{"id":11948,"date":"2025-02-10T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-02-10T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cubesmart.com\/blog\/?p=11948"},"modified":"2025-02-07T16:33:59","modified_gmt":"2025-02-07T21:33:59","slug":"11-tips-to-know-before-moving-to-washington-d-c","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.cubesmart.dev\/blog\/city-guides\/dc\/11-tips-to-know-before-moving-to-washington-d-c\/","title":{"rendered":"Moving To Washington, DC:11 Things You Should Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Image via Pixabay<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

As a major political stage, Washington DC attracts people from all over the world. Some are visiting, and some, like you, are looking to make the city their new home. Relocating can be a stressful, frustrating experience, especially when you\u2019re moving to a big city. Larger cities are alive with their own culture that can take some time for newcomers to get familiar with.<\/p>\n

Although overwhelming, this learning process can be exciting in its own right. But before you blindly jump into the fold, take a look at these ten things to know before moving to Washington DC.<\/p>\n

Be Prepared for the Cost of Living in Washington DC<\/h2>\n

It will come as no surprise to you that the cost of living in Washington DC is fairly high. It\u2019s one of the most expensive cities in the U.S. If you\u2019re moving to DC from NYC, the costs might not shell shock you so much. However, if you\u2019re relocating from way, way out of state, expect to pay a lot more for housing, food, etc. As a general rule, housing gets more expensive the closer you move to downtown. So, even if you\u2019re relocating from within the city, don\u2019t expect a two-bedroom apartment downtown to cost the same as your two-bedroom apartment in Bethesda.<\/p>\n

The good news is that the higher cost of living in Washington DC tends to be balanced out by a higher-than-average\u00a0median household income<\/a>\u00a0$90,088 here as opposed to $55,826 in Tulsa, OK.<\/p>\n

Before Moving to Washington D.C, Know Your Neighborhoods<\/h2>\n
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Image via Pixabay<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The first important thing you\u2019ll need to decide is where you\u2019ll live. The most popular neighborhoods in Washington DC\u00a0<\/a>offer varying rent costs.<\/p>\n

Capitol Hill<\/a>\u00a0and Eastern Market, for example, are more residential Washington DC neighborhoods and are some of the best places to live if you\u2019ve landed a job at the Hill since you would be able to walk or bike to work. If you\u2019re interested in a more hip neighborhood, you might look into\u00a0Logan Circle<\/u>, with its Victorian-style houses dating back to 1870. The area is great for shopping and dining.<\/p>\n

Learn to Love The DC Metro<\/h2>\n
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Image via Pixabay<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you\u2019re\u00a0moving to Washington DC<\/u>\u00a0from a place where public transport wasn\u2019t very common, using the\u00a0Metro<\/a>\u00a0might seem strange or intimidating at first. However, it\u2019s actually an incredibly convenient, easy way to get from point A to point B. And, unlike many other train systems in the country, it\u2019s very clean and safe.<\/p>\n

Storing Your Car in Washington, DC<\/h2>\n

When relocating to a bigger, busier city from a quiet, rural setting, many people wonder if they should keep their cars or sell them. While traffic is, of course, heavy in DC, it\u2019s not quite as frantic as New York City, so there\u2019s really no reason to get rid of your vehicle altogether. It\u2019s nice to have in a bind, and there are a lot of interesting places to visit outside of the city and the Metro\u2019s reach.<\/p>\n

Still, parking prices can be a pain in the neck, especially if you aren\u2019t using your car on a regular basis anyway. Instead, you might consider storing your car in one of the many vehicle storage locations near Washington, DC.<\/a><\/p>\n

Know How Washington DC Taxes Work<\/h2>\n

One of the most important tips for moving to Washington DC, is to learn how the city\u2019s taxes work. The city\u2019s taxation system is quite interesting, so be prepared for that. Sales tax is at\u00a06%<\/a>\u00a0except for liquor, which is 10%. If you eat at a restaurant or rent a car, expect to see 10% tax imposed, while parking boasts 18% and hotels claim 14.5%.<\/p>\n

Thankfully, groceries, medicines, and utilities are exempt from sales tax completely, so that\u2019s one less thing you have to worry about figuring out.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t Dismiss Downsizing Your Belongings<\/h2>\n

