Student Accommodation in the United States
Compare US housing types and rents by city, spot rental scams before you pay, and work out your real move-in costs.
ScholarshipUnion Editorial
2 min read
Updated Oct 6, 2026
Housing Types
There are four main ways international students live in the US. Prices are typical monthly ranges (ScholarshipUnion estimates).
- Often guaranteed for first-years
- Meal plan
- Walking to class
- Expensive
- Shared rooms
- Strict rules
- Freedom
- Choose your location
- You can cook
- Need credit history
- Lease commitment
- Utilities extra
- Flexible
- Furnished
- No credit check
- Less protection
- Quality varies
- Harder to find
- Meals included
- Cultural immersion
- Furnished
- Less freedom
- House rules
- May be far from campus
Off-campus landlords usually check your credit history, which new arrivals don’t have — so many students start in a dorm or sublease for the first year, then move into an apartment once they have a US bank account and some credit.
Scam Checklist
Tick anything that applies to a listing you are considering. Two or more flags means walk away.
All clear so far — keep checking before you pay.
Rent by City
Typical monthly rent for a student in the main US study cities (ScholarshipUnion estimates).
See Top Cities for full rent ranges and what each city is like.
Move-in Costs
For an off-campus apartment at about $1,200 a month, expect to pay this upfront:
Example figures (estimates). Deposit rules and limits are set by each state, so check your lease and local law.
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