Living Costs

Living costs in the US will vary widely depending on which state and city you choose to live and study in.

The major living costs in the US will be rent, food and transportation. Depending on your city and state, different options will be available. Food is generally less expensive than in European cities, particularly in terms of produce, meats and other fresh foods.

Transportation will depend on whether or not you choose to have a car, how far you will need to commute from your home to your school or work, and what the public transportation options and fares are in the city you choose to live in. Bus fares in the US can to range from $3 to $7 depending on the city and how far you have to go; monthly passes can range from $75 to $200, and may provide unlimited access to the buses and subways in the network. Your educational institution may also offer public transit passes at a discounted rate, or as part of your tuition.

Rent will vary greatly depending on where you choose to live and whether you choose to live on your own or with a roommate. Rents range from 400$/month for a one-bedroom apartment in some cities, to 1000$/month for a tiny bachelor in others. Some of the most expensive cities in the US are found on the coasts, including Manhattan, San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego. Some of the least expensive cities are found in the Central US, including cities in Oklahoma, Texas, Georgia and Missouri.

Below you'll find a table showing comparative rents for major US cities across the country.

US Rent Comparison
City	Average Rent	Occupancy
New York	$2,469	97.10%
San Francisco	$1,947	97.40%
Los Angeles	$1,586	97.50%
San Jose, Calif.	$1,487	98.20%
Orange County, Calif.	$1,387	96.80%
Boston	$1,332	96.70%
Oakland, Calif.	$1,248	96.80%
San Diego	$1,213	97.10%
Washington, DC	$1,205	97.40%
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.	$1,134	97.50%
West Palm Beach, Fla.	$1,113	96.30%
Northern New Jersey	$1,084	98.80%
Riverside, Calif.	$1,048	96.20%
Miami	$1,038	98.10%
Chicago	$1,014	96.80%
Philadelphia	$1,007	96.90%
Baltimore	$962	96.40%
Minneapolis	$910	96.10%
Sacramento, Calif.	$909	95.80%
Seattle	$905	96.70%
Jacksonville, Fla.	$883	95.40%
Las Vegas	$872	97.30%
Orlando, Fla.	$837	97.50%
Tampa, Fla.	$805	97.00%
Pittsburgh	$804	95.90%
Norfolk, Va.	$803	97.60%
Atlanta	$793	94.50%
Richmond, Va.	$790	96.80%
Cincinnati	$783	93.10%
Raleigh, N.C.	$781	94.70%
Denver	$772	94.60%
Phoenix	$753	96.30%
Austin, Texas	$751	95.30%
Portland, Ore.	$747	96.90%
Salt Lake City	$726	95.90%
Dallas	$722	92.80%
Charlotte, N.C.	$718	95.30%
Louisville, Ky.	$710	94.80%
Houston	$701	93.90%
Detroit	$698	92.10%
Memphis, Tenn.	$697	95.30%
St. Louis	$696	92.60%
Birmingham, Ala.	$687	94.90%
Cleveland	$678	93.50%
Nashville, Tenn.	$675	94.90%
Kansas City, Mo.	$673	94.90%
San Antonio	$663	94.30%
Tulsa, Ok.	$661	94.10%
Albuquerque, N.M.	$654	96.50%
Fort Worth, Texas	$641	92.20%
Greensboro, N.C.	$635	94.00%
Columbus, Ohio	$631	92.30%
Dayton, Ohio	$628	91.80%
Tucson, Ariz.	$627	95.10%
Indianapolis	$620	92.10%
Greenville, S.C.	$611	96.00%
Oklahoma City	$592	95.40%
El Paso, Texas	$493	95.40%