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Cost of Living in USA for Indian Students 2024-2025: Living Expenses in USA for International Students

October 4, 2024

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A whopping 140K Indian students travel to the United States, hoping for a brighter future by studying in their established universities for a bachelor's and master's degree or more. However, the United States brings its hurdles; it isn't the home country where your caregivers can handle everything for you. The expense of living and economic planning can be a matter of anxiety for newbie students. Please don't take it on your head; we will give you an inch-by-inch breakdown of city-wise costs, housing options, food costs, and other factors affecting your wallet. This article will help you tackle your finances to live a better and cost-friendly life in the US.

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Cost of Living in the USA: Summary

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The cost of living in the USA and living expenses for international students will range from modest to high, depending on the city, area, and the spending habits you choose to follow while studying there. The cost of livelihood for Indian students can vary from $10,000 to $25,000 per year. The main aspects of price and strategies to handle them effectively are bulleted below.

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Factors Influencing the Cost of Living

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Lodging
Transportation
Meals and Groceries
Hospitals and Insurance
Miscellaneous Expenses (Recreation, Apparel, etc.)

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Accommodation Costs for Indian Students in the USA

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Locating proper lodging is the most essential part of your expense planning. Students have two main housing options: on-campus and off-campus accommodations.

Accommodation Type	Yearly Cost (USD)	Yearly Cost (INR) Approx.
On-campus (Public Colleges)	$9,800 - $12,000	₹8,15,000 - ₹10,00,000
On-campus (Private Colleges)	$11,000 - $15,000	₹9,15,000 - ₹12,50,000
Off-campus (Shared)	$450 - $1,000 per month	₹37,500 - ₹83,500 per month
One-bedroom apartment (Urban)	$2,000 - $3,500 per month	₹1,67,000 - ₹2,92,500 per month
One-bedroom apartment (Rural)	$500 - $1,500 per month	₹42,000 - ₹1,25,000 per month

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Different Cities and their average housing rents

Name of the US City	Average Monthly Rent (in USD)	Average Monthly Rent (in INR)
Austin	$2,000 – $2,500	₹1,66,000 – ₹2,07,500
Boston	$2,500 – $3,000	₹2,07,500 – ₹2,49,000
Chicago	$3,000 – $4,000	₹2,49,000 – ₹3,32,000
Illinois	$1,400 – $2,000	₹1,16,200 – ₹1,66,000
Los Angeles	$1,500 – $2,200	₹1,24,500 – ₹1,82,600
New York City	$3,500 – $4,500	₹2,90,500 – ₹3,73,500
Ohio	$1,000 – $2,000	₹83,000 – ₹1,66,000
San Francisco	$4,000 – $4,500	₹3,32,000 – ₹3,73,500
Texas	$1,500 – $2,500	₹1,24,500 – ₹2,07,500

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Meals and Groceries

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Food costs vary depending on where you live and your individual preferences.

Food and Groceries Type	Monthly Cost (USD)	Monthly Cost (INR) Approx.
On-campus dining plans	$250 - $500	₹20,800 - ₹41,700
Groceries (cooking at home)	$150 - $300	₹12,500 - ₹25,000
Eating out	$10 - $25 per meal	₹830 - ₹2,080 per meal

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Transportation

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It's necessary to budget for vehicle expenses if you are living off-campus.

Transportation Type	Monthly Cost (USD)	Monthly Cost (INR) Approx.
Public transport (buses, trains)	$50 - $120	₹4,200 - ₹10,000
Taxi services (Uber, Lyft)	$10 - $30 per ride	₹830 - ₹2,500 per ride
Car rental (if applicable)	$300 - $700 per month	₹25,000 - ₹58,500 per month

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Healthcare and Insurance

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Healthcare in the USA is costly, and international students must have health insurance.

Expense Category	Yearly Cost (USD)	Yearly Cost (INR) Approx.
Health Insurance	$700 - $1,500	₹58,500 - ₹1,25,000
Medical visits (without insurance)	$100 - $500 per visit	₹8,300 - ₹41,700 per visit

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City-Wise Cost Comparison

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The cost of living varies widely across US cities. Living in an urban city like New York or Los Angeles will be more pricey than living in a city like Houston or Atlanta.

City	Monthly Living Cost (USD)	Monthly Living Cost (INR) Approx.
New York	$3,300 - $4,000	₹2,75,000 - ₹3,33,000
Los Angeles	$3,000 - $4,000	₹2,50,000 - ₹3,33,000
Chicago	$2,200 - $3,000	₹1,83,000 - ₹2,50,000
Houston	$1,500 - $2,000	₹1,25,000 - ₹1,67,000
Atlanta	$1,200 - $1,800	₹1,00,000 - ₹1,50,000

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Tips to Reduce Living Costs

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Choose off-campus/shared lodging: Leasing/renting a shared apartment can be much more affordable than staying in college dorms that don't have many facilities and also have certain restrictions.
Prepare your food: Eating out often can exhaust your wallet quickly.
Utilize student discounts: Always look for discounts on everything from transport to shopping.
Work part-time: Indian students on an F1 visa can work part-time (20 hours a week) on campus, permitting them to cover some expenses.
Use public transportation: It's the most economical alternative, particularly in a city with a well-connected system.

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Conclusion

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Pre-planning will help you a lot before traveling. This will ensure that your wallet doesn't drain and your brain doesn't take the strain. Knowing your cost will make your life more comfortable as an educational aspirant.

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FAQs

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1. Which is the best city for Indian students to reside in?

Some favored options among Indian students include New York, San Francisco, Boston, and Chicago. Small towns or suburban areas with good universities can also help your wallet.

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