The cost of living in USA for international students: tuition & living expenses

The cost of living in the USA is a main concern for most international students. Perhaps the first thing you have to think about when choosing to study abroad is study costs, cost of living, etc.

After you have chosen the right university and course of study for you. You can review the article about the best American universities as well as our guide on how to apply for admission and enrollment at an American university. Afterward, when you have started applying for your visa.

Learn here how to get your student visa in America.

Table of Contents

Cost of studying in USA for international students

We will now begin to address the costs of study as well as other expenses included such as accommodation, transportation, and living cost, etc. Despite its high ranking amongst countries in terms of tuition fees such as Australia and Singapore, the United States is the destination of the majority of students who wish to complete their studies abroad.

Basically, the cost of study per year ranges from $5,000 to $50,000, while accommodation costs vary by region. They range between $6,000 and $14,000 per year. Students can cover the cost of living and accommodation in the USA by working 20 hours per week during school days, and 40 hours per week during holidays.

Moreover, you can earn $9 to $15 per hour (sometimes up to $20) depending on the nature of your business. After a full academic year, you can also work in a field related to your studies through the practical & professional university training programs related to the associated university.

Study cost at the best universities of USA

We have talked about the best universities in the United States. And it is time to look at the average study cost at some of them in detail.

Harvard University: The world’s first university education.
Bachelor’s degree: $45,278 per year.
Postgraduate: $41,832 annually in the first two years, then $10,876 in the third and fourth years.
Stanford University: Stanford University has the second rank worldwide.
Bachelor’s degree: $45,729 annually.
Postgraduate: $48,720 for the Faculty of Engineering, and $45,729 for the rest of the colleges annually.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology: has the third rank worldwide.
Bachelor’s degree: $45.704 per year.
California Institute of Technology: Ranked the 7th worldwide.
Bachelor’s degree: $43,710 per year. It is the same as the costs of postgraduate studies.
University of Chicago: ranks the 9th in the world.
Bachelor’s degree: $49,026 annually.
Postgraduate: $44,178 per year.

Cost of living in USA with rent

As indicated above, costs vary depending on the province or state. Also, this depends on whether you are staying in a student housing or outside, single or shared with your fellow students. Basically, the cost of food, clothing, and transportation depends on the student’s financial ability. However, it may be estimated at about $13,000 per year.

They may be big numbers, but some universities offer financial facilities to students coming from outside the United States. Furthermore, the US government provides a website to make it easier to calculate your study costs, starting from registration, books and living even the transportation costs.

Student accommodation in the USA

Finding a place to live must be a top priority for international students landing in the USA, since it’s one of the things they will be asked about at the Immigration counter at the airport. It’s worth noting that the average apartment rent in the USA starts at 600 USD and can go up to 3,000 USD at expensive locations such as Boston, Massachusetts.

Moreover, rents on campus are more expensive than renting off campus. To give you an average estimation, shared rooms can cost you between 500 and 3500 USD per month outside the campus. The other cost need to consider involves the distance between your home and the university. Furthermore, the average rent for an on-campus housing can go up to 9,800 USD per year at a public college and up to 11,000 USD per year at a private one.

Along with the accommodation, students’ cost of living in the USA also includes some utility fees, such as:

Electricity: between 50 USD and 150 USD per month
Water, sewer and trash disposal: between 50 and 75 USD per 3 months (if the landlord doesn’t include them in the rent)
Heating: between 50 and 100 USD per month
Internet: around 50 USD per month
Phone subscription: around 50 USD per month

Food cost for students in the USA

Despite the higher accommodation cost, students living on-campus exempt from food expenses. For students residing off-campus, the food will cost them between 150 and 200 USD per month. However, this depends on the student’s dietary habits. Groceries will amount between 400 and 600 USD per month. Don’t hesitate to look shop at places like Costco, Target, Trader Joe’s or Walmart, to get the best deals. If you decide to eat out once in a while, restaurant meals prices depend on the city, the type of restaurant and the type of food you order. This will cost you between 7 and 15 USD for a meal.

Transportation cost

Last type of expenses in the cost of living for international students: the transportation cost in the USA. Usually, public transportation is the most popular and efficient way to get around, as it is cheap. A monthly public transportation pass will cost you between 45 and 100 USD. And you might even benefit from some discounts that some universities offer.

Clothes, text books, stationary and health insurance are also included in the cost of living for students in the USA. And like the other types of cost, this varies greatly depending on the city and the lifestyle of the student. Books and study materials cost between 400 and 1,000 USD per year, while a health insurance will cost between 700 and 1,100 USD.

Financial support and scholarships

As a matter of fact, most universities in the United States not only provide financial support to international students, but also offer scholarships based on your academic excellence. These scholarships may be partially funded or fully funded.