Cost Of Living For a Student in United States 2024
Average Monthly Expenditure
Currency: USD
Average monthly spending for students in United States
How much money does a student need in a month to survive in United States?
Students in United States spend around 2,700 USD per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 420 USD or as high as 18,000 USD. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.
Prices and cost of goods and services in United States
Dining, food, and beverages costs
Fast food combo meal
Restaurant meal for one
Fine dining meal for one
Cappuccino or latte
Grocery and market costs
Milk large bottle
12 eggs
Fresh whole chicken
Pack of beef
Medium bag of rice
Bag of tomatos
Bag of apples
Commute, travel, and transportation costs
20 minutes taxi ride
Average car full tank
Average car 1-day rental
Average car price
| 15,000 USD | 30,000 USD | 40,000 USD |
Bus ticket one way
Car Service
Utility cost (monthly)
Utility Bill - Student
Internet and cable
Mobile phone charges
Leisure and activities costs
Movie ticket
One month gym membership
Cloths and accessories costs
Pair of jeans or pants
Woman dress
Woman shoes
Men's shoes
Men suit
Regular t-shirt
Housing costs / monthly rent
Studio apartment
| 500 USD | 750 USD | 2,000 USD |
1-bedroom apartment
| 750 USD | 1,200 USD | 3,000 USD |
2-bedroom apartment
| 1,000 USD | 1,500 USD | 4,000 USD |
Housing costs / Buying
Studio apartment
| 100,000 USD | 150,000 USD | 300,000 USD |
1-bedroom apartment
| 120,000 USD | 200,000 USD | 750,000 USD |
2-bedroom apartment
| 200,000 USD | 600,000 USD | 1.2M USD |
Furniture Costs
King Size Bed
| 600 USD | 750 USD | 1,000 USD |
Double Bed
Single Bed
Living Room
| 670 USD | 860 USD | 3,000 USD |
Dining Table
Sofa or Couch
| 400 USD | 550 USD | 1,200 USD |
Electronics and House Appliance Costs
TV Set
| 400 USD | 600 USD | 1,200 USD |
Fridge or Freezer
Washing Machine
| 460 USD | 670 USD | 1,200 USD |
Stove or Cooker
Mobile Phone
Laptop or Computer
| 550 USD | 670 USD | 1,200 USD |
How do students spend their money in United States?
We asked thousands of students about their spending habits and expenditure break down.
Housing and accomodation expenditure for students
Accomodation Cost24%
24% of total expenses on average (19% to 30%)
| LOW | 100 USD |
| AVERAGE | 650 USD |
| HIGH | 4,300 USD |
| Per Month |
Students in United States typically spend from 19% to 30% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 24% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 650 USD with expenditure ranging from 100 USD to 4,300 USD. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.
Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for students
Cost of utilities4%
4% of total expenses on average (2% to 8%)
| LOW | 17 USD |
| AVERAGE | 110 USD |
| HIGH | 720 USD |
| Per Month |
Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in United States ranges from 2% to 8% of total expenses with 4% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 110 USD with 17 USD and 720 USD being the upper and lower limits for a student of four.
Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for students
Cost of transport and fuel7%
7% of total expenses on average (6% to 13%)
| LOW | 29 USD |
| AVERAGE | 190 USD |
| HIGH | 1,300 USD |
| Per Month |
Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a student resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a student would expect to spend from 29 USD to 1,300 USD in a month on commuting with 190 USD being the norm for most students. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 7% of total spending on average but can go as low as 6% or as high as 13%.
Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for students
Food and Groceries Cost20%
20% of total expenses on average (14% to 24%)
| LOW | 84 USD |
| AVERAGE | 540 USD |
| HIGH | 3,600 USD |
| Per Month |
The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical student in a month in United States is 540 USD. The cost of groceries can range between 84 USD to 3,600 USD. Students spend on average about 20% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 14% and 24% respectively.
