Cost of Living in USA for International Students

Student Living Cost in the USA

One of the most important concerns for a student seeking education abroad is about how much he/she might have to spend every month on living expenses. In the USA, the average monthly cost of living for international students is around 1,000 USD excluding the tuition fee of the course. However, the cost of living can differ from student to student depending upon the kind of lifestyle they adopt even though the tuition fee is the same for all students.

The cost of living in the USA, in general, is quite high due to the fact that students from across the globe dream of studying at American universities. The demand for US universities is quite high as they offer diverse course disciplines, advanced pedagogy methods and renowned employment opportunities post the completion of programmes.

Another major factor in determining the average cost of living in the US is the location of the university. If the university is in the middle of a well-established city like New York or Columbia, then the cost of living for students would be higher. On the contrary, for students studying at universities located in suburban areas like Ohio or Indiana, the cost of living is considerably low. The tuition fee of the courses is usually uniform in all the American Universities but they are particularly high in comparison with other countries. 

In general, the cost of living for an international student in the US would be higher in its Northeast or Eastern part than in the Midwestern part. One year living expense in America can all in all be calculated depending upon the following factors: 

• Hostel Rent or House Accommodation 

• Meals, Groceries and Eating Out Expense 

• Entertainment 

• Travelling Cost

Also Read: Biden Promises Immigration Reform to Bring More International Talent to the US

US States with the Lowest Cost of Living

With a cost of living index of 84.5, Mississippi is the cheapest state to live in in the United States. In addition, its housing index is the lowest in the country, which is 67.1 and the average rent for a 2 BHK is $746. The living wage in the state is $46,084 for one child and two adults with an average home cost of only $128,000. 

The US state with the second-lowest cost of living index is Arkansas, which has an index of 86.9. The living wage in the state is only $44,571 and cost of transportation is, housing and healthcare are comparatively lower in Arkansas than in other popular student cities in the country.

Lower costs, among other things, make Oklahoma the state with the third-lowest cost of living in the US with a cost of living index of 87. The average rent for a two-bedroom apartment is around $879 per month and the living wage is $46,613.

With a cost of living index of 87.1 and housing index of 70.6, Missouri comes fourth in the list of states in the US with the lowest cost of living. The average rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Missouri is $827 and the living wage ranges somewhere between $40,000 and $46,000.

New Mexico has a cost of living index of 87.5 making it the state with the fifth-lowest cost of living in the US. The average rent for a 2 BHK in New Mexico is $847 and the median home cost would be $193,200. With an average living wage of $48,050, New Mexico is considered one of the most affordable states in the US. 

Listed below are 10 US states with the lowest cost of living: 

• Mississippi 

• Arkansas 

• Oklahoma 

• Missouri

• Kansas

• New Mexico

• Tennessee 

• Georgia

• Michigan 

• Wyoming

Also Read: Top 5 Countries for Indian Students to Study MBBS Abroad at Low Cost

US States with the Highest Cost of Living

Hawaii is the state with the highest cost of living with a cost of living index of 192.9, which means that the cost of living in the state is 92% higher than the average in the country. The housing index in the state is 318.6, where the average home value is sound $660,000 and a 2 BHK costs somewhat around $1,895 per month. Apart from housing charges, other essential things such as groceries also cost more in Hawaii than in other states in the US.

Second in the list of states with the highest cost of living comes the district of Columbia with a cost of living index of 158.4. The housing index in the state is 267 and 2BHK would cost a $2,776 per month. The average living wage in DC is around $67,000, which is the highest in the US, 

With a cost of living index of 151.7, California is the third most expensive state for international students in the US. It has the highest transportation index of 138.9 and the housing index is 227.3. A 2 BHK apartment in California is rented out at $2,495 or higher.

