Can I survive in NoVA, opinions? (Arlington: apartments, rent, condos)

[zores]

Hi, as the title says I'm looking for some opinions on if I can survive in NoVA, around Ballston neighborhood. I've lived in Bergen County, Nj all my life and I am relocating to VA for work. Specifically, Arlington. My salary is 64,000 a year. It looks like most apartments in the Ballston area are 1800+, if I pay for a 1800+ apartment it doesn't seem like I have much left per month.

So the simple but not so simple question is, can I survive on that salary in Arlington? Anyone in a similar situation that can give first-hand feedback? Looking to stay close for a commute to Ballston area. Thanks in advance.

[Vectorhead]

A lot of depends on you. How much debt do you have? What's your lifestyle like? Do you like to go out a lot? Eat out? Do you have a car?

[FCNova]

Of course you can merely survive. That's a pretty healthy salary even for this area. Like previous poster said, what exactly living in Ballston on 64k entails for you depends on a lot of personal preferences/factors.

[zores]

@Vectorhead & FCNova

I have no debt. Have my own car(06 Beige Corolla granny-looking car). Don't drink or smoke. Not that interested in night life, I'm quite boring actually.

In NJ, I go out to eat maybe 3 times a week ($20x3), but it isn't fancy restaurants or anything just a diner or pizza place when I'm tired of eating my own cooking. What I'm concerned about is factoring in parking at work at the Ballston Mall ($105/mo) , gas, utilities, internet bill, crud.....

My current apartment costs $1350 in NJ so I've never approached the $1,800+ price range(before utilities) before it is insane and intense at the same time like living in Manhattan's rent or something. But I think it's the best choice for me for my first year at work, I should be close by, so I'm trying my best to see where I could stay near the Ballston Mall.

FCNova, that's a relief to hear it is a decent salary. I plopped the values in paycheckcity.com and it looked bleak, didn't seem like there was much wiggle room, after taxes since more than half my pay would go towards rent.

[Mnseca]

Originally Posted by zores

Hi, as the title says I'm looking for some opinions on if I can survive in NoVA, around Ballston neighborhood. I've lived in Bergen County, Nj all my life and I am relocating to VA for work. Specifically, Arlington. My salary is 64,000 a year. It looks like most apartments in the Ballston area are 1800+, if I pay for a 1800+ apartment it doesn't seem like I have much left per month.

So the simple but not so simple question is, can I survive on that salary in Arlington? Anyone in a similar situation that can give first-hand feedback? Looking to stay close for a commute to Ballston area. Thanks in advance.

You can definitely survive. You might consider someplace cheaper than Ballston, though, if you want to have more extra money. You can also probably find an efficiency apartment for a bit less. But as long as that's a starting salary and there is room for growth in future years, it's a pretty decent salary to start.

[Mnseca]

Originally Posted by zores

@Vectorhead & FCNova

I have no debt. Have my own car(06 Beige Corolla granny-looking car). Don't drink or smoke. Not that interested in night life, I'm quite boring actually.

In NJ, I go out to eat maybe 3 times a week ($20x3), but it isn't fancy restaurants or anything just a diner or pizza place when I'm tired of eating my own cooking. What I'm concerned about is factoring in parking at work at the Ballston Mall ($105/mo) , gas, utilities, internet bill, crud.....

My current apartment costs $1350 in NJ so I've never approached the $1,800+ price range(before utilities) before it is insane and intense at the same time like living in Manhattan's rent or something. But I think it's the best choice for me for my first year at work, I should be close by, so I'm trying my best to see where I could stay near the Ballston Mall.

FCNova, that's a relief to hear it is a decent salary. I plopped the values in paycheckcity.com and it looked bleak, didn't seem like there was much wiggle room, after taxes since more than half my pay would go towards rent.

Maybe look for an efficiency at River Place in Rosslyn. It's close to Ballston. It's right at the metro, and the prices start at about 1300. I think they include utilities, too, or at least some do. They are condos, but many are rented out.

[zores]

Originally Posted by Mnseca

Maybe look for an efficiency at River Place in Rosslyn. It's close to Ballston. It's right at the metro, and the prices start at about 1300. I think they include utilities, too, or at least some do. They are condos, but many are rented out.

I did glance over their complex at rent.com or one of those sites. I'll give them a contact, thanks.

Just to make sure, this is the place youre' talking about, Mnseca?

http://www.rentriverplace.com/location.htm

[FCNova]

Originally Posted by zores

FCNova, that's a relief to hear it is a decent salary. I plopped the values in paycheckcity.com and it looked bleak, didn't seem like there was much wiggle room, after taxes since more than half my pay would go towards rent.

You definitely won't be rolling in disposable income, but you should have money left over to enjoy yourself, especially since you have no debt.

For reference, I lived near Ballston right after college for a little bit, about 10 years ago. I was only making like 30k when I moved there. Rent was $1,450 a month(had a roommate). I also had no debt and no car payment, which was probably the only reason I could afford it. It was tight but I had money to do stuff, go out with friends on the weekends and eat out sometimes. I really enjoyed the brief time I lived there. You'll be ok.

[PK12]

You certainly can more than survive if you budget everything right.

Are you open to roommates/shared housing? If so, you can actually do pretty well on that salary even while living in Arlington or Ballston itself.

[Cardiff Kook]

You will be fine paying 1800 a month on that salary w/no debt