Cost of Living in USA: Check Accommodation, Meals, Transportation & Miscellaneous Expenses

Highlights:

• Living cost varies with each state and the campus location
• Annual cost of living can range from 10,000 to 25,000 USD
• On-campus accommodation cost can vary between 9,800 to 11,100 USD per year
• You need approximately 329 USD per month for electricity, mobile, internet, and other utilities

As per Statista, USA is the most popular study abroad destination among international students. After the pandemic, the living expenses in USA for international students have increased more than other popular study abroad destinations. Well, as we have different lifestyles and spending habits, the living expenses USA vary. The average cost of living in USA for international students varies between 10,000 to 25,000 USD per year. Before budgeting, review the total cost of studying in USA. However, the estimated annual cost of living in America includes

• Accommodation cost: 9,800-11,100 USD
• Food/ Meals: 3,000-7,200 USD
• Transportation: 300-700 USD
• Utilities: 1200-1800 USD
• Clothing: 500 USD
• Other personal expenses: 900 USD

The living expenses in USA vary mainly based on the location, meals, and residence type. To cover up this burden of expenses, students can check out the popular scholarships in USA covering up to full or partial costs.

Average Cost of Living in USA for International Students

On average, the cost to live in America is 10,000 to 25,000 USD and varies depending on the chosen location. Accommodation expense is the biggest chunk of this, costing about 9,800 to 11,100 USD per year. US cities can be classified as Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities based on the factors below

• Universities or educational institutions
• Cost of living
• Employment opportunities
• Health benefits
• Infrastructure

A comparison of cost of living in popular cities is given below.

Cost of Living in Popular Cities in USA

The life expenses in USA primarily depend on the location. Tier 1 cities usually have a higher cost of living than other cities. For example, the cost of living in California, USA is 16,380 USD per year for a single person without rent. Whereas, in Arizona it is 13,512 USD per year. Following are some popular cities in USA and their respective yearly average cost of living for international students:

Note: USD 1= INR 83.51 as of May 6, 2024

Cost of Living Expenses in USA

The individual cost of the components under the cost of living in USA are elaborated below

Accommodation Cost of Living in USA per Year

Price of living in USA for a single person is much higher than that of India. This cost generally ranges from 15,000 to 30,000 USD (12.35 to 24.71 lakhs INR) per year. The living expenses in the US primarily vary based on the type of residence. International students can opt for 2 types of housing options depending on the institution:

On-campus Accommodation

On-campus accommodation options are comparatively cheaper than off-campus. Some of the universities in USA do not offer on campus accommodation for international students. Off campus accommodations are the only residence options in those universities. Hence, if you want to save some money, apply to a university that offers on-campus student accommodation. Off-campus housing is generally more expensive than on-campus student housing in USA.

Off-campus Accommodation

USA is a large country with 5 subregions and 50 states. Each state has its own living standard and rent charges. The rents in City centers are higher than the rent of outside city centers for obvious reasons. A comparison of 1 bedroom flat in the city center and outside of the city center is presented below.

Note: USD 1= INR 83.51 as of May 6, 2024

Cost of Living Expenses in USA for Foods and Meals

On average, a person spends around 195- 255 USD for food in the living cost in America per month. The average cost of meals in USA as per Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities is mentioned below. Markets and groceries are also included in the costs. We have provided the comparison of meal for 1 and meal for 2 for your better understanding.

Note: USD 1= INR 83.51 as of May 6, 2024

Cost of Living in USA for Utilities

Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage, mobile plan and internet are the basic utilities that you need to cover in your expenses. You can manage these costs as per your requirements. However, you can consider the followings for a better understanding

Note: USD 1= INR 83.51 as of May 6, 2024

Transportation Cost of Living in USA

As per Forbes, almost 92% people use private cars in USA. Still public transportation like bus, taxi, tram are very popular for students. These modes of transportation have lower fares. So, you can look for these to save some money. Following are some of the transportation rates in USA

Note: USD 1= INR 83.51 as of May 6, 2024

Monthly Cost of Living in USA for Personal Expenses

The personal expenses in USA include health, fitness, daily commodities, snacks and personal hygiene products. The miscellaneous expenses while living in USA are listed below:

Note: USD 1= INR 83.51 as of May 6, 2024

Monthly Cost of Living in USA for Medical Expenses

Health insurance is an important medical expense in USA. Every student is required to have a health insurance in USA. The monthly average living expenses in USA for medical expenses is around 50 USD. The basic medical cost in USA is provided in the following table:

Note: USD 1= INR 83.51 as of May 6, 2024

Comparison of Cost of Living in USA

As already mentioned, Tier 1 cities have a higher cost of living than other cities. Refer below to know about the exact differences between the monthly cost of living in USA. The utility costs tend to be higher at Tier 3 cities because of lesser manpower and resources.

Note: USD 1= INR 83.51 as of May 6, 2024

Tips for Saving Expenses in USA

USA is one of the most expensive study abroad destinations among international students. Being a developed nation, USA has better infrastructure, job opportunities and social life. To survive here, you need to know the money saving tips. You can follow the below-mentioned tips while saving money in the cost of living.

• Scholarships: Students can apply for merit-based scholarships for Indian students in USA offered by their educational institutions. This eliminates the most prominent expenditure of international students.
• Part Time Jobs: International students can pursue various part time jobs in USA while studying in colleges or universities. Students are allowed to work up to 20 hours a week during semesters and full time during vacations. On average, students pursuing part time jobs in USA earn between 9 to 17 USD (740 to 1,400 INR) per hour.
• Stipend: Some colleges offer students with stipends just for studying there. However, this offer is mostly available for research scholars and postgraduate students.
• Internships: Students may apply for summer or winter internships offered by their college in which they would have to work for the college and earn money, accordingly.
• Sales: If you were to tighten your expenses, then buying things in sales is one such option. You can also avail discounts on articles using credit cards, debit cards, online payment apps, etc.

International students constitute 4.6% of the total student population. Before selecting a study abroad destination, one must check the total living cost per month in USA. The USA is a developed country which accounts for its expensiveness of colleges, transport, food, and others.

The average salary is proportionately more than other countries, which makes the USA living cost per month much higher. Therefore, it is advisable to enter the USA only if you have enough savings and backing, or you can opt for internships or part-time jobs in USA.

FAQs

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