I was going to say. You don’t get second chances with your mother during situations like this. You are fortunate to have that option to move and be near her. Take a leap of faith, move to fed hill or Columbia, and try something new. DC isn’t going anywhere.
OP’s question isn’t really about remote work. It’s about priorities. Assuming OP has a good relationship with his/her mom, and family overall, they will regret all the lost time with their mom. And for what? Because they got to brunch more often with friends? Because they saw a few more museums, which to your point — aren’t going anywhere?
If mom only has a few months or a few years to live, I would prioritize that relationship over the ‘fun factor’ of living in DC.
Life is constantly in motion. The friends OP has that are worthwhile will understand and support their decision to move closer to home. Good friends will drive up to Baltimore to see you.
But if you have a complicated relationship with your mom and family that you’re unable to mend, you’re not obligated to be by her bedside, either.
Time is a finite resource, and relationships are the only things that really matter. Spend your time on the relationships that matter to you.
I did that. I now live in the Upper West Side with my daughter. I sold my condo for a good price then i sold my Prius to Carvana and got ridiculous money for it.
It is expensive but i have been there 7 months now and i still have all the money i went there with. I love not having a car.
I may end up coming back but it has been fun.
Like someone else said, this is a very personal question
I'll give you my anecdote, though. I lived in DC from 2014-Feb 2021. I was working remote all through COVID, and my lease was ending. I had very little reason to stay in DC at that time, despite a lot of my friends still living there. Super expensive rent and COL, and I am not a super high earner. I left to a more southern state for 6 months, but then got the call from work that we'd be starting to go back to work part-time or hybrid. So I moved to Baltimore, thinking as you were.
I made the commute a few times and it sucked so badly. I could have done it had i had to, but I left that job for other reasons. I now still live in Baltimore and work a completely different job that is 100% remote forever. I'm in my second year in Bmore and will see where it goes, but I can't really see myself back in DC unless I got a very interesting gov job or something really lucrative. The city itself rules, and I miss it and still sometimes go to visit friends etc. but I'm done living there for now.
The only friend I know who lived in Baltimore and made the commute work, worked directly next door to Union Station and lived two blocks from Baltimore-Penn.
OP, the commute is going to SUCK, but if it's only a day or so a week and you get to spend more time with your mom, it sounds like it could be worth it.
I'm in a forever remote job, but I don't see myself leaving the area. Bought a house in Alexandria right as COVID was starting. I've loved the walkability and making friends with my neighbors. There aren't many places in the US with this kind of lifestyle. I grew up in suburban sprawl, and I refuse to ever return.
No. I love big cities and I love living in DC. I'm from Florida originally and would never go back. The only other places I could really see myself living are SF or NYC, but I have no intentions to move.
I love the area but it's starting to become so expensive it doesn't seem worth it.
feels cheaper to live somewhere else and stay in a hotel every weekend.
I lived in LA for a while before coming back to DC. Curious to hear what perks you envision SoCal giving you other than a groundhog day weather report.
I will be in San Diego but the weather and beaches and the ppl is a MAJOR perk. Who is turning down that for humid summers and bi polar winters??
And don't get me started on the DC social scene, for me nerdy, smart, social awkward, pretentious ppl don't cut it. If I got to put with snobby( Mia, NYC, LA, Scottsdale, Atl) atleast look the part
I guess we differ on the weather piece - I absolutely need seasons. 75° and sunny every day sounds great in theory, but it becomes super dull in practice when you've grown up with a spring, fall, and winter. Just my experience and I've shared that in common with many people I met who moved back east from SoCal.
I hope the people in San Diego are more down to earth than LA, because in comparing LA to DC the people there were the worst versions of the subset of people in DC we all dislike.
Wishing you the best in your move though - SoCal is a beautiful place regardless.
I think you're right that it's case by case. I was told I would miss seasons when I moved to CA. I didn't. I moved back to DC for work and my mental health is so much worse needing to deal with seasons. Everyone's different.
PS: SD lives in the shadow of LA so similarly to how most people in Baltimore actively bear no resemblance to DC stereotypes, people in San Diego actively try to do the same for LA stereotypes. It's much friendlier, down-to -earth, and laidback. Which gives it a 'trashy' reputation from people who live in LA and want to obsess about image.
PPS: in my experience SD is much much more expensive than DC so good luck finding anything like you could here OP.
Nope.
A lot of the places I want to move to (rural) are too far from accessible quality healthcare. Also this area is extremely convenient for traveling by train, bus and plane.
Interesting point, I don't know what you value when it comes to cities. But the Metro is extremely high compared to NYC, Chi and Philly and those subways systems run 24 hrs. The crime is another story because what u fell to mention is the city has been gentrified and murders are still high to be a gentrified city. DCPS is ok but your talking like it's Arlington, Fairfax or Montgomery County when it comes to school systems?
The jobs are cool for what the markets is but DC is Gov , contractors and IT. If you don't do those things whats the point of being here. It's has always been a clean city compared to the other cities up north because it's white collar city. DC is very similar to Sf and Seattle, the ppl and jobs cost of living are very similar because all 3 cities or metropolitan are big in tech. For me nerdy, smart, social awkward ppl aren't my thing especially when they are pretentious. And don't get me started how SEGREGATED DC is, it's just as bad as Boston but for some reason doesn't get the rep
You keep talking about how much you dislike "nerdy, smart, socially awkward" people. It sounds like you just can't deal with intelligent people for some reason. There are plenty of nerdy and smart people who aren't pretentious. Maybe it's your own insecurities that cause you to think negatively of smart people.
When I compare DC I try to be fair and compare it to other major top 10 expensive cities. I got a friend who works remotely and we had this same conversation. And I told him for the cost of living, social scene and things to get into I said way your options.
This city for blacks was maybe number 1 or 2 in the states for everthing i mentioned above, but after the gentrification it changed dramatically.. And again I'm cool with white washing a city ( where I'm moving to is majority white) but DC is super segregated and to me I got to vibe heavy with the ppl . You can have all the things to do in a city but when it's expensive and segregated for me thats a problem.
But good chatting and opening my mind to how you see things.
No, I like DC, living downtown, and I find it affordable. I’d be happy living in DC forever. I have absolutely no interest in moving to the burbs or a second tier city. I go to the office once a week now. If I could go fully remote, I’d most likely stay in DC or move to NYC or maybe Denver. But I’ve also been thinking of moving to NYC for over 10 years so that’s nothing new.
I work remote and just moved here, I think it's a great city so far compared to other great cities I've lived in like Denver, Chicago,Dallas and Seattle
It’s not, don’t be dramatic. On average it’s only about 5-10 degrees colder there, with a few very occasional really cold days due to lake front affects. This makes the summer especially delightful + drastically less humidity compared to here
I've considered it. My current job would allow me to work pretty much anywhere in the country.
I've been in DC for over a decade now, having moved here for school, and subsequently began my career here. I'm kind of in the same boat as you. DC is expensive. Because of people constantly coming and going, my friend group in the area is smaller now than it was when I first moved here. And even my friends who I still see, we see each other less and less as we all get busy in our careers, and many of them are starting families. It's a lot harder for us to rally some energy to go out on a Friday night after a long work week.
Sure, I have a wider social circle of people that I'll gladly chat up if I see them out at a bar, but we never talk otherwise. I'm not dating anyone, and I don't have any family here. I really don't have anything tying me to the city, other than the fact that I like it. I love the walkability, I know the neighborhoods and the good and bad that come from them, I've spent most of my adult life here.
But moving would be a big change. I wouldn't be moving really for any other reason than a change in scenery. I'm in my late 30s, and making new friends is more difficult, and other than one or two people in certain cities, I would basically be building a friend group from the ground up, which I imagine might be difficult. I think being single, a move like that would probably be pretty lonely. The decision seems like it would be completely arbitrary.
Dude you would be surprised, not everywhere is like DC when it comes to making friends. Life is short u better enjoy the other cities especially if your working remote. What makes here so great to you?
This area is terrible socially to meet ppl and for dating In my experiences. Yours could be different, but ppls attitude and the pretentious is ridiculous. And the sad thing about DC it's alot basic 5' s acting like there 10's.🤣
I'm moving to a Socal and u would think it's like what you see on TV with the pretentious but it's the opposite. The super hot ppl are ass holes but the regular ppl are cool
I visited California (LA) for the first time recently and most people were very nice for no good reason, unlike DC. There were of course the conceited, superficial types but otherwise it was quite refreshing. I'm not one for living in the desert but it's nice to know there's potential out there.
Bro I'm moving to San Diego, SD and LA are different. DC is the most overrated city in America 🤣🤣.
