Report: DC Proper Has Lowest Cost of Living for Singles
A study out today from the DC-based group Wider Opportunities for Women concludes that a single individual without children or a car can live within the District borders on about $32,000 a year, the lowest cost of living in the area.
The report calculated the amount of money needed to attain “basic economic security” (approximately four times the federal poverty level) for the city and surrounding areas, according to The Washington Post. The report’s conclusions are separated into tables for individuals and families, and include costs such as food, housing, child care, transportation and monthly savings for emergencies.
We were surprised by the monthly housing costs calculated for the District ($814 a month) as well as the fact that utility costs did not include cell phone bills, a major oversight given how prevalent cell phone usage is these days.
Despite its shortcomings, the report did offer some interesting conclusions for single-mothers and people making minimum wage in the region. From The Washington Post:
“In WOW’s analysis, single mothers are particularly squeezed. In most jurisdictions, the median income for working women who are raising children alone is well beneath WOW’s economic security figure. In many of the tables, two working parents earning the minimum wage of $7.25 an hour would each have to work one full-time and one part-time job to reach financial security.”
See other articles related to: cost of living, dclofts
This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/report_dc_proper_has_lowest_cost_of_living_for_singles/2562.
Most Popular... This Week • Last 30 Days • Ever
Renter demand has continued to push Class A apartment rents in the DC region up this ... read »
DC's homebuyer assistance programs can be a bit complex. This edition of First-Timer ... read »
Pocket listings are growing in popularity in the low-inventory market in the DC regio... read »
In this article, UrbanTurf looks at the estimated annual maintenance costs associated... read »
Plans for the development at a prominent DC intersection began nearly eight years ago... read »
DC Real Estate Guides
Short guides to navigating the DC-area real estate market
We've collected all our helpful guides for buying, selling and renting in and around Washington, DC in one place. Start browsing below!
First-Timer Primers
Intro guides for first-time home buyers
Unique Spaces
Awesome and unusual real estate from across the DC Metro