Thinking about the pros and cons of living in Washington D.C.? It’s super important to weigh up both sides before making a big move to D.C.
Well, while the nation’s capital is definitely buzzing with great restaurants, bars, and things to do, the traffic that piles up anytime there’s any sort of official Presidential event can take its toll.
But don’t worry, I’m here with a comprehensive guide to the pros and cons of living in Washington D.C. to make your decision as easy and straightforward as possible!
A Quick Overview & Comparison
| Pros of Living in Washington D.C. | Cons of Living in Washington D.C. |
| High Salaries | Bad work-life balance |
| Multicultural | Tons of traffic |
| Great Travel Links | A lot of tourists |
| Tons of history | Public schools aren’t great |
| Bike-friendly | High cost of living |
| Great cultural attractions | Humid summers |
The Pros of Living in Washington D.C.
1. High Salaries
With Washington D.C. being full of high-powered positions and companies, you know that the salaries are going to be high. The average wage in Washington D.C. is actually around $149,000 which is a huge number!
As it’s a large city with some of the most influential people on the planet, there are plenty of jobs at multinational corporations, and start-ups, as well as of course in the US government.
2. Multicultural
The political importance of Washington D.C. also means that it’s inherently a multicultural place to live. There are basically embassies and consulates from all around the world in Washington D.C. that are staffed by people from overseas. The result is a multicultural society with a wide range of languages, religions, food styles, and more! If a culturally-varied society is important to you, Washington D.C. is a great place for you.
3. Great Travel Links
As the nation’s capital, Washington D.C. has a ton of great travel and transport links, locally, domestically, and internationally. The local transport networks consist of a high-quality metro and a series of city and wider area buses.
If you’re planning on going further afield, there are three main airports serving the city: Dulles International, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. So, you can get pretty much anywhere in the country or the world from one of these airports.
4. Tons of history
It goes without saying that Washington D.C. is full of US history. From becoming the capital of the US to the march on Washington to countless political scandals and triumphs over the years, it’s the perfect city if you love US history.
History buffs can visit a wide range of attractions including the Lincoln Memorial, the Smithsonian Museums, the Washington Monument, and so much more!
5. Bike-friendly
If you’re looking to live in a city that’s environmentally conscious, or you don’t fancy getting stuck in traffic all day, Washington D.C. has a whole host of bicycle lanes and bike racks to help you get around the city.
Not only is cycling good for the environment, but it also helps you stay fit and healthy along the way, saving money on joining a gym. It’s a win-win! You can find bike lane maps and routes easily on the city’s website.
6. Great cultural attractions
From the Smithsonian to the National Museum of African American History and Culture to the Library of Congress to the National Gallery of Art, there are no shortages of cultural attractions in and around Washington D.C.
It doesn’t matter if you love science, art, music, history, or even have a soft spot for espionage, there’s a museum, gallery, or institution that’s going to be perfect for you in D.C.
The Cons of Living in Washington D.C.
7. Bad work-life balance
With those high salaries comes a pretty poor work-life balance. These demanding job roles require a lot of hours and an “always-on” state of mind. In a recent survey, Washington D.C. was rated the 35th most stressed city out of 182 options.
Think about it this way, many of the jobs in Washington D.C. revolve around the US government even if you’re not working for the government, so if something is announced or changes on their end, everyone else ends up scrambling to work out what it means for them and their company.
8. Tons of traffic
So, Washington D.C. is the 8th most congested city in the whole of the US. It’s not an overstatement to say that the traffic is a nightmare. When you add in the fact that whole blocks get shut down whenever the President needs to go anywhere and it’s not exactly the best place to be a driver.
The public transport network is decent in Washington D.C., so it’s normally more time-efficient to leave the car at home and jump on the metro.
9. Public schools aren’t great
As so many of the residents of Washington D.C. are high-flying, high-paid professionals, many of them send their kids to one of the many private schools in the area. The result of that is the public schools are actually some of the worst in the country.
In fact, Washington D.C.’s public schools have one of the worst high school graduation figures in the country. So, if you want to start a family in D.C. or already have one and want to move there, you might want to consider saving for a private school.
10. A lot of tourists
With so many great cultural attractions and historic significance, it’s no wonder that Washington D.C. is popular with tourists. In fact, the city hosted 20.7 million domestic visitors in 2022 and a further 1.1-1.3 million overseas tourists in the same period. The city gets seriously busy!
If you need to get through popular spots like the National Mall or anywhere near the White House, expect to fight your way through crowds of tourists or travelers slowly walking and gawping at the sights of the capital.
11. High cost of living
With high wages comes a high cost of living. Having all the amenities of the capital on your doorstep does not come cheap. In fact, D.C.’s cost of living is around 52% higher than the US average.
In real terms, the average rent for a one-bed apartment in the city center is around $2,683.33 without any utilities. The high cost of living also extends out of housing with average monthly expenses for a single person without rent running to around $1,593 per month.
12. Humid summers
Summer in Washington D.C. is no joke. It gets ridiculously hot and muggy, rarely dropping below 90°F at the height of the season. The humidity during summer sits around 69% which means it often feels like the air is heavy and your motivation to do anything drops to zero.
If you’re not great with heat or humidity, you’re going to want to steer clear of Washington D.C., or invest in a really good air conditioning unit!
FAQ’s