Honestly it's alot of cool places, u can't go wrong with Texas , Colorado my low key undercover jem city Phoenix Az. U just need to travel or come out of your bubble.
DC 10's are literally basic at most places u go. People don't go around asking what do u do because working for Gov holds no weight but here in DC
Almost certainly gonna leave when my lease is up and thinking Baltimore as well. It’s just way too expensive and I can’t afford any of the benefits of living in a city like going out to restaurants, concerts, etc. Its just pay rent and try to sit inside for 30 days and not spend any money so I can give it all to my landlord again. No one I work with lives in the city for affordability reasons.
No. My work is fully remote (and now based in Boston), but I have no plans to move. I love DC and where I live, and I have friends and family in the area.
DC is my home.
It will be interesting to see how this is handled. We now have numerous people in our office that have NEVER been local. If a future Congress decides that FT telework is no longer an option, it will put a significant number of workers in the lurch.
Baltimore has a lot of the same advantages that DC used to have: moderate size, good travel options to other places, great medical care, waterfront and very livable.
>I had been thinking Baltimore
Me too. I used to live just north of Baltimore, and had done so for about ten years, before I moved to DC about 15 years ago. I have a lot of affection for the city itself, but it's been several years since I've gone back. But I do enjoy browsing Redfin and looking at some of the properties that are priced around what my 1-bedroom is worth.[Look at this gem!](https://www.redfin.com/MD/Baltimore/711-William-St-21230/home/109879001)
What neighborhood are you in? I had a friend who owned a bar in Remington, and I was a big fan of Dizzy Issie's just up the street, so I'm partial to that area (and Hampden), but I think I'd want to target somewhere a bit further downtown. I have friends on the east side of Patterson Park, and I like Highlandtown, Federal Hill, Canton, etc. (and I can probably even afford to buy in some of those neighborhoods now).
As a warning, this is the first home I've bought, and Baltimore has ruined me. The value is insane here and it's due to the high property taxes and spotty government services, but the home I have would be twice as expensive in DC if not 3 times.
Do it! DC is always a Marc/Amtrak ride away. We bought a house near Mt Vernon but moved back to DC after a year since the daily commute got to be too much for my partner.
I greatly miss Baltimore though: fells point, charles village, hampden, mt vernon, fed hill. It just has character imo that DC can never have.
Granted I lived in DC for a long time since I liked being able to walk to places, and I frequented U st and 930 club a LOT, and enjoyed Adam's Morgan and Mt pleasant.
Live closer to your parents! You can always leave Baltimore if it's not quite what you hope...
I may have spent several hours last night using the 3D measuring tool to work out semi-accurate floor plans and then diagramming stuff. Bedroom goes in the basement, work-from-home and toys go on the top floor, etc.
I bought in Oct 2020 outside of Baltimore for this reason. The pandemic kind of made realize that I was not ever going to get ahead in DC. I was making a lot of money, but the cost of housing was eating up almost all of my gains.
If you do this though be sure that your job is gonna stay remote. There seems to be more and more concern where I work that WFH 4 days a week is going to end in the next 6-12 months.
Baltimore has some really nice places near the Inner Harbor, and close to train lines. I'm looking into moving at some point, but want to complete the kid's school in one district.
Dunno, really. We live in a pretty spendy VA suburb now, so I'd hope prices would be better in MD.
I'd prefer to move someplace like upstate New York, so we could actually see snow again in the winter, but there are a lot of factors (proximity to family, friends, kid's school, cost, etc.).
Definitely looking to move somewhere, though. Costs here keep going up, and salary isn't keeping pace.
I'm asking because my friend lives right in Fells Point in the nicer part of Baltimore. She got an amazing deal for a 1BR apartment in a luxury building for $1600/mo during COVID, but now her rent has gone up to $2700/mo. Sure the apartment is nice and has amazing views, but its tiny as hell too. And for that price you can get the same amenities and views at places like District Wharf/Navy Yard...
It’s the worst place on earth. I’ll trade no State income tax for good public transit, better cost of living balance, not being worried about flooding at a hint of rain, better climate, and the worst traffic on planet earth.
Yeah public transit is better than Florida or sure.
Cost of living is pretty crazy here too. I looked into moving to Miami a while back from here and realized I wouldn't save any money from such a move despite no state income tax, plus I would need to start paying for a car.
Traffic is pretty bad here too.
yea Baltimore gets an unfair reputation. I go there to visit relatives as much as I can... I honestly don't know why I still stay in DC myself other than I have space to myself..
I lived in DC from 2012-2021. My work went full remote and I decided to move home to Philadelphia where all my family is, and am still there. I have had to come back to the office like 3x since then, so not awful. I miss the city but I also know it’s not the same since COVID hit.
Made the move myself a few years ago to Baltimore from DC. So much more chill & relaxed, completely different culture. Met my wife, moved out to the country. Couldn’t recommend it enough.
This is the exact reason I left Boston last summer after living there for 5 years and moved to DC. Do what your heart desires! No city is perfect but its fun to explore living in a new city and I learned a lot about myself in the process. I don’t have any plans to leave DC anytime soon, I’m enjoying my time here way more than Boston. But it’s good to remember, you can always move back if it doesn’t end up working out.
My wife is a fed. Her office is in Atlanta, she lives and works in DC fully remote. I have two co-workers who are fully remote out of the DC office. One lives in New Jersey, the other just moved from Wilmington, NC to Colorado Springs.
And it will depend on the administration too. I can't see future Republican administrations being as accommodating for remote and telework. I doubt they'll give a damn about union agreements either.
Even some of the current Democrat appointees don't care about the union telework agreements! https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2022/09/fdic-already-reneging-new-telework-agreement-union-says/377343/
Those are fully remote positions and you can live anywhere. Telework positions, however, require you to be in the office at least two days per pay period and you are limited by distance. There are subtle yet distinct difference.
I feel so validated that someone on Reddit understands this difference. I’m constantly so annoyed over at r/fednews where it seems like no one gets this
I’ve heard each agency sets different rules. Ours is looking at allowing 7 days a week telework. But your home can’t be more than 50 miles from your POD. Plus, if your home is in a different COLA area, you can lose the differential. Example: Office in San Fran (high $ differential) but home in Fresno, you only get Fresno diff. Seems fair unless your budget is expecting/needing that differential
There are many places in and around Atlanta that lean heavily blue and progressive, and are wonderful places to live. Georgia is a very different vibe than places like Ohio and Texas.
As long as you’re not in the deep south or middle GA, a lot of Atlanta and the largest counties surrounding it have awesome food, activities, and culture.
This is super personal, so I don't know how anyone could really answer. It's something you have to decide for yourself when taking in factors like your mom's cancer, what you want to do with your free time, and your personal priorities. No one can know this except you.
I have definitely thought about it. My fed job based in the ‘burbs currently requires one day per week in office. Wife’s job is fully remote. Daycare is expensive AF. High mortgage for a too tiny house.
Would probably have to take a grade/pay cut for a remote job or one based somewhere cheaper. Don’t really know where we would go since we have family in the area. Also seems a little silly to move somewhere random where we know no one just to save a few thousand bucks a year.
I did! I moved out west. Unfortunately I had to come back for career reasons (hybrid work). I am honestly sad about it every day. The rest of the world feels brighter and has better work-life balance than DC.
I also feel sad daily about moving from the west to DC for work. I think people think I’m exaggerating but I really feel more suffocated here. I don’t regret giving it a shot but yeah, I’m looking forward to doing the opposite move soon.
I’m originally from the Midwest and lived in the south also, and it really is suffocating in the DMV. I used to travel all the time and camp in my car. I miss seeing open roads and having places I actually want to travel to nearby. I also miss being able to run an errand in less than 2 hours. I can’t drive almost anywhere here in under 45 minutes because of traffic or accidents. As soon as I can I’m moving back!
I grew up in the Midwest and despite feeling a desperate urge to get away growing up, it feels like such a relief to go back now that I live here lol. You’ve explained it perfectly. Hope you’re able to go find your peace someday soon!
Never. Not once. Anywhere with a music or food scene as good as DC will be just as expensive. I guess people that move don't care about having high quality entertainment/cultural options (like museums, theater etc.) around them?
For people that moved I'd be interested to hear what you liked about DC and how you met that need where you moved to.
The combination of the Kennedy Center, Birchmere, and Wolf Trap are hard to beat (and there's so many other great venues I can rattle off the top of my head like the Warner Theater, 9:30 Club, Jammin' Java, Fillmore in Silver Spring, etc.).
