I went from owning a home in a small town to renting in a big city. Life costs more, but it feels richer.

I grew up in a fairly small, slightly agrarian community in chief Virginia, concerning two hours from Washington, DC. And, in my first 20s, I got wed and bought a home there.

But whenever I got divided at 30, I wanted to commencement complete location new.

Stars seemed to align whenever I got a new stance at my business that required me to relocate to Washington, DC.

I was blessed to do it and officially moved to DC in 2021.

Although my hometown wasn't that far from the nation's capital, the two places felt akin night and day — and a lot of my worries concerning living in a big city turned out to be unfounded.

City living comes alongside perks I didn't anticipate

I affection the outdoors, and was fortunate to develop up living near to Shenandoah National Park.

I concerned that moving to a big city meant giving up admission to green spaces, but I was wrong. This has not been the case in DC, which has miles of bicycle and pedestrian trails.

Beyond that, the city is so walkable and well-connected by community transport that several of the parks and monuments are fair a few blocks' stroll or a abbreviated bus journey from my home. There are many of liberated museums in the area, too.

I got rid of my car whenever I moved to the city, and I don't young female it at all.

On top of that, I affection DC's worldwide energy.

With all the distinct embassies and earth organizations in the city, there's a ample global community. The assortment of cultures brings a assortment of restaurants alongside cuisines from about the earth that I would never have been capable to discover in my small town.

Living in specified a important city additionally provides a lot of financial opportunities that can be harder to discover in smaller towns. For example, many ample employers have offices in the Washington, DC, area and recommendation higher-salary jobs that assistance offset the higher disbursal of living.

Living in an flat has been amazingly enjoyable, too

I idea going from living in a single-family home to an flat would awareness akin a downgrade, but it hasn't. For one, my flat construction has several awesome amenities akin a pool, a full-sized gym, and a 24-hour forefront desk.

Renting has additionally felt additional financially predictable than owning a home.

When it comes to maintenance, I no longer concern concerning footing the invoice or mapping out logistics. When item breaks, I call my apartment-management company, and they get it fixed.

My rent additionally includes all utilities, so I don't have to concern concerning my bills fluctuating alongside seasonal heating and air conditioning expenses anymore.

Although I was concerned that sharing walls alongside others would average a lot of noise, the group in my construction are mostly considerate of one another. It hasn't been an issue.

I additionally expected living in a city alongside complete fractional a myriad group would awareness chilly and impersonal, but I've cultivated a small-town vibe in my neighborhood by being friendly.

These days, I'm on a first-name basis alongside the group who activity in my flat building. I see the identical groundskeepers, valets, and taxi drivers exterior the hotels all day, and we motion to all another all dawn whenever I'm on my way to obtain my son to day care.

The city is expensive, but I fair can't see myself going rear to living in a small town

There's no getting about it: It expenses additional to live in the city.

Although it's not fairly apples-to-apples, for context, my home loan on the three-bedroom single-family home I used to portion alongside my ex was concerning $1,200 a month. Here, I rent a one-bedroom flat that I portion alongside my now-husband and son for concerning $2,500 a month.

That's concerning $15,600 additional a twelvemonth for small space. Even although I pay additional in rent than I did for my mortgage, I discover the pay and career-growth opportunities current additional than create up for it. I additionally create additional now than I did before I moved.

Daily living expenses for things akin groceries or going out to eat are higher current than in my hometown, but to me, the convenience and accessibility of so many distinct things are value it.

Before I had my son, who is now 2, I idea I power desire to depart DC following I started a family. Now I think the city is a awesome location for him to develop up.

He's exposed to many distinct cultures all day, and his classmates have varied backgrounds. We have liberated admission to the zoo and all sorts of nearby former and art museums, which have many of kid-friendly activities that are fun for parents, too.

Growing up in a small town, I was intimidated whenever I visited cities and had to navigate community transportation, but it volition be second nature to my son as he gets older.

When the chance to move presented itself all those years ago, I'm glad I kept an open intellect since now I don't see myself going rear to a small-town lifestyle.