Before you consider moving to Washington DC, bear in mind that you likely won\u2019t have the same amount of space as you do now, especially if you\u2019re moving into an apartment on Dupont Circle, for example. Bigger cities sometimes mean smaller spaces, so depending on which Washington D.C. neighborhood<\/a> you decide to move to, you\u00a0\u00a0might need to store some of your belongings<\/u>.<\/p>\n

Self-storage units<\/a>\u00a0are handy when you realize you don\u2019t have room for all of your furniture at your new place. You can even rent boat storage\u00a0<\/a>if you need to!<\/p>\n

Moving to Washington, DC<\/h2>\n

If by chance, you happen to be a native looking to relocate within the city, the task can still be daunting. If you don\u2019t have a truck of your own, you\u2019ll need to seek out a reliable, efficient\u00a0moving company<\/u>\u00a0to help you out. Some places offer a free hour or two to those moving locally, so take advantage of those sorts of moving truck rental deals.<\/a> You\u2019ll appreciate anything that makes your trip less stressful, especially if you happen to be moving on the first or the last day of the month, like most other people.<\/p>\n

Learn DC\u2019s Train Schedules and Routes<\/h2>\n

Getting a firm grasp of the Metro\u2019s schedule and\u00a0routes<\/u>\u00a0will make your life so much easier. The system itself isn\u2019t complicated, but it takes time to adjust to any new transportation method. Figure out which stops are closest to where you live, work, and play so you can save time and feel less frantic as you move about the city.<\/p>\n

The Unspoken Dress Codes of DC<\/h2>\n

The city itself doesn\u2019t have a dress code, of course, but you\u2019ll quickly notice that most people, especially around the Hill, carry themselves very professionally. DC is home to some of the most important people in our nation. If you\u2019ve just moved here from a smaller town, it\u2019s important to realize that what you considered professional attire there might not cut it while you\u2019re living in Washington DC. So, if you\u2019re going to a big job interview, always err on the side of more professional.<\/p>\n

You may find that many fine dining restaurants or upscale bars enforce dress codes, but don\u2019t let that be a source of anxiety.\u00a0Not sure what to wear?<\/u>\u00a0Before heading out, find out what sort of attire is acceptable where you\u2019re going by asking a friend or phoning the business.<\/p>\n

Be Prepared to Sit in DC Traffic<\/h2>\n

Traveling in the city tends to be fairly slow. There are a lot of people, so car traffic and foot traffic are always on the heavier side. If you\u2019re not used to the hustle and bustle of a bigger city, you\u2019ll need to immediately start training yourself to leave for your destination much earlier than before.<\/p>\n

Despite the city\u2019s small size, it can take upwards of an hour or more to get across it. If you have places to be, always plan to wake up earlier than normal, especially if you don\u2019t live close to work or school.<\/p>\n

Places to Visit in Washington DC<\/h2>\n

Washington DC is situated near many excellent weekend getaway activities. The landscape in surrounding areas is gorgeous, making for incredible outdoor adventures such as hiking in\u00a0 Shenandoah National Park<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0rafting in Harper\u2019s Ferry, WV.<\/u>\u00a0 You\u2019ll be glad you\u00a0kept your car<\/u>\u00a0if you\u2019re more of a beach bum. Virginia Beach is around four hours away from D.C., which is quite a trek, but getting away from the noise and bustle of the city can be refreshing.<\/p>\n

Moving to a new place is never easy, especially if you don\u2019t know anyone there or aren\u2019t used to large crowds and a busier atmosphere. Washington DC in particular may seem nearly impenetrable to outsiders, but nothing could be farther from the truth. It\u2019s a warm city, full of life, culture, and history, just waiting for you to become a part of it.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Check out our\u00a0Washington DC neighborhood guide<\/a> for more details and tips.<\/p>\n

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Image via Pixabay<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

Find self-storage in Washington DC<\/a>!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\tRead our 11 essential tips for moving to Washington D.C. These tips will help you adjust to D.C. lifestyle, transportation, cost of living, and more.\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":19465,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[649,648],"tags":[681,683,371,830],"class_list":["post-11948","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dc-moving-guide","category-dc","tag-living-in-washington-dc","tag-moving-to-washington-dc","tag-washington-dc","tag-washington-dc-storage"],"yoast_head":"\r\nMoving To Washington D.C. | Moving Tips & Advice | CubeSmart<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Thinking of moving to Washington DC? 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