Washington DC is a unique student city — politics and policy are the local industry, free museums line the National Mall, and the metro system is clean and reliable. Rent is high but concentrated in certain areas; students who know where to look can find genuine value.
Georgetown University
Georgetown: Walking distance but very expensive. No Metro stop (by design — residents fought it). Rooms USD 1,200–2,000/month.
Rosslyn (Arlington, VA): Across the Key Bridge. 15 min walk to Georgetown, Blue/Orange/Silver Line Metro. Rooms USD 900–1,600/month.
Glover Park: North of Georgetown, 10 min walk. More residential. Rooms USD 1,000–1,700/month.
GWU (Foggy Bottom)
Foggy Bottom: Right at campus, between the White House and the Kennedy Center. Expensive. Rooms USD 1,200–2,200/month.
Columbia Heights: 10 min Green Line. Vibrant Latino community on 14th Street, gentrified with excellent food. Rooms USD 900–1,600/month.
Petworth: Further north on the Green Line. Rapidly changing with new restaurants and bars. Rooms USD 800–1,400/month.
American University (Tenleytown)
Tenleytown & Friendship Heights: Walking distance to AU. Quiet, safe, near Rock Creek Park. Rooms USD 900–1,600/month.
Van Ness & Cleveland Park: 1–2 Red Line stops south of AU. Connecticut Avenue corridor. Rooms USD 900–1,600/month.
Value Zone: NoVA & Maryland Suburbs
Arlington & Alexandria (VA): Across the Potomac, on multiple Metro lines. Pentagon City, Crystal City, and Old Town Alexandria have good student apartments. Rooms USD 800–1,400/month.
Silver Spring & Takoma Park (MD): Northern suburbs on the Red Line. Silver Spring has a revitalized downtown; Takoma Park is crunchy and progressive. Rooms USD 700–1,300/month.
FAQ
How important is the Metro? Essential. Live within 10 min walk of a station. DC’s Metro is one of the few US systems that people actually rely on. Is DC cheaper than NYC/Boston? Slightly cheaper than Boston for student housing, much cheaper than NYC — but still expensive by national standards. Best budget tip? Group houses. Large DC row houses with 4–6 bedrooms can bring individual rent down to USD 700–1,000/month in areas like Petworth or Brookland.