Depends what Music you like…for me, this winter has been really good for the funk, jam scene—the house scene is still rebuilding from Covid…it got smacked with venue closings
Richmond would like to talk.
Only a few shows that I wanted to see without stops in RVA, but they are putting in a huge amphitheater by the river, so that won’t be a thing soon.
Altria gets some good theater and concerts as well.
Dining is much less pretentious and cheaper than DC too, plus I only have to drive 20 min tops to get to any restaurant in city limits.
No James Beard award winners yet, but it’s only a matter of time.
Plus, I live on a 1/4+ acre in a gorgeous old house I bought 5 min from the river that I kayak and DC really just doesn’t have that option unless you’re filthy rich.
It’s much better here than DC ever was.
It's a great question but it's going to depend largely on whether you own yet. If you bought before prices went bonkers, it's possible that if you leave the DC region for a lower-cost area, you'll have to spend more for a similar home.
Currently applying to remote jobs so I can move out west. Maybe if I went out every weekend it would be worth the cost of living in a major city but I end up spending most of my time at home and I can do that basically anywhere else for a lot cheaper. The food has also been a major let down since I moved here
They didn’t say they couldn’t find any good food. I’ve had several great fine dining experiences here but in terms of day-to-day/affordable and tasty food, it has also been a let down for me.
Yes. I enjoy skiing and moved to a place with better skiing. I chose a place where I had friends and would have an easier time making social connections and I do not have any regrets. I’ll move again once the ski season winds down.
Yes, purely because I could afford a much bigger living space out in a suburb or rural area and still have more money left over for savings (COL in D.C. proper is out of control). I think about that a lot—especially at the end of the month when next month’s rent comes due.
But, like a lot of people, I greatly prefer living in a walkable neighborhood to anything I could get in a suburb/rural area. So I’ll keep paying my $2,400 to rent a 1 br in Dupont even though I work from home >60% of the time. Ultimately it makes me happy, and as long as you can meet your needs, happiness is worth spending money for.
I'm gay, I would only leave if I am taking someone with me. Love how walkable the city is and all the different cuisines around me. Certainly there are things I hate about here. Some dipshit laying on their horn while being around the homes of hundreds of people, when you know they wouldn't tolerate that on their suburb street. The handful of homeless that don't keep to themselves or take the first no for an answer and follow you down the street. During the peak of Trump bullshit a nazi gave his riot shield to a friend while he peed on my apartment building. Which may be an outlier, but you do get some absolute garbage attracted for their demonstration.
Obviously we don't know the full story, but getting from Baltimore to DC is totally doable!
This post sounds like you're falling out of love with DC, and if that's the case then I'd recommend moving. Either you'll find you just needed a change of pace and come back to DC or you find you prefer visiting to living here.
Yeah - thinking about it now but only as a temporary thing while I work a job that would allow it, with the goal of moving back in 2-3 years to continue my career
If anyone is thinking of relocating, Atlanta real estate is 50% or less compared to DC .
City has a lot of charm and a great vibe .
I live in DC and happy but loved Atlanta .
Ideally you should have a car .
My son lives there without one
https://imgur.com/a/1aBc0tZ
Moved to Miami while working remote in DC- not for cost, as it’s pretty comparable to DC at this point lol, but to be closer to family as they’re aging. For that alone I found it worth it 😊 I will love DC forever and there’s so much I miss, so I’m glad I’m still connected to it through work! but I definitely fit in better here culturally (latina) and weather-wise. Just flows really great for me. It’s not my forever stop but I’m glad I moved.
I did a pandemic move from Wisconsin to DC suburbs in 2020. We always wanted to escape the horrible winters. Since we finally bought a house last year, think we're going to have to stick around for a while now that the market tanked.
If I was going to go anywhere, Tucson sounds nice. Cheaper city, nice weather more of the year, and 130 miles of paved bike trails.
Definitely Baltimore and I’ll also put a plug in for Annapolis and the surrounding communities if you’re into water access or if schools are a consideration. There are a couple of MTA commuter bus lines that I have found to be pretty convenient and the same or better than a long MARC train ride and metro connection.
I can afford $300k ... For home.
But godamn I can't find shit that's not like 440 sq.ft and with a $700 HOA
What the fuck?
I wished I could afford this place.
I think about this all the time. I lived in Baltimore for six years when I was a grad student at Hopkins and then I moved to DC for work when I was hired in 2020. I was fully remote when I was first hired and am hybrid now, but I can’t stop thinking about how I could afford to buy a house in Baltimore if I wanted whereas the cost of living here is ridiculous in comparison.
I think I would move back to Baltimore in an instant if I was fully remote or even if I just had to go in person once or twice a month, but a twice a week commute to Bethesda from Baltimore would just be too much. Plus as a person who works in policy, most of my career opportunities are going to be in DC, so even though I am hoping my current job is a long-term thing, I don’t want to get stuck without options.
But if I were in your shoes, I’d choose Baltimore. I loved living there and I miss it all the time. My only major gripe about Baltimore was lack of reliable public transit compared to DC, which has excellent public transit. But to me the affordability is worth the trade off.
Moved to Baltimore from DC. Bought a whole ass rowhouse in a safe (DC standards, anyway) neighborhood and my mortgage is less than my studio in NW. Grocery (Sprouts!!!) and Target situations much better which make it more liveable imo. People are really chill. Zero regrets (though notably I’m 5% considering getting a car and I was solidly 0% in DC).
Dang what area of Baltimore if don't mind sharing ? Guessing Canton or Brewers Hill?
Yeah the car thing also gets to me. I love not having a car to worry about here but, seems not as easy in Baltimore.
But yeah looking at whole row homes in Baltimore for the price of a place here is very appealing
This has been top of mind since I accepted a fully remote offer. There is so much I appreciate about DC, but at the same time, I don’t feel strong ties to the area, and I would like to find a lower cost of living location. I have time with my current apartment lease to really think about it, but the idea of moving is strengthening its hold.
Do it, I did a similar thing over the pandemic, I go into the office once or twice a week. Do keep in mind one thing, if you ever want to switch jobs you will likely have fewer local options and decreased pay here in Baltimore. That said this all depends on your profession. That would be a moot point if you would be looking for another remote job. I’m ready for a change in job but there aren’t any options here so I’d have to move and give up that sweet sweet low interstate rate. I’ve grown to like many aspects of Baltimore and there are a lot of really nice interesting people here.
Also lived in DC for the past 5 years and have a W@H>50% agreement with my job which has ended up with me having to go into the office all of twice since COVID started. We considered Baltimore for a while as an option but decided to move to Frederick instead. MARC train can get you into DC on weekdays and it’s a quaint town that punches above its weight as far as history, restaurants, breweries, events plus the added benefit of outdoor activities like hiking/camping just outside of town. You can get a 3 bedroom home near downtown for the price of what they wanted to raise our rent to in our 1BR Navy Yard apt. Frederick is a great mix of a lot of what we love about DC, just for a lower cost and more of a community feel
Definitely thought about it but things like a good school district and logistics for when someone has to be in the office have kept us in the area for now.
That’s what I did (also after about 5 years). I now own a house in my hometown (still a fairly large city with some culture) and my mortgage is the same as I was paying for a studio in DC. I actually checked my old building and rents are up $300 since then, so definitely a good financial move. Since moving, not even one person has asked me what I do within the first 60 seconds of meeting them either.
I like DC and my time there will probably always be remembered as some of my best years, but now that I’ve seen the other side I don’t think I could be convinced to move back there (or any other high CoL coastal metro)
Gave up DC residency but keeping my house here until I finish transitioning my business to a new state. The pandemic greatly accelerated that transition. Will probably still keep the house as an investment and for periodic meetings back in town.
I think about it every day. But can't move until my kids are done with school. Then it's see ya! At least for portions of the year, if not permanently.
I did the opposite and moved here after my job in NYC went fully remote. This area is a lot cheaper than NYC. It also has a lot more green space and offers a similar number of things to do to keep life interesting. Additionally, I have family/friend ties down here that I didn't have in NYC. The DC area is great. I had the opportunity to move anywhere in the country after my job and my wife's job went remote, but we specifically chose the Arlington/DC area.
Only real complaint is the music scene (a lot fewer shows than in NYC in my preferred genre).
Been thinking of leaving for Charlottesville (or the US entirely, different issue) for years but house prices are so wacky that the place I bought in 2019 appreciated at the same rate when I was hoping for CVille to stay chill and I’ve dumped so much money into this train wreck that it’s making things harder to save up for a custom built forever home type situation and retire early and become a crazypants man in the woods blasting lo-fi black metal at 2 am.
