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There were over 1 million international students studying in the US in 2019-20. Even though the US has been one of the preferred countries for higher education, international students are slowly decreasing every year. One of the significant causes of this decline is the cost of higher education in the US. According to the QS Top Universities ranking, the US is the most expensive country for international students.
However, even though the living and studying costs are high in the US, it is ranked as the best country for international students by UNESCO. International students can cover their living costs in USA through financial aid, part-time work, or internships.
This blog tells you about the living costs in the USA for international students.
There are three housing options for international students in the US.
The total living cost in the USA will comprise your housing rent, food, travel, books and supplies, health expenses, and personal expenses. The cost of living in the US for different universities has been provided below:
Living cost for an academic year (3 quarters)
Particulars | Cost |
---|---|
Campus housing rent | $16,590 |
Cost of food | $6,390 |
Personal expenses | $6,555 |
Transportation cost | $1,380 |
Books & supplies | $990 |
Campus Health Service Fee | $696 |
Health insurance | $6,192 |
If you live on campus, you will have to pay 10-40% higher the accommodation cost.
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Total living costs per month are $2,685. It includes:
Total living expense, including rent, utilities, and food costs, is $20,565 per academic year.
It is compulsory for first-year students to live on campus. The total cost of living in MIT is $21,510 per year. It includes the following:
The following are living costs for undergraduate students for the academic year 2021-22:
Particulars | Cost |
---|---|
Campus residence hall accommodation cost | $41,678 |
On-campus apartment cost | $40,256 |
Off-campus apartment cost | $37,922 |
Home staying accommodation cost | $30,080 |
Room & board fee | $18,456 |
Campus residence hall & campus apartment | $14,730 |
Student Health Insurance Plan | $3,788 |
Utilities Cost | $1,200 per month |
Food costs for an academic year in a campus residence hall | $1,616 |
Food costs for an academic year for an on-campus apartment | $3,920 |
Personal expenses | $1,854 |
Transportation cost | $620 |
The cost of living for Brown University for the academic year 2022-23 is the following:
The following is the cost for first-year students per academic year:
The living cost at Cornell University for an academic year is given below.
You will have to pay $32,925 in total living expenses per year while studying at Princeton University. It includes the following:
Your cost of living might also depend on the state you live in. The cost of living is the highest in Boston. However, if you stay in suburban areas in the South or Midwest like Ohio, Alabama, Atlanta, Mississippi, Kansas, Indiana, or Miami, the cost of living in the US will be comparatively less than in urban areas. According to HSBC, the following are the top five US states for international students if you are planning to live off-campus.
The average cost of living in the US for international students is $2990 per month in California. Students can easily find an apartment in California with a $1200 monthly rent.
You can consider living in California if you are studying at public universities like Stanford University, California Institute of Technology, and the University of California, Los Angeles, Berkeley, San Diego, and Santa Barbara.
The following is the average monthly cost of living in New York City for international students.
The best universities in New York are Columbia University, Cornell, and New York University.
The monthly cost of living in Texas is comparatively lower than in other states. Its cost of living index is 93.9.
If you study at the University of North Texas, Trinity University, or Southwestern college, you can consider staying in Dallas or Houston in Texas or in Oklahoma.
This is one of the most expensive states to live in the US, especially for students. The average cost of living in Boston for students is $3316 per month. The average rent amount in Boston is $2511 per month.
Living in Boston is more suitable for international students studying at Harvard University, MIT, Northeastern University, and Boston College.
The average cost of living in Chicago for students is $1470 per month. The average rent amount is $600 per month.
You can stay in Illinois if you are studying at the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and the University of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign.
The average cost of living in the US for international students is $2326 per month, and the average monthly rent in the US is $1918. Your living expenses will include food, public transportation, mobile, Internet, books and supplies, and other utility costs. In addition to this, you also need mandatory health insurance to stay in the US, which costs around $7,000 per year.
However, the living cost may increase or decrease depending upon the on-campus or off-campus living, amenities, the state you live in, and the distance of your apartment from your university. It is best to choose on-campus accommodation if available. However, if you wish to stay at an apartment off-campus, you should select an apartment within 3-5 miles of the institution so that you can save on travel costs. Leap Scholar can guide you about the housing options and the cost of living in the US, along with helping you apply for financial aid.
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California is the top city in the US for international students. Most of the top universities in the United States of America like the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of California, Los Angeles. The average cost of living in California is around $4000 for international students. It includes rent, food, and transportation expenses.
Yes, the US is one of the most expensive countries for international students. The average cost of living in the US for international students is $4000 per month. However, international students can work part-time to cover their living expenses on their own. On-campus accommodation options are usually more affordable than off-campus apartments. The living cost in the US will also depend on the state where you live and your educational institution.
International students have plenty of options to pay for their living costs in the USA. The most feasible options include:
a. Scholarship and other financial aid- The average financial aid amount in the US is USD 20,867 per year for international students. You can apply for scholarships or grants to manage your living cost in the US.
b. Part-time work- You can also do entry-level jobs along with your studies. These jobs pay around $7-$9 per hour of work.
c. Internships- The average stipend for internships in the US is $15 per hour. You can work up to 20$ hours a week to manage the cost of living in the US.