Healthcare and medical services expenditure for students
Cost of healthcare6%
6% of total expenses on average (3% to 9%)
| LOW | 25 USD |
| AVERAGE | 160 USD |
| HIGH | 1,100 USD |
| Per Month |
Students in United States allocate 3% to 9% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 6%. The range of medical expenses range from 25 USD to 1,100 USD with 160 USD being the norm for most students.
Leisure and shopping expenditure for students
Cost of leisure and shopping5%
5% of total expenses on average (3% to 9%)
| LOW | 21 USD |
| AVERAGE | 140 USD |
| HIGH | 900 USD |
| Per Month |
This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 21 USD to 900 USD with 140 USD being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 3% to 9% of total expenses with an average of 5% for most students.
Education and schooling expenditure for students
Cost of education and schooling19%
19% of total expenses on average (12% to 24%)
| LOW | 80 USD |
| AVERAGE | 510 USD |
| HIGH | 3,400 USD |
| Per Month |
Spending on education can vary drastically between different students. On average, education constitutes 19% of the monthly expenditure of students with 12% and 24% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 510 USD per month with 80 USD being the minimum spent amount and 3,400 USD being the maximum.
Other Expenses15%
15% of total expenses on average (9% to 21%)
| LOW | 63 USD |
| AVERAGE | 410 USD |
| HIGH | 2,700 USD |
| Per Month |
A typical and healthy budgeting structure
The 50/30/20 rule
Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle,
location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule,
which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.
50% for needs and financial obligations
This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.
30% for wants and discretionary spending
This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.
20% for savings and emergency fund
This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.
About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting
The 50/30/20 rule is used as a general guideline but may not be the best choice for all people. There are in fact many budgeting plans out there like the 70/20/10 and the 60/20/20 rules, all claiming to be the best. More important than all of this is to establish financial discipline by creating a budget tailored to your specific financial goals and situation. It is very important that your financial outflow be less than your income to maintain a healthy cash flow.
Affordable living in United States
Income and cost of living compatibility
We asked students one simple question and recorded their answers.
Is it affordable or economical to live in United States?
Around 82% of surveyed students think that living in United States is affordable with proper budgeting while 18% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.
Low-cost alternatives in United States
People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked students how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:
Plenty of low-cost options63%
Few low-cost options37%
Based on the survey, 63% of the students living in United States have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 37% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.
Emergency Funds For Students
An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked students of United States whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.
Yes80%
No20%
Based on the survey, 20% of the students living in United States said that they don't have an emergency fund while 80% said that they do.
Financial Literacy in United States
Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.
Financial Leteracy77%
We asked student guardians and parents in United States whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 23% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 77% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.
Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning
We wanted to understand whether students of United States have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 19% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 81% said that they have everything under control.
Struggles with finance19%
Easily manages finances81%
Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in United States
Rental costs and house/apartment prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Rent Cost in United States
Monthly Rent Prices
Studio apartment monthly rent cost
| 500 USD | 750 USD | 2,000 USD |
1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 750 USD | 1,200 USD | 3,000 USD |
2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 1,000 USD | 1,500 USD | 4,000 USD |
3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 1,200 USD | 2,000 USD | 5,500 USD |
Furnished apartment monthly rent cost
| 2,400 USD | 6,000 USD | 12,000 USD |
Townhouse monthly rent cost
| 2,000 USD | 3,000 USD | 8,600 USD |
House monthly rent cost
| 2,400 USD | 6,000 USD | 12,000 USD |
Villa monthly rent cost
| 3,000 USD | 7,500 USD | 12,000 USD |
The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in United States ranges between 500 USD and 2,000 USD, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 750 USD to 3,000 USD. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 1,000 USD and 4,000 USD per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 1,200 USD to 5,500 USD. The average rent of a townhouse in United States is around 3,000 USD while house rental costs can be as high as 6,000 USD per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 3,000 USD to 12,000 USD per month.