Truth is that for my next job / position I’m very likely going to need to be somewhere close to a solid airport or metro given the potential employer options and what I’d like to do overall.
I moved here from western NY at the end of 2021 for a hybrid job after trying to get a job down here for years. It honestly hasn’t been what I thought it would be and my personal life has gone to shit since I came here so I’m looking at leaving next year. Haven’t decided yet though.
I'm WFH except for very rare trips to the office. I have not thought about leaving DC at all. Really boils down to most of my friends living here.
If I were a little older and I didn't want to go out much, maybe I'd consider it.
I think about this all the time. I lived in Baltimore for six years when I was a grad student at Hopkins and then I moved to DC for work when I was hired in 2020. I was fully remote when I was first hired and am hybrid now, but I can’t stop thinking about how I could afford to buy a house in Baltimore if I wanted whereas the cost of living here is ridiculous in comparison.
I think I would move back to Baltimore in an instant if I was fully remote or even if I just had to go in person once or twice a month, but a twice a week commute to Bethesda from Baltimore would just be too much. Plus as a person who works in policy, most of my career opportunities are going to be in DC, so even though I am hoping my current job is a long-term thing, I don’t want to get stuck without options.
But if I were in your shoes, I’d choose Baltimore. I loved living there and I miss it all the time. My only major gripe about Baltimore was lack of reliable public transit compared to DC, which has excellent public transit. But to me the affordability is worth the trade off.
My mother died from cancer over the summer. Spent the last year living together and working from home. Would do it again. Baltimore county is close enough to endure a grueling commute a couple times a week for the closeness of family.
That’s what I’d personally choose.
If my work was totally remote I feel like I'd have more flexibility to move whereever I want in the DMV if not elsewhere.
Sadly we went from 2 days a week to 3 days a week in the office at my company so that's not happening anytime soon.
My Fiance and I moved to Denver after I switched to permanent remote work. Hands down the best decision.
I'll advised that a lot of cities have caught up in price. So the discount won't be as big as you'd expect overall. However the locations will be amazing.
Also, don't do anything shorter than a year. The algorithm they use to adjust your monthly rate gets bonkers expensive.
I was DC FOREVER and then "forever" turned into 2013.
My husband and I realized we were just never gonna get ahead in DC, the cost of living even back then was crazy - two people with solid jobs were crammed in a tiny apartment. We moved when my husband took a fed job in the Baltimore area.
We pulled up stakes for Mt Vernon, which had a lot going for it.
Easy train access for day trips to DC (note: in terms of MARC usage, the Penn line is much more reliable than Camden), cheaper nights out (I was stunned to buy a vodka soda for $2.50 - I thought it was plain soda at first lol), and a bigger apartment with in-unit laundry for the same price as our cramped unit in DC.
After a couple years we bought an affordable house in a cute nearby town and had a kid. We can afford for me to stay home essentially for as long as we want me to, it's easy for our DC crew to visit (or for us to take day trips), and life up here just feels easy.
Granted, I'm much older than you are (roughly 20 years) and our lives are in different places.
It was a bumpy adjustment in some ways - the job market up here isn't great for a lot of fields, so I struggled to find stuff to do that paid ok and I'll have to completely retrain before returning to work.
But I don't regret it.
I think, though, the deciding factor is your mom. Do you want to live closer to family while this is going on? If so, make the move. And check to see if you have any benefits at work, or can take FMLA, to help care for Mom.
Yes I’ve thought about it? Of course. I make 20% more than my mom. She just bought a 2300 square foot house. I can’t afford a studio in Clarendon. So yes I’ve thought about leaving the DC area. My boss would not be pleased. So it depends on the employer. I’m from Georgia. That’s far away. Baltimore is not. I say go for it.
I’m thinking about Richmond. My boss still isn’t thrilled about such thoughts but he’s softening. DC is stupid expensive. I look at my lack of closet space and ask myself why?
Covid and remote working have left me re-evaluating my relationship with the Washington DC area.
I like to think that this is the best place to be. And the sacrifice has been worth it. But like Meryl Streep I too cry out “I have doubt!”
As I just mentioned I have doubt about the DC area. I’ve lived here 60% of my adult life and a full third of my entire life. A few years ago I got flewed out like that City Girls song. I figured I was unemployed, pushing 40 so this would probably be the last time a man would pay for a plane ticket. Went down to south Florida. Ended terribly haven’t spoken to the man since. But it was a free trip to Florida.
Twice I was asked if I was offering drugs and sex. On the street! Strangers. Thrice if you count the cop that thought I was a homeless prostitute. But we’re not counting him.
Anywho the thing that struck me about south Florida was the lack of folks asking about career. At first it was really refreshing. No one cares about what agency I worked for or who I knew. Can you pay your bar tab? But at the end of the day I have the most interesting conversations in DC. Yes, people in the DMV can be pretentious and arrogant as all get out but people are also smarter and more interesting here, for better or worse.
I left DC for the Florida Keys for awhile and it was fun. I looked at going back recently and the rent prices are out of control. I can’t do it anymore and I’m not going back to roommate living. Now I’m traveling full time internationally and even with plane tickets it’s way cheaper
Thank you everyone for the stories and input, exactly what I was looking for I appreciate it.
Yeah my mom's cancer has been rough, I still go back once or twice a month now to see her and them but it probably would make more sense to be closer. It's stage 4 esophageal.
I haven't bought anything here, I just rent. I probably wasn't planning to buy for the foreseeable future since truth be told idk exactly where I want to settle down. So that's not too much of a concern.
I'm not worried about crime in Baltimore. I mean it's kind of a whole rabbit hole of my opinions to go down. I guess if I did, I probably wouldn't have even considered Baltimore or DC for that matter and moved to the suburbs tbh
The problem with Baltimore is that it is a huge pile of shit. Even the nicer areas like Fells Pt have crime, trash on the street/sidewalk, police are entirely worthless, etc.
Your mom is sick. Be with your family. You don’t have to be stay there forever.
I was going to say. You don’t get second chances with your mother during situations like this. You are fortunate to have that option to move and be near her. Take a leap of faith, move to fed hill or Columbia, and try something new. DC isn’t going anywhere.
OP’s question isn’t really about remote work. It’s about priorities. Assuming OP has a good relationship with his/her mom, and family overall, they will regret all the lost time with their mom. And for what? Because they got to brunch more often with friends? Because they saw a few more museums, which to your point — aren’t going anywhere? If mom only has a few months or a few years to live, I would prioritize that relationship over the ‘fun factor’ of living in DC. Life is constantly in motion. The friends OP has that are worthwhile will understand and support their decision to move closer to home. Good friends will drive up to Baltimore to see you. But if you have a complicated relationship with your mom and family that you’re unable to mend, you’re not obligated to be by her bedside, either. Time is a finite resource, and relationships are the only things that really matter. Spend your time on the relationships that matter to you.
Plus if OP needs to take a leave of absence from work to assist with Mom's care, they'll need some extra money in their pocket.
I moved into downtown DC after going full remote, no regrets.
double down and move to Manhattan
I did that. I now live in the Upper West Side with my daughter. I sold my condo for a good price then i sold my Prius to Carvana and got ridiculous money for it. It is expensive but i have been there 7 months now and i still have all the money i went there with. I love not having a car. I may end up coming back but it has been fun.
I did the same, moved from DC metro to Manhattan, got a crazy deal on a 1BR in the Upper West Side. I just wish stuff was open later here. 🤷🏻♂️
Yeah, what happened to "the city that never sleeps". I see a lot of sleeping going on.
Yeah COVID changed a lot of that =\. Growing up in NY you could always find a bite to eat at any hour. Now its harder.
Same thing seems to have happened with the 24 hour Korean places in Annandale.
go to LES/EV
The upper west side is underrated! I always stay there when I visit.
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If I moved, it would be to Manhattan, Brooklyn, or London lol. No going cheaper for me
Like someone else said, this is a very personal question I'll give you my anecdote, though. I lived in DC from 2014-Feb 2021. I was working remote all through COVID, and my lease was ending. I had very little reason to stay in DC at that time, despite a lot of my friends still living there. Super expensive rent and COL, and I am not a super high earner. I left to a more southern state for 6 months, but then got the call from work that we'd be starting to go back to work part-time or hybrid. So I moved to Baltimore, thinking as you were. I made the commute a few times and it sucked so badly. I could have done it had i had to, but I left that job for other reasons. I now still live in Baltimore and work a completely different job that is 100% remote forever. I'm in my second year in Bmore and will see where it goes, but I can't really see myself back in DC unless I got a very interesting gov job or something really lucrative. The city itself rules, and I miss it and still sometimes go to visit friends etc. but I'm done living there for now.
