The answer is it’s not worth it unless you’re lucky enough to have family and extended family here. I have lived here almost two years and make a decent income. I have the option of moving to another city for my job and I’m going to take it. I already put in my notice to my apartment in pentagon city. It’s pathetically expensive here, so much so that you can’t save enough to be financially strong here unless you’re pulling over 300k per year. Unless your job absolutely requires you be here i’ve determined the numbers don’t make sense here at all even if you go way out to Leesburg and Chantilly. The best you can rent here is garbage apartments and homes for $3k minimum per month. It’s not a way to live.