dc cost of living?

Question

can a nurse live ok in washington dc? Its so high with the apartments, and all. Making $26.00 hr. looks like it ain't enough to live on? Help!!

Answer 1

With 100 being the average cost of living, Washington DC was 142.4 in 2005. This is quite a bit higher than Portland, Oregon at 115.5, Tampa, Florida at 96, or Greenly, Colorado at 95.4.

You might want to visit: http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/tables/07s0709.xls and compare DC to where you are currently living and see what the average nurse makes in different cities or states.

"According to a survey conducted by the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN), staff nurses or registered nurses earned an average of $57,600 in 2005. Salary.com's survey results show a figure very close to this — $57,856. Additionally, staff nurses who work in the infection control department earn an average of $60,892, while a transplant coordinator earns an even higher income of $65,512. Clearly, the more demanding the job specialty is, the higher the pay.

Experts estimate that registered nurses receive an average yearly salary increase of $660. "


It looks like your $26.00 hr. at 40 hrs. a week BEFORE TAXES is about $49,920 yr.

Take a look at what housing or rentals will be like for you in the area you are thinking of moving to & take into account transportation. Do you pay toward any debt on a monthly basis? Do you have kids you are paying for? Take all this into account. I think those take the biggest chunks out of your income right off the bat each month.

Best of luck!

Answer 2

Personally, I would say the salary of $26 is kind of low for a nurse. Check out the INOVA Hospital in Alexandria or Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring to see what their nurses are paid. They usually are all looking.

Pick up a copy of the Sunday Washington Post newspaper and check out the classified ads for nurses. Make some phone calls. Do not plan to live right in Washington DC. Too dangerous and too expensive.

Answer 3

My daughter lives in DC near the Convention Center. She's currently looking for a roommate in her 2-bedroom condo, and is asking $1000/month. I think that's below market. If you want to live near some of the hot areas, price goes up drastically. You could also consider living in VA or MD and using Metro, unless you're doing shift work - Metro does not run all night.

Answer 4

New York City is still more than DC. Georgetown is one of the most desirable (and therefore most expensive) areas to live. Try getting a place over the river in Rosslyn. There if you look hard, you can actually get a small apt for less than a $1,000 a month.

Answer 5

It might be tough, but you can do it on $26 and hour. Try to stay in NW DC (safer than other areas) or look at the Northern VA/MD suburbs.
If you live in DC, you probably won't need a car, so at least you'll save on that.

Are you working at a hospital?

Answer 6

hun, I've lived in this area all my life. and i would say no you cant make it. you would be scraping by each month. you can do it if you dont mind living in the slums, fighting rodents 24/7....i mean literally. i would recommend checking out areas in northern va such as (falls church, columbia pike area, arlington) they are not that bad, but depending on how far u venture out in northern va they can get pricey as well. or try moving to maryland areas such as greenbelt, laurel, hyattsville, adelphi. these are all reasonably priced areas, if you dont mind a commute depending on where you work at. but at the same time md has great hospitals you could check out as well - may pay more especially those located in the montgomery county area of md.
but if you are dead set on living in dc, prepare to get butt f*cked!! b/c the rates are crazy!!

Answer 7

I grew up there and it's pretty expensive, especially housing. Of course I now live in Boston which is comparable as far as cost of living. It might be difficult to buy a house there on that salary, unless you move to a pretty far-out suburb.

My dad is a scientist for the gov't. and wouldn't have been able to buy his house if he hadn't done it almost 30 years ago.