Cost of Living in the USA for Students (2026/27)
Build your monthly budget with our interactive calculator, then check real prices, tuition ranges and the official visa fees you pay before you arrive.
ScholarshipUnion Editorial
2 min read
Updated Oct 6, 2026
Monthly Budget Calculator
Pick a city and a lifestyle to see an estimated monthly total and where the money goes. These are ScholarshipUnion estimates of typical student spending, not official figures; health insurance is shown at about $200 a month.
City
Lifestyle
Here are all the totals at once, so you can compare without clicking. Totals add rent, food, transport, social life, health insurance and phone.
| City | Budget | Moderate | Comfortable | Rent range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $2,320 | $3,430 | $4,830 | $1,400–$3,200 |
| Boston | $2,000 | $2,870 | $3,990 | $1,200–$2,600 |
| Chicago | $1,645 | $2,375 | $3,285 | $900–$2,000 |
| Austin | $1,460 | $2,090 | $2,830 | $800–$1,700 |
Estimates by ScholarshipUnion. Calculator rents run from a shared room to a private studio, so they span a wider range than the typical rents on Top Cities. Your university’s I-20 lists the official estimated living costs you must show funding for.
Real Prices
What everyday things typically cost in the US (estimates; prices on the coasts sit at the top of each range). Remember that sales tax is added at the register, and restaurant tips of 15–20% are expected.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| ☕ Coffee (Starbucks) | $4.50–6.00 |
| 🍺 Craft beer | $6.00–9.00 |
| 🍔 Burrito or burger | $8–14 |
| 🍽 Campus dining (per meal) | $10–15 |
| 🚌 Monthly transit pass | $50–130 |
| 🏠 Studio rent (per month) | $1,000–3,000 |
One-Off Visa and Arrival Costs
Overview →These official fees come before your first rent payment:
- SEVIS I-901 fee: $350 for F-1 students (ICE/SEVP).
- Visa application (MRV) fee: $185 for F, M and J visas (State Department).
- Visa integrity fee: at least $250, created by the July 2025 budget law (Public Law 119-21). No implementing notice had been published as of 6 October 2026, so check the State Department fee page to see whether it is charged when you apply.
- OPT work permit later on: Form I-765 costs $470 online or $520 on paper (USCIS fee schedule, edition 1 October 2026).
- Extension of stay, if you need one: since 15 September 2026, students who need more time than their admission period file Form I-539, which costs $420 online or $470 on paper (same fee schedule).
Add a security deposit and first month’s rent — often $3,000 or more in a big city — and you can see why it pays to arrive with savings. The Fulbright grant covers tuition, living costs and travel for its grantees.
Tuition
Annual tuition for international students typically ranges from about $20,000 to $60,000+. Public universities charge out-of-state rates to international students; private universities are often at the top of the range. These are ScholarshipUnion estimates — check your university’s cost-of-attendance page for exact figures.
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