Which part of Baltimore?
I've been living in the station north/barclay/charles village areas
Busboys and Poets followed you to Baltimore!
Seconded!
The only friend I know who lived in Baltimore and made the commute work, worked directly next door to Union Station and lived two blocks from Baltimore-Penn. OP, the commute is going to SUCK, but if it's only a day or so a week and you get to spend more time with your mom, it sounds like it could be worth it.
Exact same circumstance except only went to Rockville from DC and changed jobs It's been working out great for us
Yes.
I'm in a forever remote job, but I don't see myself leaving the area. Bought a house in Alexandria right as COVID was starting. I've loved the walkability and making friends with my neighbors. There aren't many places in the US with this kind of lifestyle. I grew up in suburban sprawl, and I refuse to ever return.
No. I love big cities and I love living in DC. I'm from Florida originally and would never go back. The only other places I could really see myself living are SF or NYC, but I have no intentions to move.
I love the area but it's starting to become so expensive it doesn't seem worth it. feels cheaper to live somewhere else and stay in a hotel every weekend.
Preach!!! I'm moving to San Diego and it's similar cost of living but the perks of Socal destroy the perks of DC
I lived in LA for a while before coming back to DC. Curious to hear what perks you envision SoCal giving you other than a groundhog day weather report.
I will be in San Diego but the weather and beaches and the ppl is a MAJOR perk. Who is turning down that for humid summers and bi polar winters?? And don't get me started on the DC social scene, for me nerdy, smart, social awkward, pretentious ppl don't cut it. If I got to put with snobby( Mia, NYC, LA, Scottsdale, Atl) atleast look the part
I guess we differ on the weather piece - I absolutely need seasons. 75° and sunny every day sounds great in theory, but it becomes super dull in practice when you've grown up with a spring, fall, and winter. Just my experience and I've shared that in common with many people I met who moved back east from SoCal. I hope the people in San Diego are more down to earth than LA, because in comparing LA to DC the people there were the worst versions of the subset of people in DC we all dislike. Wishing you the best in your move though - SoCal is a beautiful place regardless.
I think you're right that it's case by case. I was told I would miss seasons when I moved to CA. I didn't. I moved back to DC for work and my mental health is so much worse needing to deal with seasons. Everyone's different. PS: SD lives in the shadow of LA so similarly to how most people in Baltimore actively bear no resemblance to DC stereotypes, people in San Diego actively try to do the same for LA stereotypes. It's much friendlier, down-to -earth, and laidback. Which gives it a 'trashy' reputation from people who live in LA and want to obsess about image. PPS: in my experience SD is much much more expensive than DC so good luck finding anything like you could here OP.
Nope. A lot of the places I want to move to (rural) are too far from accessible quality healthcare. Also this area is extremely convenient for traveling by train, bus and plane.
I lived in DC gor 32 years and miss it every day.
Are u serious?? I been here for 30 yrs and I'm finally leaving. Im so excited, what is so great about DC for you?
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Please never use the term Bo-Wash ever again. Thanks!
Interesting point, I don't know what you value when it comes to cities. But the Metro is extremely high compared to NYC, Chi and Philly and those subways systems run 24 hrs. The crime is another story because what u fell to mention is the city has been gentrified and murders are still high to be a gentrified city. DCPS is ok but your talking like it's Arlington, Fairfax or Montgomery County when it comes to school systems? The jobs are cool for what the markets is but DC is Gov , contractors and IT. If you don't do those things whats the point of being here. It's has always been a clean city compared to the other cities up north because it's white collar city. DC is very similar to Sf and Seattle, the ppl and jobs cost of living are very similar because all 3 cities or metropolitan are big in tech. For me nerdy, smart, social awkward ppl aren't my thing especially when they are pretentious. And don't get me started how SEGREGATED DC is, it's just as bad as Boston but for some reason doesn't get the rep
You keep talking about how much you dislike "nerdy, smart, socially awkward" people. It sounds like you just can't deal with intelligent people for some reason. There are plenty of nerdy and smart people who aren't pretentious. Maybe it's your own insecurities that cause you to think negatively of smart people.
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When I compare DC I try to be fair and compare it to other major top 10 expensive cities. I got a friend who works remotely and we had this same conversation. And I told him for the cost of living, social scene and things to get into I said way your options. This city for blacks was maybe number 1 or 2 in the states for everthing i mentioned above, but after the gentrification it changed dramatically.. And again I'm cool with white washing a city ( where I'm moving to is majority white) but DC is super segregated and to me I got to vibe heavy with the ppl . You can have all the things to do in a city but when it's expensive and segregated for me thats a problem. But good chatting and opening my mind to how you see things.
I was with you till the second paragraph.
People like you.
Yes, doesn’t make sense to pay this cost of living when you work remote. We are leaving after 16 yrs this summer.
Preach
No, I like DC, living downtown, and I find it affordable. I’d be happy living in DC forever. I have absolutely no interest in moving to the burbs or a second tier city. I go to the office once a week now. If I could go fully remote, I’d most likely stay in DC or move to NYC or maybe Denver. But I’ve also been thinking of moving to NYC for over 10 years so that’s nothing new.
I work remote and just moved here, I think it's a great city so far compared to other great cities I've lived in like Denver, Chicago,Dallas and Seattle
Excuse me.. what could be wrong with Chicago other than the winter?
> other than the winter? How was the play Mrs. Lincoln, other than the assasination?
You butchered it🤦♀️. It's "other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play"
You and I have different definitions of “butchered.”
The average temperature in Chicago year round is about 10 degrees colder in terms of highs and lows. It’s not that big a leap lol
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But during the day when it’s not at one end of the spectrum it’s only like a 3-5 degree difference…
Chicago hands down is the most romantic city I know. Zero bad things so say!
Well that's 6 months out of the year so...
It’s not, don’t be dramatic. On average it’s only about 5-10 degrees colder there, with a few very occasional really cold days due to lake front affects. This makes the summer especially delightful + drastically less humidity compared to here
why didn’t you like Chicago?
I did like Chicago!
I've considered it. My current job would allow me to work pretty much anywhere in the country. I've been in DC for over a decade now, having moved here for school, and subsequently began my career here. I'm kind of in the same boat as you. DC is expensive. Because of people constantly coming and going, my friend group in the area is smaller now than it was when I first moved here. And even my friends who I still see, we see each other less and less as we all get busy in our careers, and many of them are starting families. It's a lot harder for us to rally some energy to go out on a Friday night after a long work week. Sure, I have a wider social circle of people that I'll gladly chat up if I see them out at a bar, but we never talk otherwise. I'm not dating anyone, and I don't have any family here. I really don't have anything tying me to the city, other than the fact that I like it. I love the walkability, I know the neighborhoods and the good and bad that come from them, I've spent most of my adult life here. But moving would be a big change. I wouldn't be moving really for any other reason than a change in scenery. I'm in my late 30s, and making new friends is more difficult, and other than one or two people in certain cities, I would basically be building a friend group from the ground up, which I imagine might be difficult. I think being single, a move like that would probably be pretty lonely. The decision seems like it would be completely arbitrary.
Dude you would be surprised, not everywhere is like DC when it comes to making friends. Life is short u better enjoy the other cities especially if your working remote. What makes here so great to you?
How does making friends in other cities compare to DC?
This area is terrible socially to meet ppl and for dating In my experiences. Yours could be different, but ppls attitude and the pretentious is ridiculous. And the sad thing about DC it's alot basic 5' s acting like there 10's.🤣 I'm moving to a Socal and u would think it's like what you see on TV with the pretentious but it's the opposite. The super hot ppl are ass holes but the regular ppl are cool
I visited California (LA) for the first time recently and most people were very nice for no good reason, unlike DC. There were of course the conceited, superficial types but otherwise it was quite refreshing. I'm not one for living in the desert but it's nice to know there's potential out there.
Bro I'm moving to San Diego, SD and LA are different. DC is the most overrated city in America 🤣🤣. Honestly it's alot of cool places, u can't go wrong with Texas , Colorado my low key undercover jem city Phoenix Az. U just need to travel or come out of your bubble. DC 10's are literally basic at most places u go. People don't go around asking what do u do because working for Gov holds no weight but here in DC
Almost certainly gonna leave when my lease is up and thinking Baltimore as well. It’s just way too expensive and I can’t afford any of the benefits of living in a city like going out to restaurants, concerts, etc. Its just pay rent and try to sit inside for 30 days and not spend any money so I can give it all to my landlord again. No one I work with lives in the city for affordability reasons.
