If you're a GS employee in DC and not getting promoted every year or two moving from agency to agency why stay in DC?
I'm a GS-1750-12 and moved to the mid-west where I could easily live on my current salary, if I was still in DC I'd be applying for jobs to move up to a GS-14 or GS-15 as fast as I could and then I'd leave DC to lower cost of living area.