Washington DC is an amazing place to live. It is full of life, history, arts, parks and entertainment and it is one of the best cities in the country. But it does come with its own unique quirks and surprises. If you want to move to Washington DC, there are some things you should know before you do. Here are 10 things you may not expect when moving to Washington DC.
- Cost of living is high.
Flickr/NCinDC DC is one of the most expensive cities in the country. It’s the 5th most expensive place to live for a single person and was ranked as the most expensive place to live for a family of four by the Economic Policy Institute.
- Taxes work a little differently here.
Flickr/401(k) 2012 DC taxes are a little different than most other cities. The sales tax is around 6% but for certain things, like, liquor, the sales tax is 10%. There’s also a 10% sales tax on restaurant meals or takeout orders. There’s an 18% sales tax on parking your car in commercial lots and a 14.5% sales for hotels.
- There are no skyscrapers in DC.
Flickr/Meins Photography There’s a height limit that prevents developers from constructing buildings above a certain height. According to the law, which was amended last in 1910, a building’s height is limited to the width of the adjacent street plus 20 feet and up to a maximum of 90 feet and 130 feet on commercial streets.
- There’s an unofficial dress code.
Flickr/US Department of Agriculture Obviously there’s a diverse amount of people here but as a general rule, most people in DC dress in business causal or even more professional. This especially applies if you work near the Hill or downtown.
- It takes a while to get anywhere.
Flickr/t whalen There are many ways to get around DC: the Metro, buses, driving, cabs or Uber but it will probably take a while to get where you are going no matter what mode of transportation you take. Between Metro delays and traffic, it can take 30 minutes to go a few miles.
- Rethink having your car.
Flickr/Mr.TinDC Having a car in DC can be a huge bonus, especially if you like to get out of the city on the weekends. However, parking is limited and often, expensive and with the abundance of public transportation, owning a car is not always the best choice in DC.
- The city is split into quadrants.
Courtesy of Wikimedia Washington DC is split into four quadrants and then divided into neighborhoods within the quadrants. It’s helpful to know the quadrants and what main neighborhoods are in each quadrant.
- The humidity is tough.
Flickr/Michael Van Vleet The humidity in DC is unreal. It’s hot and then it’s humid and it’s like that for about six months of the year. Air conditioning is your friend in the summer in DC.
- The fight for statehood is a big deal.
Flickr/Alex Guerrero Most people outside of Washington DC do not realize how much Washingtonians want statehood. If you want to move here, take some time to learn about what “Taxation without Representation” means and why it’s important in the district.
- You can find just as much to do outside of DC as you can living in DC.
Flickr/David Clow Washington DC is in the perfect area for taking incredible weekend trips. We are surrounded by amazing destinations in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
Not sure if DC is the best place to live? Here are the 15 reasons why Washington DC is the best city.
Flickr/NCinDC
DC is one of the most expensive cities in the country. It’s the 5th most expensive place to live for a single person and was ranked as the most expensive place to live for a family of four by the Economic Policy Institute.
Flickr/401(k) 2012
DC taxes are a little different than most other cities. The sales tax is around 6% but for certain things, like, liquor, the sales tax is 10%. There’s also a 10% sales tax on restaurant meals or takeout orders. There’s an 18% sales tax on parking your car in commercial lots and a 14.5% sales for hotels.
Flickr/Meins Photography
There’s a height limit that prevents developers from constructing buildings above a certain height. According to the law, which was amended last in 1910, a building’s height is limited to the width of the adjacent street plus 20 feet and up to a maximum of 90 feet and 130 feet on commercial streets.
Flickr/US Department of Agriculture
Obviously there’s a diverse amount of people here but as a general rule, most people in DC dress in business causal or even more professional. This especially applies if you work near the Hill or downtown.
Flickr/t whalen
There are many ways to get around DC: the Metro, buses, driving, cabs or Uber but it will probably take a while to get where you are going no matter what mode of transportation you take. Between Metro delays and traffic, it can take 30 minutes to go a few miles.
Flickr/Mr.TinDC
Having a car in DC can be a huge bonus, especially if you like to get out of the city on the weekends. However, parking is limited and often, expensive and with the abundance of public transportation, owning a car is not always the best choice in DC.
Courtesy of Wikimedia
Washington DC is split into four quadrants and then divided into neighborhoods within the quadrants. It’s helpful to know the quadrants and what main neighborhoods are in each quadrant.
Flickr/Michael Van Vleet
The humidity in DC is unreal. It’s hot and then it’s humid and it’s like that for about six months of the year. Air conditioning is your friend in the summer in DC.
Flickr/Alex Guerrero
Most people outside of Washington DC do not realize how much Washingtonians want statehood. If you want to move here, take some time to learn about what “Taxation without Representation” means and why it’s important in the district.
Flickr/David Clow
Washington DC is in the perfect area for taking incredible weekend trips. We are surrounded by amazing destinations in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
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