The fourth costliest state in the US is New York with a cost of living index of 139.1 and a housing index of 204.4. In New York state, a 2 BHK apartment costs around $1,528, whereas, in New York City (NYC), a 2 BHK may cost $3,675 on average. The living wage in the state is $59,128. Transportation costs along with groceries and utilities also cost above the US average. 

Oregon comes next with a cost of living index of 134.2. The housing index in the state is 181.8 with the highest gas prices in the country and a transportation index of 138.9. A 2 BHK in Oregon costs around $1,123, which is below the US average and the living wage in the state is $51,900.

Also Read: Biden Likely to Give American citizenship to Over 500,000 Indians

Student Education Cost in the USA

The educational cost of pursuing a degree in the USA depends upon the discipline the student plans to study. If the course of the student belongs to the STEM category, then the overall cost of the programme will be higher than other programmes. The other factor that causes variations in the tuition fee is the type of university. There are two kinds of universities in the US - Public and Private. Public Universities are well-funded by the state government, thus the tuition fee for the courses offered under these universities are comparatively less. On the other hand, private Universities are not funded by the state government; they depend on the students’ tuition fees and other private organisations for funds. Here is an estimated annual tuition fee of different kinds of universities for international students for undergraduate study programmes:  

The cost of a Masters degree can vary according to the duration of the programme - it can be either one year or two years long. The average annual cost of a Master level course in the USA is as follows: 

The fee for professional courses is usually higher as they lead to better employment opportunities in the USA. Students need to check and plan their expenses before applying to the US universities. There are also various study loans available in the market at low-interest rates for study abroad students.

Also Read: Indian Students Contributed $7.6 Billion to US Economy in 2019-20

Monthly Cost of Living in Different Parts of the US

Here is an estimated cost of living for a month in different parts of the US with well-established universities and community colleges: 

South

North Central

Central

West Coast

East Coast

Also Read: Universities in the US With the Highest Acceptance Rates for International Students 

Accommodation Cost in the USA

Accommodation cost depends mostly on the preferences of students as to where they want to stay. International students have three accommodation options:

• To live on campus 
• To live off-campus 
• To live outside the campus area 

Average costs for accommodation for international students are as follows: 

Cost of Food in the USA

Cost of food in the USA for study abroad students can vary due to the lifestyle and eating habits of an individual. A student living on-campus can take the option of meals while filling the accommodation forms. The cost of food for a hostel student would be approximately 250 USD, which includes three times meal at the hostel mess. 

Students living off-campus, either in dorms or in the outskirts of campus, have to take care of their food expenses and groceries on their own. The cost of groceries could range from 150 USD to 400 USD depending upon the state. Some leading affordable grocery shopping stores are  Walmart, Target, Costco and Trader Joe’s. They also provide monthly offers and discounts to students. 

Also Read: Popular Scholarships to Study Abroad

Transportation Cost in the USA

Students can use passes for taking public transport like buses and metros.. A monthly public transportation pass can cost 40 - 100 USD depending upon the state. For example, in Nashville, the student travel pass for public transportation is for 44 USD; in Cincinnati, the public transportation pass can cost 53 USD. 

International students can also book their tickets beforehand for travelling back home or for coming back to the US. Planning trips and booking tickets in advance can save students a lot of money.

Also Read: What You Should Know Before Going to the US for Higher Studies

Other Expenses

Apart from the above-listed expenses, an international student usually spends money on books and stationery. On average, a study abroad student may spend 400 to 1000 USD in buying stationery, books and other supplies.    

Medical insurances are compulsory for international students before they start their education at the US university. Nowadays, various insurances are available for students at reasonable rates. Insurances not only help students at the time of health emergency but saves them a lot of money.

Electricity bills, mobile phones bills and internet bills are some other expenses that international students have to deal with. These can be covered easily by taking up part-time jobs at some fast-food chain or a grocery store. Mostly, all international students prefer taking up some part-time jobs along with studies to ease out the burden of expenses. 

Also Read: Documents Required for Education Loan to Study Abroad