As someone who keeps a close eye on food costs, I can share some insights on that front. Groceries can really add up, but there are some deals to be had if you shop smart. A pound of chicken is around $12-13, and ground beef is $17 or so for good quality. Fruits and veggies vary a lot by season – you’re looking at $5-6 per pound for things like apples and tomatoes. For eating out, a casual meal for 2 adults and 2 kids could easily run $60-80 after tax/tip. Date nights get pricey – maybe $100 for a mid-range restaurant with drinks.

In terms of other costs, I pay around $180 for utilities in my 2-bed apartment, and my gym membership is $62/month. Getting around isn’t too bad if you don’t have crazy commutes – gas is under $1/liter and car insurance is pretty average for the area. Overall, Ashburn has a relatively high cost of living but I make it work on my $65k salary by budgeting diligently. Let me know if you need any other specifics!

My husband and I are in our early 30s with no kids, so our expenses likely look quite different than yours, LongTimeLocal. We live pretty comfortably off our combined $180k income.

Housing is probably our biggest cost – we rent a modern 1-bed apartment downtown for $2100/month. But the amenities are great and we can walk everywhere. Utilities, internet, and streaming services add another $300 or so. We eat out a fair amount, probably dropping $500-600/month on meals, coffee, and drinks.

We each have a car (moderate sedans we bought lightly used a few years ago) and the associated costs of gas, insurance, maintenance. I’d budget $500/month per car to be safe. We take vacations a few times a year and do regular activities like movies, concerts, gym memberships. So our disposable income does get eaten up, but we don’t have any student loans or kids, which helps a ton.

Ashburn definitely isn’t a low cost of living area, but it aligns well with our DINK lifestyle for now. Let me know if you need any other deets!

Cost of living in Ashburn is no joke when you’re a single parent! I’ve been here 7 years, mom to a 10-year-old son. We live pretty frugally out of necessity with my $52k salary.

Rent is my biggest expense – we have a 2-bed apartment outside downtown for $2000/month. Daycare/aftercare costs were rough when he was younger. Now it’s more expenses like $1700/year for his private school, plus sports/activities fees.

Groceries for 2 people run me $500-600 monthly. Gas and insurance for my used car are about $300/month. Utilities around $150. We don’t go out much besides an occasional movie, but I do pay $70/month for internet and streaming services.

Ashburn isn’t cheap, that’s for sure. Every dollar gets stretched to the max. But I love the community, parks, schools, and my son’s opportunities here. Just have to be very diligent about budgeting and looking for cost-savings wherever possible. It’s a sacrifice, but worth it for his future.

As a retiree, my costs in Ashburn look a little different. My wife and I bought our 3-bed ranch home outright when I retired at 62, so no mortgage payment is huge (though property taxes and HOA fees still add up). Biggest expenses these days are healthcare costs, utilities, groceries and the occasional home repair.

I’d budget at least $1000/month for healthcare premiums, prescriptions, etc. at our age. Utilities for our modestly-sized place run $250-300/month. Groceries for the two of us are $600 or so. ActivitIes and entertainment are relatively affordable – movie tickets around $15 each, lots of free community events and parks. We do 1-2 bigger trips per year, so factor in travel costs too.

Overall, our annual spending is around $60-65k to live comfortably. Not cheap, but Ashburn is a nice place to enjoy retirement if you plan well. We’re able to sustain a decent lifestyle on my pension & social security. Let me know if any other retired folks have insights to add!

Jumping in from more of a hustle mindset – I’m a few years into running my own business and living that startup life in Ashburn. Costs can be challenging when you’re self-employed and revenue is variable.

Housing-wise, I rent a basic 1-bed apartment for $2000/month. Could maybe find something cheaper further out, but I wanted a central location. My car is paid off but I budget $300/month for gas, insurance, maintenance. Utilities about $150. Food adds up whether I’m eating from home or doing client lunches/dinners – maybe $800/month easily.

On top of personal expenses, I’ve got business costs for things like office space, software/tools, marketing, professional services, etc. Can be $2000-3000 per month depending on current projects and growth initiatives. Health insurance is another $500+/month bummer since I have to pay for a private plan.

It’s not easy, but I’m making it work for now while I build the business. Ashburn has been a great place to tap into clients and talent. Definitely a grind, but I’m betting it will pay off long-term to be sweating it out in an prosperous area like this.

My wife and I are in our late 30s, both working full-time while juggling 3 young kids. So costs add up quickly in our Ashburn household of 5! Between our dual incomes around $230k though, we’re able to manage a comfortable lifestyle while still saving diligently.

