Even for DC that's deeply out of touch. I spent about two minutes on apartments.com and found a building in Arlington, nice neighborhood and right on two Metro lines, with studios for $1200/month. $2000/month can get you two bedrooms with a balcony and about 900 ft^2.

I get the feeling that people are confusing the rents in extremely desirable neighborhoods with the rents you must pay to be in the city at all.