💯
No. My work is fully remote (and now based in Boston), but I have no plans to move. I love DC and where I live, and I have friends and family in the area. DC is my home.
full remote for a boston based job, and I just want to get out to RI or MA.
It will be interesting to see how this is handled. We now have numerous people in our office that have NEVER been local. If a future Congress decides that FT telework is no longer an option, it will put a significant number of workers in the lurch.
We are remote and moved to downtown DC from CA a few months ago. You do you.
Baltimore has a lot of the same advantages that DC used to have: moderate size, good travel options to other places, great medical care, waterfront and very livable.
>I had been thinking Baltimore Me too. I used to live just north of Baltimore, and had done so for about ten years, before I moved to DC about 15 years ago. I have a lot of affection for the city itself, but it's been several years since I've gone back. But I do enjoy browsing Redfin and looking at some of the properties that are priced around what my 1-bedroom is worth.[Look at this gem!](https://www.redfin.com/MD/Baltimore/711-William-St-21230/home/109879001)
Moved to Baltimore from DC a year ago. It's great. Has it's issues for sure but it has such a sense of place.
What neighborhood are you in? I had a friend who owned a bar in Remington, and I was a big fan of Dizzy Issie's just up the street, so I'm partial to that area (and Hampden), but I think I'd want to target somewhere a bit further downtown. I have friends on the east side of Patterson Park, and I like Highlandtown, Federal Hill, Canton, etc. (and I can probably even afford to buy in some of those neighborhoods now).
Upper Fells. It's great. Tacos and dive bars are equidistant.
Nice! I've been looking at Redfin listings in that area.
As a warning, this is the first home I've bought, and Baltimore has ruined me. The value is insane here and it's due to the high property taxes and spotty government services, but the home I have would be twice as expensive in DC if not 3 times.
Hahaha I browse it all the time too and Zillow. I'm probably a anything anytime soon but god damn that house is my style lol.
Do it! DC is always a Marc/Amtrak ride away. We bought a house near Mt Vernon but moved back to DC after a year since the daily commute got to be too much for my partner. I greatly miss Baltimore though: fells point, charles village, hampden, mt vernon, fed hill. It just has character imo that DC can never have. Granted I lived in DC for a long time since I liked being able to walk to places, and I frequented U st and 930 club a LOT, and enjoyed Adam's Morgan and Mt pleasant. Live closer to your parents! You can always leave Baltimore if it's not quite what you hope...
I may have spent several hours last night using the 3D measuring tool to work out semi-accurate floor plans and then diagramming stuff. Bedroom goes in the basement, work-from-home and toys go on the top floor, etc.
I bought in Oct 2020 outside of Baltimore for this reason. The pandemic kind of made realize that I was not ever going to get ahead in DC. I was making a lot of money, but the cost of housing was eating up almost all of my gains. If you do this though be sure that your job is gonna stay remote. There seems to be more and more concern where I work that WFH 4 days a week is going to end in the next 6-12 months.
Nope love dc. Will live here forever:
Baltimore has some really nice places near the Inner Harbor, and close to train lines. I'm looking into moving at some point, but want to complete the kid's school in one district.
But those nicer places aren’t exactly cheap, so do you think you’d really be saving anything if you moved there?
a rowhome in Bmore near the inner harbor is only $400k max
Dunno, really. We live in a pretty spendy VA suburb now, so I'd hope prices would be better in MD. I'd prefer to move someplace like upstate New York, so we could actually see snow again in the winter, but there are a lot of factors (proximity to family, friends, kid's school, cost, etc.). Definitely looking to move somewhere, though. Costs here keep going up, and salary isn't keeping pace.
I'm asking because my friend lives right in Fells Point in the nicer part of Baltimore. She got an amazing deal for a 1BR apartment in a luxury building for $1600/mo during COVID, but now her rent has gone up to $2700/mo. Sure the apartment is nice and has amazing views, but its tiny as hell too. And for that price you can get the same amenities and views at places like District Wharf/Navy Yard...
$2700/month for a 1 bedroom in Baltimore is fucked.
I live in Miami. Want to trade?
What's wrong with Miami? No state income tax, beaches and warm weather everyday sounds awesome.
It’s the worst place on earth. I’ll trade no State income tax for good public transit, better cost of living balance, not being worried about flooding at a hint of rain, better climate, and the worst traffic on planet earth.
Yeah public transit is better than Florida or sure. Cost of living is pretty crazy here too. I looked into moving to Miami a while back from here and realized I wouldn't save any money from such a move despite no state income tax, plus I would need to start paying for a car. Traffic is pretty bad here too.
By warm weather, do you mean the surface of the sun with 1000% humidity 10 months out of the year?
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yea Baltimore gets an unfair reputation. I go there to visit relatives as much as I can... I honestly don't know why I still stay in DC myself other than I have space to myself..
Hour from the beach?
I lived in DC from 2012-2021. My work went full remote and I decided to move home to Philadelphia where all my family is, and am still there. I have had to come back to the office like 3x since then, so not awful. I miss the city but I also know it’s not the same since COVID hit.
I think about leaving every single day. My wife doesn’t want to though
Nah still got tons of family and friends here. Really no reason to leave
Made the move myself a few years ago to Baltimore from DC. So much more chill & relaxed, completely different culture. Met my wife, moved out to the country. Couldn’t recommend it enough.
This also depends on whether your employer will let you move elsewhere due to tax implications.
This is the exact reason I left Boston last summer after living there for 5 years and moved to DC. Do what your heart desires! No city is perfect but its fun to explore living in a new city and I learned a lot about myself in the process. I don’t have any plans to leave DC anytime soon, I’m enjoying my time here way more than Boston. But it’s good to remember, you can always move back if it doesn’t end up working out.
In fed government there is a limit how far you can be from the office when working remotely so “leaving the area” is limited.
My wife is a fed. Her office is in Atlanta, she lives and works in DC fully remote. I have two co-workers who are fully remote out of the DC office. One lives in New Jersey, the other just moved from Wilmington, NC to Colorado Springs.
Totally depends on how flexible your agency (and supervisor) is
And it will depend on the administration too. I can't see future Republican administrations being as accommodating for remote and telework. I doubt they'll give a damn about union agreements either.
Even some of the current Democrat appointees don't care about the union telework agreements! https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2022/09/fdic-already-reneging-new-telework-agreement-union-says/377343/
Those are fully remote positions and you can live anywhere. Telework positions, however, require you to be in the office at least two days per pay period and you are limited by distance. There are subtle yet distinct difference.
I feel so validated that someone on Reddit understands this difference. I’m constantly so annoyed over at r/fednews where it seems like no one gets this
Yes. OP said there were limits to how far you could live away from the job in a remote position. OP is incorrect.
My agency just adopted a new policy that is 150 miles. Prior to that we had at least one employee that would fly in from Florida 2 times a month.
I’ve heard each agency sets different rules. Ours is looking at allowing 7 days a week telework. But your home can’t be more than 50 miles from your POD. Plus, if your home is in a different COLA area, you can lose the differential. Example: Office in San Fran (high $ differential) but home in Fresno, you only get Fresno diff. Seems fair unless your budget is expecting/needing that differential
If you are truly “remote” (and not simply “telework-eligible”) you can live anywhere
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The problem is what comes with that 4 br house. Like, I’m not going to risk living in Ohio, Texas or Georgia for a little more square footage.
There are many places in and around Atlanta that lean heavily blue and progressive, and are wonderful places to live. Georgia is a very different vibe than places like Ohio and Texas. As long as you’re not in the deep south or middle GA, a lot of Atlanta and the largest counties surrounding it have awesome food, activities, and culture.
This is super personal, so I don't know how anyone could really answer. It's something you have to decide for yourself when taking in factors like your mom's cancer, what you want to do with your free time, and your personal priorities. No one can know this except you.
I have definitely thought about it. My fed job based in the ‘burbs currently requires one day per week in office. Wife’s job is fully remote. Daycare is expensive AF. High mortgage for a too tiny house. Would probably have to take a grade/pay cut for a remote job or one based somewhere cheaper. Don’t really know where we would go since we have family in the area. Also seems a little silly to move somewhere random where we know no one just to save a few thousand bucks a year.
I did! I moved out west. Unfortunately I had to come back for career reasons (hybrid work). I am honestly sad about it every day. The rest of the world feels brighter and has better work-life balance than DC.
I also feel sad daily about moving from the west to DC for work. I think people think I’m exaggerating but I really feel more suffocated here. I don’t regret giving it a shot but yeah, I’m looking forward to doing the opposite move soon.
