Are you coming here for work or school? Will you be relying on public transportation? If so, recommend living as close to work/school as possible- or an easy metro/bus ride away. There are many walkable communities and there are others where you need a car and live half your life in traffic.

If you are coming here for work, do you know if you’ll have telework options?

You can get by most of the time with layers - long sleeve sweatshirts, down vests, hat and gloves etc. A heavy winter coat is nice, but maybe something to buy here since it’s a pain to travel with? Lots of that stuff is on sale right now too.

Good luck!

Yes, I’ll be coming for work. I do have work from home option so I can live anywhere really

Thanks for the advise!

Hello! Congrats on the job! As a fellow immigrant, here’s some advice: 1. It’s very cold here. Not sure where in India you’re coming from but where I’m from it’s usually not often colder than 5C. Here that’s a pretty normal nighttime temperature in winter. I own a big, long winter coat to stay warm. 2. For the Airbnb, I would recommend you stay somewhere like Arlington because it feels like that would be cheaper than main DC without being too removed from the city, as Arlington has a metro stop. Arlington has tons of restaurants, cafes, people, etc so it’s a good place to start. 3. Ask your workmates once you’re here if you can where they live and what they like about it! Depending on your salary you will have a couple of different good options. Anyway, again, welcome to DC. It’s cold as hell right now and not many people are out, but soon it’ll be warm and you’ll see everyone out enjoying the city! Good luck!

[deleted]

Don’t go to Virginia.

Welcome to our city!

1. Yes, for November - March it can get pretty cold and windy here. ie Christmas week it was only 6 degrees F, yesterday it was snowing etc. So you will need sweaters and layers. But you may just want to buy a big coat when you get here.

2. Very accessible, I've lived here 8 years without a car. However, if you are able to live more in the middle of the city you can save a lot of money just walking instead of taking the train, bus, and Uber. DC is quite small, much smaller than most people that don't live here realize.

3. If you can afford it, live near the center of the city in NW (some neighborhoods are Dupont Circle, Logan Circle, Shaw, Columbia Heights, Adams Morgan, U Street). The neighborhoods all have different character and businesses. For instance Dupont is more quiet, U Street is more for going out etc. You can walk to everything if you live in one of these central neighborhoods. My personal opinion (and where I'm moving to soon) is that the neighborhood between Dupont and Adams Morgan is one of the quietest and safest in the city, but is also the most walkable. This could be a good place to serve as your home base as you apartment hunt and get the lay of the land.

4. You're probably going to see a lot in this sub and on the news about violent crime in DC. It is true that DC is a major US city and it is good to have some level of street smarts to live here (there are muggings, car break ins, issues with drugs and homelessness etc.), however most gun crime is related to gang activity and is targeted. A lot of people live in the suburbs of Virginia and commute in to the city to work because it is more affordable and safer, but I would highly recommend living in the city itself if you can. It's a wonderful city with lots of things to do, always events and museums and great restaurants. Many parts have a small neighborhood feel. If you are coming to a new country and don't know many people it is easy to get involved with groups etc. if you live here. Less so in the suburbs.

The weather is all relative. If you are used to warm temperatures, it will feel pretty cold. it DC winters are pretty mild but it does get a few weeks of some pretty cold weather every winter.

Hard to give advice about where you should live without a budget in mind. Arlington is not cheaper than DC - sometimes it is more expensive. But is has lots of apartments, nightlife, and accessible transportation. Where will you be working?

Most people who have been in DC for a long time will tell you not to love in the suburbs. Personally, city life is the only life for me - really don’t like the DC suburbs. That is such a subjective determination based on your own wants comfort needs. All neighborhoods in DC and the various suburbs all have different vibes and pros/cons.

Would suggest some kind of puffer coat with a hood that is a wind breaking and water proof/resistant external material. Not only is it cold, but wind can be strong at times.

It's been 20+ years, but I came here from a tropical climate and for the first 2-3 years I was freezing cold in the winters.

I recommend:

• A heavy windproof winter coat/parka (Eddie Bauer is a good mid-range brand; they have a sale right now if you have a US address you can ship to.) Something mid-hip or longer is good. Women's jackets are typically longer and you can get knee-length, but most of the men's jackets I see are shorter, FYI.
• Gloves. They should be windproof and waterproof
• Warm socks
• Waterproof boots that you can wear in snow, slush, or rain

If you want to pick up good quality outerwear more cheaply, there are typically sales timed around public holidays. President's Day (Feb 20) might have sales.

Indoor spaces are well-heated, so I don't recommend thermals. If you wear thermals under your clothes, you'll be too warm indoors when you take your coat off.

1. All of the above. In the coldest months in winter, you'll want to put on several layers, as opposed to a single thick one. Your outermost layer should be windproof and water proof to keep you comfortable. Pay attention to socks! Keeping your feet warm is a big deal. In the winter look for wool or synthetic materials (cotton loses its ability to insulate when damp or wet)
2. All depends on your neighborhood.
3. I'd suggest staying somewhere close to work, or at least where it is practical to commute via public transit. Buses are pretty solid so don't overlook bus routes.

My long term goal is to settle down with someone fit, feminine, compassionate (not political, or a bleeding heart feminist). I’m a liberal at heart but American feminist really scare me.

...good luck!