Possibly relocating to Mclean from Atlanta. Will my salary be enough?
Posted 07-19-2013 at 07:05 PM by Plokivos
Hey,
I'm from ATL. Let me help you. At $45k, you need to find 2 roommates. I know. I have a house in Kennesaw, and I came up here three years ago, because I probably had the same idea as you did, to advance in my career, live in the city, etc.
You can take a look at Alexandria (not near King St) or Reston or South VA below Alexandria (like Huntington near metro). I've found that DMV (DC, MD, and VA) is easy to commute to via metro trains, unlike in ATL. Or you can look at Bailey's Crossroad in Alexandria (10 miles away from DC).
You have $620 in basic expense (your insurance will go up a lot up here so call your insurance agent, they can give you a quote), not counting utilities $150 or so (it's all the fees that apartment charge you for admin), transportation fee (Metro $6 to $15 a day depending on how far you're living - download DC metro app, they have Trip Planner that tells you how much it costs), and then you have your food and entertainment (drinks are around $5 during Happy Hour, and $15 for a mix drink off the Happy Hour. The movies ar the same price as ATL).
So, you're looking at about $800 for bills (Car, Insurance and student loan), and about $200 for transportation (generously, depending on where you live - since either you drive {don't drive, it's a nightmare} or take the metro) and you're already out $1000.
You make $45k, the tax rate is higher here, plus the health insurance rate is higher here as a single person. So, you take home $2400 or so, minus $1000 is $1400.
You have a rent around $800 to $1100 a month in rent IF you find a roommate (on a cheapest scale), and let's say you live somewhere where you won't get robbed or have to deal with roaches at $1100.
$1400 - $1100 = $300.
You have $300 to eat and have fun.
The groceries are about the same at VA, so you can calculate that.
I would thank very hard before you come up. This ain't NYC, and it's not like NYC in night life.
I hope this helps, because I struggle with this a bit when I came up here three years ago.
Good luck.
I'm from ATL. Let me help you. At $45k, you need to find 2 roommates. I know. I have a house in Kennesaw, and I came up here three years ago, because I probably had the same idea as you did, to advance in my career, live in the city, etc.
You can take a look at Alexandria (not near King St) or Reston or South VA below Alexandria (like Huntington near metro). I've found that DMV (DC, MD, and VA) is easy to commute to via metro trains, unlike in ATL. Or you can look at Bailey's Crossroad in Alexandria (10 miles away from DC).
You have $620 in basic expense (your insurance will go up a lot up here so call your insurance agent, they can give you a quote), not counting utilities $150 or so (it's all the fees that apartment charge you for admin), transportation fee (Metro $6 to $15 a day depending on how far you're living - download DC metro app, they have Trip Planner that tells you how much it costs), and then you have your food and entertainment (drinks are around $5 during Happy Hour, and $15 for a mix drink off the Happy Hour. The movies ar the same price as ATL).
So, you're looking at about $800 for bills (Car, Insurance and student loan), and about $200 for transportation (generously, depending on where you live - since either you drive {don't drive, it's a nightmare} or take the metro) and you're already out $1000.
You make $45k, the tax rate is higher here, plus the health insurance rate is higher here as a single person. So, you take home $2400 or so, minus $1000 is $1400.
You have a rent around $800 to $1100 a month in rent IF you find a roommate (on a cheapest scale), and let's say you live somewhere where you won't get robbed or have to deal with roaches at $1100.
$1400 - $1100 = $300.
You have $300 to eat and have fun.
The groceries are about the same at VA, so you can calculate that.
I would thank very hard before you come up. This ain't NYC, and it's not like NYC in night life.
I hope this helps, because I struggle with this a bit when I came up here three years ago.
Good luck.
Quote:
Originally Posted by atlien2010
Hi. I have a possible job offer in Mclean, VA for $45K. I would be relocating from Atlanta. I want to move for the new opportunity and chance to do something new. Also for a good opportunity to move up in the working world.
I'm really excited about this new opportunity, but Im just a little worried about the cost of living differences.
In Atlanta, I pay about $720 for a 1bd apartment in the suburbs (abt 900 sq ft). I've looked online for apartments in Mclean and a studio runs at about $1500
. I'm not looking for a huge apartment, just something nice and affordable.
I'm 27, single female (no kids) and would like to live in an area with people my age, that's safe, and easy to explore ( i have a car).
I have a car note (under $300/mo), student loans (abt $200/mo), car insurance ($120/mo), and a cell phone. I've managed to save up $4000 for this move.
With the salary im offered in Mclean, will it be enough to live?
Also, with this salary will I HAVE to get a roommate? (haven't had a roommate since college, and not sure how to find one in this new area).
Any suggestions, recommendations, or other areas to consider??
Thanks in advance!!
I'm really excited about this new opportunity, but Im just a little worried about the cost of living differences.
In Atlanta, I pay about $720 for a 1bd apartment in the suburbs (abt 900 sq ft). I've looked online for apartments in Mclean and a studio runs at about $1500
. I'm not looking for a huge apartment, just something nice and affordable.I'm 27, single female (no kids) and would like to live in an area with people my age, that's safe, and easy to explore ( i have a car).
I have a car note (under $300/mo), student loans (abt $200/mo), car insurance ($120/mo), and a cell phone. I've managed to save up $4000 for this move.
With the salary im offered in Mclean, will it be enough to live?
Also, with this salary will I HAVE to get a roommate? (haven't had a roommate since college, and not sure how to find one in this new area).
Any suggestions, recommendations, or other areas to consider??
Thanks in advance!!
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