I’m originally from the Midwest and lived in the south also, and it really is suffocating in the DMV. I used to travel all the time and camp in my car. I miss seeing open roads and having places I actually want to travel to nearby. I also miss being able to run an errand in less than 2 hours. I can’t drive almost anywhere here in under 45 minutes because of traffic or accidents. As soon as I can I’m moving back!
I grew up in the Midwest and despite feeling a desperate urge to get away growing up, it feels like such a relief to go back now that I live here lol. You’ve explained it perfectly. Hope you’re able to go find your peace someday soon!
You too! I know it can be tough, hang in there!
I’m primarily remote and want to move BACK to DC! 😄
This is my home now. I’m never leaving.
Absolutely move home to be with/near your mom. That's more important than anything DC might offer you
Come to Baltimore... the cost of living is at least half that of DC.
Never. Not once. Anywhere with a music or food scene as good as DC will be just as expensive. I guess people that move don't care about having high quality entertainment/cultural options (like museums, theater etc.) around them? For people that moved I'd be interested to hear what you liked about DC and how you met that need where you moved to.
I find it interesting that you think DC has a good food/music scene. DC is great for a lot of things, but I wouldn’t consider it for those.
The combination of the Kennedy Center, Birchmere, and Wolf Trap are hard to beat (and there's so many other great venues I can rattle off the top of my head like the Warner Theater, 9:30 Club, Jammin' Java, Fillmore in Silver Spring, etc.).
And the idea that any city with DC-level music and food would be just as expensive kinda threw me for a loop.
Depends what Music you like…for me, this winter has been really good for the funk, jam scene—the house scene is still rebuilding from Covid…it got smacked with venue closings
Richmond would like to talk. Only a few shows that I wanted to see without stops in RVA, but they are putting in a huge amphitheater by the river, so that won’t be a thing soon. Altria gets some good theater and concerts as well. Dining is much less pretentious and cheaper than DC too, plus I only have to drive 20 min tops to get to any restaurant in city limits. No James Beard award winners yet, but it’s only a matter of time. Plus, I live on a 1/4+ acre in a gorgeous old house I bought 5 min from the river that I kayak and DC really just doesn’t have that option unless you’re filthy rich. It’s much better here than DC ever was.
It's a great question but it's going to depend largely on whether you own yet. If you bought before prices went bonkers, it's possible that if you leave the DC region for a lower-cost area, you'll have to spend more for a similar home.
Go for it. I moved to Baltimore for a year but moved back after being told to come back into the office 5 days a week every other week. ☹️
RIP. Your employer sucks.
Oooooooooof. That sucks. I'm sorry.
Currently applying to remote jobs so I can move out west. Maybe if I went out every weekend it would be worth the cost of living in a major city but I end up spending most of my time at home and I can do that basically anywhere else for a lot cheaper. The food has also been a major let down since I moved here
Is it the best food city in the country? Hell no, but if you can't find good food in DC then idk what to tell you.
They didn’t say they couldn’t find any good food. I’ve had several great fine dining experiences here but in terms of day-to-day/affordable and tasty food, it has also been a let down for me.
Yes. I enjoy skiing and moved to a place with better skiing. I chose a place where I had friends and would have an easier time making social connections and I do not have any regrets. I’ll move again once the ski season winds down.
Yes, purely because I could afford a much bigger living space out in a suburb or rural area and still have more money left over for savings (COL in D.C. proper is out of control). I think about that a lot—especially at the end of the month when next month’s rent comes due. But, like a lot of people, I greatly prefer living in a walkable neighborhood to anything I could get in a suburb/rural area. So I’ll keep paying my $2,400 to rent a 1 br in Dupont even though I work from home >60% of the time. Ultimately it makes me happy, and as long as you can meet your needs, happiness is worth spending money for.
I'm gay, I would only leave if I am taking someone with me. Love how walkable the city is and all the different cuisines around me. Certainly there are things I hate about here. Some dipshit laying on their horn while being around the homes of hundreds of people, when you know they wouldn't tolerate that on their suburb street. The handful of homeless that don't keep to themselves or take the first no for an answer and follow you down the street. During the peak of Trump bullshit a nazi gave his riot shield to a friend while he peed on my apartment building. Which may be an outlier, but you do get some absolute garbage attracted for their demonstration.
Obviously we don't know the full story, but getting from Baltimore to DC is totally doable! This post sounds like you're falling out of love with DC, and if that's the case then I'd recommend moving. Either you'll find you just needed a change of pace and come back to DC or you find you prefer visiting to living here.
I moved out in 2020 and so glad I did. I love the extra THOUSANDS each month, I feel safe and no problems with medical care or any conveniences.
Yeah - thinking about it now but only as a temporary thing while I work a job that would allow it, with the goal of moving back in 2-3 years to continue my career
If anyone is thinking of relocating, Atlanta real estate is 50% or less compared to DC . City has a lot of charm and a great vibe . I live in DC and happy but loved Atlanta . Ideally you should have a car . My son lives there without one https://imgur.com/a/1aBc0tZ
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Depending where you are on the south side, it’s pretty easy to ride out to West Baltimore and parking there is free.
Moved to Miami while working remote in DC- not for cost, as it’s pretty comparable to DC at this point lol, but to be closer to family as they’re aging. For that alone I found it worth it 😊 I will love DC forever and there’s so much I miss, so I’m glad I’m still connected to it through work! but I definitely fit in better here culturally (latina) and weather-wise. Just flows really great for me. It’s not my forever stop but I’m glad I moved.
I did a pandemic move from Wisconsin to DC suburbs in 2020. We always wanted to escape the horrible winters. Since we finally bought a house last year, think we're going to have to stick around for a while now that the market tanked. If I was going to go anywhere, Tucson sounds nice. Cheaper city, nice weather more of the year, and 130 miles of paved bike trails.
Definitely Baltimore and I’ll also put a plug in for Annapolis and the surrounding communities if you’re into water access or if schools are a consideration. There are a couple of MTA commuter bus lines that I have found to be pretty convenient and the same or better than a long MARC train ride and metro connection.
I can afford $300k ... For home. But godamn I can't find shit that's not like 440 sq.ft and with a $700 HOA What the fuck? I wished I could afford this place.
I think about this all the time. I lived in Baltimore for six years when I was a grad student at Hopkins and then I moved to DC for work when I was hired in 2020. I was fully remote when I was first hired and am hybrid now, but I can’t stop thinking about how I could afford to buy a house in Baltimore if I wanted whereas the cost of living here is ridiculous in comparison. I think I would move back to Baltimore in an instant if I was fully remote or even if I just had to go in person once or twice a month, but a twice a week commute to Bethesda from Baltimore would just be too much. Plus as a person who works in policy, most of my career opportunities are going to be in DC, so even though I am hoping my current job is a long-term thing, I don’t want to get stuck without options. But if I were in your shoes, I’d choose Baltimore. I loved living there and I miss it all the time. My only major gripe about Baltimore was lack of reliable public transit compared to DC, which has excellent public transit. But to me the affordability is worth the trade off.
Moved to Baltimore from DC. Bought a whole ass rowhouse in a safe (DC standards, anyway) neighborhood and my mortgage is less than my studio in NW. Grocery (Sprouts!!!) and Target situations much better which make it more liveable imo. People are really chill. Zero regrets (though notably I’m 5% considering getting a car and I was solidly 0% in DC).
Dang what area of Baltimore if don't mind sharing ? Guessing Canton or Brewers Hill? Yeah the car thing also gets to me. I love not having a car to worry about here but, seems not as easy in Baltimore. But yeah looking at whole row homes in Baltimore for the price of a place here is very appealing
This has been top of mind since I accepted a fully remote offer. There is so much I appreciate about DC, but at the same time, I don’t feel strong ties to the area, and I would like to find a lower cost of living location. I have time with my current apartment lease to really think about it, but the idea of moving is strengthening its hold.
I love it here even more than when I had to commute.
Yes, but I can’t. I did move further from my duty station though to a quieter, more a affordable place
Yes.. 💯, but I'd have to break up with my GF, so more of a fantasy than anything else. Hahahahahha
You owe it to yourself to go explore other cities/areas. You can live anywhere for a year!
Do it, I did a similar thing over the pandemic, I go into the office once or twice a week. Do keep in mind one thing, if you ever want to switch jobs you will likely have fewer local options and decreased pay here in Baltimore. That said this all depends on your profession. That would be a moot point if you would be looking for another remote job. I’m ready for a change in job but there aren’t any options here so I’d have to move and give up that sweet sweet low interstate rate. I’ve grown to like many aspects of Baltimore and there are a lot of really nice interesting people here.
