Fodors has been so helpful in helping me plan so many vacations. I've noticed that many fodorites are habitants and answer questions about their own cities so this question goes out to those of you Fodorites who live in DC and answer questions about your area.

I'm just in the beginning stages of looking at apartments in DC for a POSSIBLE move. I want to start looking at costs etc. It will be just me, 1 female. I'm looking for either a studio or 1 bedroom. Im in my early 20s so I don't mind living in college town areas. I haven't found a job yet so I'm not quite sure what I'm looking to spend per month. As comparison, I live in a 1 bedroom in Illinois right now for $500-600/month and would probably looking for something similar. Are there any areas in particular that i should be looking at? All my searches come up with apartments running in the $1000/month range so I must not be looking in the right places. I can't imagine it being that expensive. I don't mind taking public transportation so a need to be close to downtown is not necessary. I don't mind about a 30-40 minute commute. That also means I don't mind if its in nearby Virginia or such. Any guidance would be great as this is the VERY early stages of thinking about this. Thanks for any help.

Where are the $1k places?

$1000 sounds like a very good price. I just sold my 1 BR place in Dupont (for which I was owner/landlord) and I rented it out for $2400/month without parking. IT was an average sort of place.

How do you feel about roommates?

I just think that getting a job out there, I wouldn't be able to afford a place for $1000/month which is what I've seen apartments run in the college towns around DC. I still have to consider other costs like my students loans, car payments and the like which is why I'm looking to stay cheaper. I dont know if I would trust roommates. I never lived in a dorm in college so I suppose the idea of moving in with someone i've never met before scares me, especially since I picked my roommmates now because we get along and now I'm having a lot of difficulties with one.

I suppose from the responses I've gotten, the idea that I would ever get an apartment in my ideal range is laughable?

A 1 BR apartment in an unsavory neighborhood, not close to Metro, no wash/dryer, no A/C etc. and a 30 minute commute to central DC is around $1000/month. and it's getting worse every month. Average rents here seem to go up about 20% every year.

Have you considered getting a roommate? That's what most younger people here do. At least the ones making less than $75K.

I go with vjp: where are the 1000/pm places? That would be a huge bargain!

Regarding roommates: It is a very typical thing in DC (much moreso than in the midwest, where I also live) and is a great way to set yourself up as you look for a job and acclimate to the city. You might be able to find a short-term situation that would get you through the transition period.

I would not want to move to DC without knowing where my job was located. I would rather poke and turn forks in my eyes.

And bonus, if your job is located downtown, you might not need a car (though you might need a roommate to live there.)

Get your job first. The landlord will likely want proof of income.

The choice often boils down to (1) expensive, in town, with roommate, public transit, sell the car; vs. (2) a bit cheaper, farther out, high commuting costs. If there's any way you could arrange a temporary (2-3 month) roommate situation while you search for a job, that would let you familiarize yourself with the area and have proof of employment to start the apartment hunt on your own. Good luck, it is a tough housing market here for buyers as well as renters.

I know you're just in the beginning stages of consideration but I have to agree with the others who've said that knowing where you will work will greatly influence where you might live. 30-40 minutes is considered a dream commute by some.

"College towns around DC." Not entirely sure which places you mean but most of the region's universities are part of the exurban & suburban DC metro area. I'd consider Fredericksburg a college town (Mary Washington University) and it's probably a 90 minute commute to downtown DC in rush.

You're probably already looking at craiglist for data points on the cost of living so maybe focus on a couple of neighborhoods to see what things run. Ballston and surrounding Arlington neighborhoods on the Orange line of the metro in Virginia is very popular with people in their 20s. Sharing is common, fact of life I think.

I can echo a lot of the previous comments. My niece just left DC after living in two different apartments (both with 2 roommates). In the second, her "room" was the sun porch (with all windows) and I think she paid around $750/month. She found both through craigslist. You might want to think about not bringing a car to save some $$$ since parking is difficult and expensive and you might not really use enough to justify. If you like the city, then part of the great appeal for DC (for my niece) was the ability to live in town and take advantage of all that a city has to offer. Good luck!

I read this thread mainly because I was curious - have no personal of the DC real estate/rental market.

But reading "As comparison, I live in a 1 bedroom in Illinois right now for $500-600/month and would probably looking for something similar." . . .

I'd think that would be difficult or impossible in any major/desirable metropolitan area in the country, not just DC.

I think you will find that DC is simply much more expensive than where you live now. (I'm used to NY prices and those n DC sound cheap to me. Here a one-bedroom is at least $2000 a month - even in a gentirfying area. A parking space in my garage in $600 per month and to rent an apartment for $600 per month you would probably need to be 2 hours from the city - and in a not great area.)

You may have to consider a roommate situation - or a very long commute.

But- have you looked into salaries in DC? typically big city salaries are considerably higher to help make up the cost.

Oops - should have read >>have no personal knowledge of the DC real estate/rental market.

Thank you everyone for the advise. I guess I was just in sticker shock and will have to consider looking at employment and salaries. I also guess that "college towns" are different to many people and maybe I pigeon-holed myself in with that phrase. I'll keep everyone updated and will continue to check back. Thanks again!