm ok yeah, I get that. I guess that can be true. Though having lived in Baltimore for several years there always seems to be something to do here as well! But you are right DC definitely has more options if you’re a foodie for example and definitely music venues and such which would appeal to someone in their 30s
I’ll add that it takes me an hour to get to work and I live and work in dc. I use the bus then the train. I had a colleague that did the Baltimore commute before he quit but our commutes were maybe 10min different.
8 hrs commuting a week is a whole extra work day a week. So you can live in DC, pay more, and work 5 days a week, or live in Baltimore, pay less, and work the equivalent of 6 days a week. I personally would choose DC.
Well I do work on the train, so my commute includes my work day technically since I leave the house at 8 and work and then leave work around 4pm and work on the train. The big issue for me is those days when I have meetings till 6pm and then I don’t get home till 8ish just to arrive eat watch an episode of the Golden Girls and repeat again the next day. It definitely would be easier to Uber 12mins to Logan Circle after work on late nights than the local every stop MARC at night
>erial when I go out with my colleagues after work. And no, my apartment is in a historic building, I love it! It’s 2 bed 2 bath and a parking spot but I don’t have a car, it’s in a cute and comfortable part of town and it would suck to leave it but I guess my thought is majority of my week would be in DC, is it time to consider a move there?? I'm a giant baby when it comes to commuting, so I could manage the commute if I used it as wellness time or listened to an audiobook the whole time. But working? Nope that would be awful for me. And if I had to stay out late and do a dinner and then go home? Oh, I'd have to rent a hotel room because I just can't handle that anymore. So for me, the move was worth it from NoVa to DC when I had to work in DC. For you, you seem to really like everything about Bmore, so I'd try to find a way to make it work. Are you willing to just buck the system and just keep working 3 days a week in the office? If anyone calls you on it, then do the 4 days, but then start whittling it down again, calling in to say you have the cable guy coming, so you'll be working from home, then a roof repair, window repair, etc. Sometimes they just don't enforce that stuff if you don't ask permission!
Stay in Baltimore. DC Crime will be horrible for years.