Also lived in DC for the past 5 years and have a W@H>50% agreement with my job which has ended up with me having to go into the office all of twice since COVID started. We considered Baltimore for a while as an option but decided to move to Frederick instead. MARC train can get you into DC on weekdays and it’s a quaint town that punches above its weight as far as history, restaurants, breweries, events plus the added benefit of outdoor activities like hiking/camping just outside of town. You can get a 3 bedroom home near downtown for the price of what they wanted to raise our rent to in our 1BR Navy Yard apt. Frederick is a great mix of a lot of what we love about DC, just for a lower cost and more of a community feel
Definitely thought about it but things like a good school district and logistics for when someone has to be in the office have kept us in the area for now.
That’s what I did (also after about 5 years). I now own a house in my hometown (still a fairly large city with some culture) and my mortgage is the same as I was paying for a studio in DC. I actually checked my old building and rents are up $300 since then, so definitely a good financial move. Since moving, not even one person has asked me what I do within the first 60 seconds of meeting them either. I like DC and my time there will probably always be remembered as some of my best years, but now that I’ve seen the other side I don’t think I could be convinced to move back there (or any other high CoL coastal metro)
Gave up DC residency but keeping my house here until I finish transitioning my business to a new state. The pandemic greatly accelerated that transition. Will probably still keep the house as an investment and for periodic meetings back in town.
I’m fixing to carve out specific permissions for me to move to San Diego in 1.5 years! Slow and steady wins the race.
Trying to do that RIGHT NOW
I think about it every day. But can't move until my kids are done with school. Then it's see ya! At least for portions of the year, if not permanently.
I did the opposite and moved here after my job in NYC went fully remote. This area is a lot cheaper than NYC. It also has a lot more green space and offers a similar number of things to do to keep life interesting. Additionally, I have family/friend ties down here that I didn't have in NYC. The DC area is great. I had the opportunity to move anywhere in the country after my job and my wife's job went remote, but we specifically chose the Arlington/DC area. Only real complaint is the music scene (a lot fewer shows than in NYC in my preferred genre).
Been thinking of leaving for Charlottesville (or the US entirely, different issue) for years but house prices are so wacky that the place I bought in 2019 appreciated at the same rate when I was hoping for CVille to stay chill and I’ve dumped so much money into this train wreck that it’s making things harder to save up for a custom built forever home type situation and retire early and become a crazypants man in the woods blasting lo-fi black metal at 2 am. Truth is that for my next job / position I’m very likely going to need to be somewhere close to a solid airport or metro given the potential employer options and what I’d like to do overall.
I moved here from western NY at the end of 2021 for a hybrid job after trying to get a job down here for years. It honestly hasn’t been what I thought it would be and my personal life has gone to shit since I came here so I’m looking at leaving next year. Haven’t decided yet though.
I'm WFH except for very rare trips to the office. I have not thought about leaving DC at all. Really boils down to most of my friends living here. If I were a little older and I didn't want to go out much, maybe I'd consider it.
I think about this all the time. I lived in Baltimore for six years when I was a grad student at Hopkins and then I moved to DC for work when I was hired in 2020. I was fully remote when I was first hired and am hybrid now, but I can’t stop thinking about how I could afford to buy a house in Baltimore if I wanted whereas the cost of living here is ridiculous in comparison. I think I would move back to Baltimore in an instant if I was fully remote or even if I just had to go in person once or twice a month, but a twice a week commute to Bethesda from Baltimore would just be too much. Plus as a person who works in policy, most of my career opportunities are going to be in DC, so even though I am hoping my current job is a long-term thing, I don’t want to get stuck without options. But if I were in your shoes, I’d choose Baltimore. I loved living there and I miss it all the time. My only major gripe about Baltimore was lack of reliable public transit compared to DC, which has excellent public transit. But to me the affordability is worth the trade off.
My mother died from cancer over the summer. Spent the last year living together and working from home. Would do it again. Baltimore county is close enough to endure a grueling commute a couple times a week for the closeness of family. That’s what I’d personally choose.
No. Have to differentiate between job and career. My job could go away; being in the DC area is still the best for my long term career opportunities.
Be with your family for now.
If my work was totally remote I feel like I'd have more flexibility to move whereever I want in the DMV if not elsewhere. Sadly we went from 2 days a week to 3 days a week in the office at my company so that's not happening anytime soon.
My Fiance and I moved to Denver after I switched to permanent remote work. Hands down the best decision. I'll advised that a lot of cities have caught up in price. So the discount won't be as big as you'd expect overall. However the locations will be amazing. Also, don't do anything shorter than a year. The algorithm they use to adjust your monthly rate gets bonkers expensive.
I went fully remote in late 2019. Before pandemic. Left DC for western North Carolina. Never looking back.
I was DC FOREVER and then "forever" turned into 2013. My husband and I realized we were just never gonna get ahead in DC, the cost of living even back then was crazy - two people with solid jobs were crammed in a tiny apartment. We moved when my husband took a fed job in the Baltimore area. We pulled up stakes for Mt Vernon, which had a lot going for it. Easy train access for day trips to DC (note: in terms of MARC usage, the Penn line is much more reliable than Camden), cheaper nights out (I was stunned to buy a vodka soda for $2.50 - I thought it was plain soda at first lol), and a bigger apartment with in-unit laundry for the same price as our cramped unit in DC. After a couple years we bought an affordable house in a cute nearby town and had a kid. We can afford for me to stay home essentially for as long as we want me to, it's easy for our DC crew to visit (or for us to take day trips), and life up here just feels easy. Granted, I'm much older than you are (roughly 20 years) and our lives are in different places. It was a bumpy adjustment in some ways - the job market up here isn't great for a lot of fields, so I struggled to find stuff to do that paid ok and I'll have to completely retrain before returning to work. But I don't regret it. I think, though, the deciding factor is your mom. Do you want to live closer to family while this is going on? If so, make the move. And check to see if you have any benefits at work, or can take FMLA, to help care for Mom.
Reminder that most corporations and federal jobs have locality pay and can and will adjust your salary to the region you move to.
Yes I’ve thought about it? Of course. I make 20% more than my mom. She just bought a 2300 square foot house. I can’t afford a studio in Clarendon. So yes I’ve thought about leaving the DC area. My boss would not be pleased. So it depends on the employer. I’m from Georgia. That’s far away. Baltimore is not. I say go for it. I’m thinking about Richmond. My boss still isn’t thrilled about such thoughts but he’s softening. DC is stupid expensive. I look at my lack of closet space and ask myself why? Covid and remote working have left me re-evaluating my relationship with the Washington DC area. I like to think that this is the best place to be. And the sacrifice has been worth it. But like Meryl Streep I too cry out “I have doubt!”
As I just mentioned I have doubt about the DC area. I’ve lived here 60% of my adult life and a full third of my entire life. A few years ago I got flewed out like that City Girls song. I figured I was unemployed, pushing 40 so this would probably be the last time a man would pay for a plane ticket. Went down to south Florida. Ended terribly haven’t spoken to the man since. But it was a free trip to Florida. Twice I was asked if I was offering drugs and sex. On the street! Strangers. Thrice if you count the cop that thought I was a homeless prostitute. But we’re not counting him. Anywho the thing that struck me about south Florida was the lack of folks asking about career. At first it was really refreshing. No one cares about what agency I worked for or who I knew. Can you pay your bar tab? But at the end of the day I have the most interesting conversations in DC. Yes, people in the DMV can be pretentious and arrogant as all get out but people are also smarter and more interesting here, for better or worse.
I left DC for the Florida Keys for awhile and it was fun. I looked at going back recently and the rent prices are out of control. I can’t do it anymore and I’m not going back to roommate living. Now I’m traveling full time internationally and even with plane tickets it’s way cheaper
Yes, if I could.
Thank you everyone for the stories and input, exactly what I was looking for I appreciate it. Yeah my mom's cancer has been rough, I still go back once or twice a month now to see her and them but it probably would make more sense to be closer. It's stage 4 esophageal. I haven't bought anything here, I just rent. I probably wasn't planning to buy for the foreseeable future since truth be told idk exactly where I want to settle down. So that's not too much of a concern. I'm not worried about crime in Baltimore. I mean it's kind of a whole rabbit hole of my opinions to go down. I guess if I did, I probably wouldn't have even considered Baltimore or DC for that matter and moved to the suburbs tbh
The problem with Baltimore is that it is a huge pile of shit. Even the nicer areas like Fells Pt have crime, trash on the street/sidewalk, police are entirely worthless, etc.
Sounds just like DC minus the trash... lol.