For all the whining that Washingtonians do about cost of living in the city, one thing is true: you get more space for the rent you pay here than you would in New York. And while new figures from Rent Cafe indicate this is still true, high rent cost will still get you a hell of a lot more space outside the United States than in it.
The study, which looked at cost per square foot in apartments throughout the world, found that $1,500 is worth a 543-square-foot apartment here in Washington, DC. That’s still much better than the Big Apple, where $1,500 is worth a measly 277-square-foot apartment. But in Berlin, Shanghai, or Istanbul, you could get an apartment that’s double the size of what you’d get in DC for the same price.
So if you’re looking for a cheaper, bigger living space, your best bet is probably to move outside of DC. Far outside. And while a recent string of terrorist attacks caused the State Department to issue a travel warning for Turkey back in March, you’ll still get the most bang for your buck in Istanbul. Located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, the Turkish city has long been a center for commerce and culture. What can DC say for itself?
Courtney Vinopal is a former Washingtonian editorial fellow. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University, and previously worked as a press attaché for the Embassy of France in Washington, where she ran the institution’s social media accounts and newsletters. She lives in Woodley Park.
