How should I estimate the transportation expenditure in DC? (rent, how much)

[Dreamingkathy]

I will do an internship in DC and it's paid but not much. So I am thinking about saving on rent by living a little far and spend more time commuting. My current choice is to live somewhere 10 mintues' drive to Glenmonth Metro Station. But I don't have a car, so I plan to take the bus to Silver Spring Metro Station. Do you have an idea of how much it will cost monthly to take the bus and metro every day?
If I live closer by, do you think the transportation fee will be much less? I don't want to live far away and then end up spending a lot more on transportation...

[kodaka]

The trip planner on WMATA's website will calculate the fares for: trip planner

Fares on metro are based on distance, so you'll need to know which station you will be traveling to in order to calculate fares. Using Metro Center as an example, Glenmont to Metro Center during 'peak of the peak' is $4.75 each way. If you take a bus to Silver Spring, that's $1.50. The fare from Silver spring to metro center is $3.45, minus a 20-cent discount for the transfer. Thus 1.50 + 3.25 = 4.75. So, ultimately the same expense. My advice would be to avoid transfers if you can--waiting for your connection is time consuming. Some day's you'll get luck and make the connection smoothly with no wait. Other days you'll miss and have to wait ten or twenty minutes. Day after day, it adds up.

4.75 x 2 (round trip) = 9.50 x 20 work days per month (approximately) = $190/mnth

Of course, the cost to other downtown stations are different. Use the link above to calculate your own costs.

commuting costs are definitely a significant expense. I've known more than a few people who turned down jobs because of the commute expense, and many who've chosen to live in the city because the commute costs makes the suburbs just as expensive as the city.

[Lil Tunechi]

You should just do it all be bus and leave out the train.
There are buses from Silver Spring station that go downtown:

S2, S4 (16th Street local)
S9 (16th Street express)
70, 71 (Georgia Ave-7th street local)
79 (Georgia Ave-7th street express)

[Dreamingkathy]

Thanks a lot!! I am not familiar with DC and these are good advice!!

[Plokivos]

$3.15 was what I usually got one way on Metro.

If you live in Silver Spring, it would only be about 6 to 7 miles, but you are on billion traffic lights and never ending construction zone on Georgia Ave, so your gas will cost billions and it'll take you at least 40 to 2 hours depending on where you have to go in DC.

Take the metro and not the bus.

Better yet, ask for metro benefits. You should be able to get your metro smart card filled for free every month, even if you're an intern, if you're at the right company. If you're not, leave.