How big a place do you need - do you have a spouse and children or are you alone? Apartments on the metro are expensive. Definitely look at the prices before you decide on your job. We have amazing access to restaurants with food from around the world. Most are very reasonably priced and having a car makes it easy to eat around the world. Some great choices for inexpensive ethnic restaurants on Columbia Pike. Many more inexpensive ethnic restaurants are in Fairfax County and not metro accessible. Access to DC and the Smithsonian is fantastic - it's easy to pop in just to see one work of art or make a last minute decision to visit. Bars are kind of expensive for cocktails - almost NYC prices! Eating and drinking in DC is pretty expensive overall but you can find inexpensive gems and lots of happy hours. Groceries are expensive (as they are everywhere!) but there are 2 Aldi supermarkets right outside of Arlington's boundaries. Lots of young people live in Arlington and Arlington is frequently on top of lists like "best places to live" "most fit population" "highest level of education" etc. That's what makes Arlington really amazing. Living Wage for Arlington is $50K for a single - that's meeting all basic needs. $100K would be very comfortable but keep on saving! https://livingwage.mit.edu/counties/51013