Average Cost of Living in the USA for Students & Immigrants

The USA is one of the most bustling cosmopolitan with millions of people residing from across the globe. Being called as the hub of modern education and best employment opportunities, it becomes essential to analyze the cost of living in USA for students before immigrating.

In this article, we will explore the average cost of living in USA for students and immigrants.

Cost of Living in USA

Cost of living is the amount of funds needed to cover basic expenses such as housing, food, taxes, and healthcare in a certain place and time period.

This subjectively varies from person to person because of individual choices and even from city to city. The location plays a major role in analyzing the cost of living per person in the USA.

The basic costs are as follows:

• Accommodation costs approximately $1,800 (INR1,49,357) per month.
• Food costs approximately $500- $700 (INR 41,491- 58,087) per month.
• Travel and Health makes up around $300 (INR 24,894) a month.
• Utility costs approximately $150 (INR 12,447) per month.

Cost of Living in the USA for International Students

The estimated cost of living in the USA for international students is around $11,000 to $15,000 per year, which averages around $1,000 to $1,500 per month.

This also varies upon which city you choose to live and the lifestyle you adopt.

Cost of Living in the USA for a Family of 4

While immigrating with a family, the expenses and the average cost of living rise to a comparatively higher level. In addition to personal expenses, family expenses will have to be added to the budget which might feel overwhelming.

The average cost of living calculated is $7,985 which is INR 5,88,686 per month. The breakdown of the expenses is as follows.

Top 5 Affordable Low Cost of Living Cities in the USA

The average cost of living highly depends upon the city in which you choose to reside. The cities with the best facilities at a highly affordable price with their average costs and cost of living in the USA state-wise are given below.

1. Cincinnati, OH

Cincinnati is a city in Ohio, on the Ohio River. The city is famous for its affordable groceries and accommodation.

• A single person's estimated monthly costs are INR 79,754 ($961.1) without rent. According to the data, Cincinnati is 147.9% more expensive than Delhi, India.

• A one bedroom apartment in the city center will be available for approximately $1,260 which is INR 1,04,564.

2. Knoxville, TN

Knoxville is a city on the Tennessee River in eastern Tennessee. The night life, architecture and the shopping complexes are the highlights of this city.

• A single person's estimated monthly costs are INR 83,249 ($1,003) without rent. According to the indexes, Rent in Knoxville is, on average, 507.5% higher than in Delhi.

• Price of a 1 bedroom Apartment in the City Centre is approximately $1,600.

3. Memphis, TN

Memphis is a city on the Mississippi River in southwest Tennessee.

• Memphis is 156.7% more expensive than Delhi, India and a meal at a restaurant costs for around $16 which is comparatively on a lower price.

• A single person's estimated monthly costs are INR 84,215 ($1,014) without rent.

4. Richmond, VA

Richmond, the capital of Virginia, is among America’s oldest major cities. A single person’s estimated monthly costs are INR 86,343.0 ($1,040) without rent.

• Richmond is 170.7% more expensive than Delhi but the price of groceries is affordable and cheap.

• The health care index and the climate index are above average which makes the living conditions in the city favorable.

5. Louisville, KY

Louisville, Kentucky's largest city, sits on the Ohio River along the Indiana border. A single person's estimated monthly costs are INR 87,386 ($1,053.1) without rent.

• Louisville has the least expensive dairy groceries out of 141 city markets in America.

• Price of a 1 bedroom Apartment in the City Centre is approximately $1,440

Explore more about Everything You Need to Know About Intakes in USA

How to Manage the Cost of Living in the USA

Making proper budgeting decisions and managing the cost of living while living in a country like the USA can be a herculean task but after proper planning and analysis, it is quite possible.

Here are some tips as to how you can manage the average cost of living in the USA per month.

• Accommodation: Housing and rent are two factors that affect your budget at a higher level. If you are a student, try to stick to accommodation provided by the university rather than renting a separate flat as it will be cost effective. For a family accommodation, explore plots as well as flats and check according to your needs which one is budget friendly for you.
• Groceries and food: Food is something which one should not compromise on and choosing the best grocery market should highly depend upon the quality of food. Students who live in hostel accommodations should opt for the mess food as it saves a lot of money. Families should look for decent grocery markets nearby and get a hold upon the best and affordable ones. Looking for discounts and offers will be beneficial in the long run.
• Budgeting Decision: Spending what portion of money on what facilities should be decided on a monthly basis beforehand to spend economically. The average cost of living in the USA for international students rises up because of unplanned expenses. Families should plan their savings and investments to secure a better life in the USA ahead.
• Education Cost: Education in the USA is not inexpensive and before moving to another country for studies, all of the factors such as tuition fees, administration fees, semester charges, etc should be taken into consideration. The scholarships and grants should be focused upon to get access to affordable education.

Also Read: Cost of Study in USA for Indian Students in 2023

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