Living Expenses in the US
The typical cost of living in the US is projected to be between $10,000 and $18,000 per year, or around $1,000 and $1,500 per month. This covers the price of your lodging, board, meals, transit, textbooks, appropriate attire for the weather, and entertainment.
Here is a list of expenses that were taken into account when calculating living expenses:
The annual cost of books and educational materials ranges from $1,240 to $1,460.
The cost of domestic travel will range from $1,060 to $1,840.
The annual cost of housing will be $9,330 to $13,620.
Renting an apartment for living off-campus will cost between $300 – $800 a month, although it may cost more depending on where the institution is located.
Depending on your dietary habits, meals should cost between $810 and $2,449 annually.
If you live somewhere chilly, buying clothes will set you back more than $500 a year.
Personal and erratic costs will range between $1,810 and $2,400.
(Data sources: College Board, Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid 2021, and the USDA Economic Research Service.)
The information in the table below is taken from the College Board’s report, Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid 2021. Undergraduates can compare the average tuition and other yearly costs across several industry sectors:
| SectorSector | Tuition and | RRoom and |
| Public Two-Year In-District | $3,800 | $9,330 |
| Public Four-Year In-State | $10,740 | $11,950 |
| Public Four-Year Out-of-State | $27,560 | $11,950 |
| Private Non-profit Four-Year | $38,070 | $13,620 |
You can get a general sense of average monthly expenses from the table below:
| ItemItem | Monthly CostsMonthly Costs |
| Accommodation | $1,575 |
| Electricity | $118 |
| Groceries (home-cooked meals) | $150 |
| International Calling cards | $15 |
| Home Internet | $15 |
| Cell phone | $50 |
| Restaurant meals | $75 |
| Entertainment | $100 |
| Car Insurance | $100 |
| Petrol for car | $75 |
| Weekend activities | $100 |
| Shopping | $100 |
| Total | $2,473 |
The table below provides an overview of typical monthly costs:
Additional Costs
When studying in the US, students should be able to cover the following expenses. Inflation and outside variables may cause costs to rise by approximately 6 to 9% annually. According to EducationData.”College Org’s Tuition Inflation Rate” study, the US’s yearly inflation rate for higher education was 8%.
Vacation travel costs between India and the United States
Significant purchases like a PC, furniture, or even a rental car, etc.
Medical costs not covered by health insurance, such as those for dental, vision, and cosmetic procedures,
For the additional summer months you stay in the US without school, you will need to pay for accommodation and board as well as groceries.
Additional costs, such as transportation away from campus,
Entertainment, gatherings with friends, and getaways