On the housing front, we own a 4-bedroom home in the suburbs (bought it few years ago for $625k) and have a pretty standard 30-year mortgage around $2500/month. Groceries easily run $1200+ per month to feed our whole crew. All the kid activities and camps add up too – $500-600/month at times with music lessons, sports, etc.

We have 3 vehicles (2 SUVs and a sedan) which is pricey between gas, insurance, maintenance. $1000 or so per month to keep them all running. Utilities average $300 for our home. Fun stuff like family days out, restaurants, subscribions/streaming easily gobble up another $800 monthly.

It’s an expensive area for sure. But Ashburn has been great for jobs, schools, things to do as a family. We make some trade-offs to be here, but are able to enjoy a nice quality of living thanks to our dual incomes. Let me know if any other specific costs would be helpful!

My husband and I are in our early 40s, working toward FIRE (financial independence/retiring early). So our cost considerations in Ashburn aim to balance enjoying life now while aggressively saving/investing for the future.

We own our 3-bed townhome outright (bought a few years ago for $480k) which is a huge monthly savings. Our annual property taxes are around $6k. No car payments – we drive used but reliable SUVs. Main expenses:

– $1000/month for groceries/household
– $300/month each for our individual fun money
– $500/month for restaurants/entertainment
– $500/month for travel (we road trip a lot)
– $500-600/month for utilities, internet, subscriptions
– $1200/month for health insurance premiums, max out HSA

We both make over 6 figures, no kids, no debt. Able to MAX out 401ks and invest the rest aggressively. Overall we spend around $75k/year at the moment while saving the rest. Ashburn fits our flexible lifestyle well as we ramp up to (hopefully) retire in our early 50s.

Oh man, chiming in as the struggling student/teen perspective on Ashburn costs! I grew up here and live at home while going to community college, working part-time. Trying to get through with minimal debt.

My job covers some little fun stuff like gas, movies with friends, etc. But biggest costs are:

– $200/month for my used car (insurance, gas)
– $150/month for community college
– $100/month for textbooks/materials
– $50-75/month for food/entertainment

Thankfully my parents cover rent, utilities, health insurance, etc for now as I GET an education. But seeing friends’ rents at $800+ for a bedroom is daunting! Even a 1-bed apartment averages like $2k which is wild.

Overall I feel very privileged to be in Ashburn with the schools, opportunity, safety. But the costs are so high. Budgeting obsessively, living frugally, taking advantage of community resources. Hustling for scholarships/financial aid. It’ll feel amazing to (hopefully) lock down a solid career path without drowning in debt first!

Oh trust me, I’m well aware of the high costs in Ashburn – it’s where I choose to live large! Wife and I are in our early 40s, both with very successful careers. Our combined income is in the $750k range.

Real estate is where most of the money goes – we own a 6,000 sq ft mansion in the heart of downtown, paid $3 million a few years ago. Mortgage, property taxes, utilities for that place push $10k monthly easily. We go all out though with top appliances, security system, landscaping, etc.

We also splurge on cars – I get a new luxury SUV every 2-3 years, she’s the same for high-end sedans. So figure $2,000+ per month for payments/insurance across 3-4 vehicles. Travel is another big hobby – we take 6-8 big international vacations per year, $50k annually conservatively.

Other costs stack up too – personal trainers, chefs, nannies, country club, clothing, entertainment. We spend lavishly without worrying about it too much thanks to our high incomes. Ashburn living is expensive, but we can afford it in grand style!

Jumping in with a somewhat unique perspective – my sister and I are single, active seniors sharing a condo in downtown Ashburn. Loving this walkable area in our “aunties” phase of life!

We split most costs down the middle. Our 2-bed, 2-bath condo was around $450k a few years ago, and our combined mortgage/HOA fees run $2700/month. Utilities average $175 each. Grocery costs are manageable since it’s just the two of us – maybe $500 monthly.

Getting around Ashburn without driving much saves a bunch over car payments, gas, insurance. We use rideshares and annually pay $75 each for an unlimited public transit pass. Staying active is a priority though – we spend $125 each for a gym membership and $80 each for tennis club fees.

We certainly aren’t luxury living, but between our combined incomes of $120k from retirement accounts/pensions/social security, we’re comfortable treating ourselves to regular symphony/theater tickets ($100 each time), nice restaurant meals ($150-200 for two with wine), and travel 2-3 times per year. Ashburn keeps us busy and engaged at this phase of life.