Apartment and house prices in United States
Cost of buying a property
Studio apartment price
| 100,000 USD | 150,000 USD | 300,000 USD |
1-bedroom apartment price
| 120,000 USD | 200,000 USD | 750,000 USD |
2-bedroom apartment price
| 200,000 USD | 600,000 USD | 1.2M USD |
3-bedroom apartment price
| 670,000 USD | 1,000,000 USD | 3M USD |
Townhouse price
| 860,000 USD | 2M USD | 7.5M USD |
House price
| 1,000,000 USD | 6M USD | 8.6M USD |
Villa price
| 1.2M USD | 6.7M USD | 10M USD |
The average price of a studio apartment in United States can range from 100,000 USD to 300,000 USD depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 120,000 USD to 750,000 USD. A villa can cost you 6.7M USD on average with prices ranging from 1.2M USD to 10M USD.
If you're leasing or purchasing, housing costs in United States will probably constitute your biggest expenditure, yet it's an area where you wield considerable influence. This is due to the substantial variance in housing prices across communities. Keep in mind the location of your workplace and the accessibility of essential amenities to prevent negating the savings from lower rental rates with increased transportation expenses.
House / apartment prices to income ratio
Property price to income ratio
( average property price / average monthly income ) x 100
| 49 | x146 monthly income | 228 |
Property prices in United States can be x146 to x228 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x146 multiples of the average monthly salary in United States.
Rent to income ratio
Rent to income ratio
( monthly rental / monthly income ) x 100
The average rent-to-income ratio in United States is around 35%. This means that people pay 35% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 25% to 45% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.
The housing-to-income ratio is a very important metric to evaluate and measure how affordable living is in a particular area, city, or country since housing comprises the biggest chunk of expenditure. A higher housing to income ratio means that the place is relatively expensive. The figure by itself does tell much. It only starts to make sense when comparing the housing to income ratio across different locations.
Housing affordability index
The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.
Housing Affordability Index
33% Property Taxes
Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.
Home Maintenance Costs
Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.
| 8.4 USD | 110 USD | 1,100 USD |
Urban vs. rural living costs
Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.
Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in United States
Utilities expenditure can vary slightly between different areas and locations.
Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in United States
Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Student
Internet and cable cost
Mobile phone bill and charges
Because most utility bills club electricity, water, and gas costs in one bill, we can't provide a breakup for each type of utility and will display electricity, gas, and water as single cost.
The average monthly energy and water consumption of students is around 110 USD. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 30 USD to 80 USD with 60 USD being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 40 USD but can range between 24 USD and 120 USD depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.
Energy / Utility expense to income ratio
( monthly utility expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average utility-to-income ratio in United States is around 4%. This means that people pay 4% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 1% to 8% depending on salary and location.
Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in United States
Grocery / Food expenditure and prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Prices and cost of goods and services in United States
Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.
Fast food combo meal price
The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in United States is approximatly 12 USD with meal cost ranging from 6 USD to 20 USD. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.
Restaurant meal for one price
If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 20 USD and 60 USD with 30 USD being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in United States.
Fine dining meal for one price
The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 40 USD to 240 USD with the average cost being 60 USD for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in United States.
Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..
The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in United States is around 8 USD. Price ranges between 5 USD and 12 USD depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.
Grocery and market costs
Large bottle of milk price
The average price of a large bottle of milk in United States is 4.8 USD. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 6 USD and the minimum being 4 USD depending on the brand of milk and other properties.
12 eggs price
A dozen eggs costs around 4 USD on average with 3 USD and 6 USD being the lower and upper limits respectively.
Fresh whole chicken price
The price range of a fresh whole chicken in United States is between 6.8 USD and 13 USD depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 8.8 USD.
Pack of beef price
The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 12 USD. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.
Medium bag of rice price
A bag of rice in United States costs around 4.4 USD on average with prices rangeing between 3.2 USD and 6.3 USD depending on the brand and quality.
Bag of tomatos price
A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 1.2 USD to 3 USD. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Bag of apples price
A bag of apples costs 2.8 USD on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio
( monthly grocery expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average grocery-to-income ratio in United States is around 24%. This means that students spend 24% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 16% to 30% depending on salary and location.
Expenditure on food and grocery for students
Students' spending on grocery ranges from 84 USD to 3,600 USD with the location, income, and size of the student being the most determinite factors.
