Cost of Living in USA for Indian Students in 2025
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The USA is a popular study destination among international students because of its flexible education system, vibrant campus life, academic excellence, cultural diversity, and availability of numerous job opportunities. Along with so many plus points, studying in the US for international students is expensive and so are the living costs. The estimated cost of living in USA for international students is around USD 10,000 to USD 25,000 per year, which averages around USD 1,000 to USD 2,000 per month.
While studying in USA, the living expenses in USA include not just accommodation costs, room, and board, food but also costs for travel, textbooks, weather-appropriate clothing, and entertainment expenses as well. There are also personal and miscellaneous expenses which are covered within the costs of living in USA. This article aims to throw light on the various facets of living costs in USA keeping international students in focus and their choice of types of USA universities of study.
- Estimated Cost of Living in USA 2025
- Average Cost of Living in USA for One Person
- Living Expenses in the USA for the Different States
- On-Campus Cost of Living in USA
- Additional Living Expenses in the USA
- Cost of Living in USA for Students FAQs
Estimated Cost of Living in USA 2025
The table given below specifies the estimated student cost of living in the USA that is based on different expenses.
| Expenses in USA |
Average Yearly / Monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Books and study material |
USD 900 - USD 2,000 per year |
| Travel |
USD 300 - USD 700 per year |
| Accommodation |
USD 9,800 - USD 11,100 per year |
| Electricity |
USD 100 - USD 150 per month |
| Food |
On campus: USD 250 per month Off-campus: USD 400 - USD 600 per month |
| Phone subscription |
USD 50 per month |
| Home Internet |
USD 45 - USD 50 per month |
| Health Insurance |
USD 700 - USD 1,100 per year |
| Clothes |
USD 500 per year |
| Water, Trash and Sewer |
USD 50 - USD 75 per month |
Note: These amounts will differ from state to state within the US. On average, the cost of Indian food in the USA is around USD 350 - USD 400 for one person.
Average Cost of Living in USA for One Person
The table given below is based on the data of College Board, Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid 2021. Undergraduate students can gauge the average tuition and other annual costs based on different types of sectors:
| Expense Head for Out-of-State Applicants |
Tuition Fees |
Housing & Accommodation Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Public Four-Year Institutions in USA |
USD 30,780 |
USD 13,310 |
| Private Non-profit Four-Year Institutions in USA |
USD 43,350 |
USD 15,250 |
The cost of studying in USA is an equally important factor when factoring in the cost of living expenses in USA.
Living Expenses in the USA for the Different States
The cost of living in USA for Indian students depends on the areas in which they decide to stay. For instance, if students are living in big cities like New York, Boston, or San Francisco, then the cost of living in the USA for students shall be much higher than in suburban cities like Seattle, Texas, New Orleans, and others. Let us check the average cost of living in the USA for urban and suburban states for international students.
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| Top Student Cities in the USA |
Average Cost of Living in USA (Monthly) |
|---|---|
| New York |
USD 3,300 |
| California |
USD 4,000 |
| Boston |
USD 3,316 |
| San Francisco |
USD 4,000 |
| Suburban Cities of USA |
Average Cost of Living in USA (Monthly) |
| Atlanta |
USD 2,200 |
| New Orleans |
USD 2,000 |
| Philadelphia |
USD 1,300 |
| Seattle |
USD 2,500 |
| Texas |
USD 2,000 |
| Illinois |
USD 1,470 |
Students aiming to study in any of the above-given cities of the USA will have to bear the consequent costs of living as well. The cost of living in the USA for Indian students will additionally be calculated with the course they've opted for. Those pursuing an undergrad course in the USA will have to bear more living costs in the USA whereas bearing expenditures to land in USA for master's will vary with each university, but costs will be lower in comparison to undergraduate courses.
Check out: The Best Student Cities in USA for Studying
On-Campus Cost of Living in USA
On-campus accommodations in USA will usually be affordable in comparison to the off-campus accommodation, check out the difference below:
| Housing Accommodation Options in USA |
Average monthly / yearly cost |
|---|---|
| On-campus stay |
Public colleges: USD 1,100 yearly Private colleges: USD 9,800 yearly |
| Off-campus stay |
Sharing: USD 450 per month One-bedroom apartment in rural states: USD 500 per month One-bedroom apartment in urban states: USD 3,500 per month |
It is essential that applicants understand the living expenses in USA before applying to US universities. They must check out the on-campus accommodation options along with the off campus accommodation options and whichever is a more feasible option, they can consider that.
Additional Living Expenses in the USA
USA may increase by about 6 to 9% per year due to inflation and external factors. As per the report “College Tuition Inflation Rate” by EducationData.Org, the annual inflation rate in the US (in higher education) stood at 8%. It is advised to keep USD 2,000 for additional living expenses in the USA. The additional living expenses in the USA can include the following things:
- Travel expenses to travel to India from US during vacations.
- Appliance or furniture purchases or renting cars.
- Additional summer expenses - room and board, grocery costs for the summer months you stay on in the U,S when classes are not being held
- Additional expenses, such as off-campus transportation
- Entertainment, social outings, weekend trips
Applicants must ensure that they cover the hidden charges also and can manage their expenses based on their spending capacities in the USA.
If you are interested in studying in the USA, you can sign up for free Shiksha Abroad Counselling and request a callback from our team of expert counsellors.
Cost of Living in USA for Students FAQs
Q. What is the average cost of living in USA for international students?
A. The monthly expenses in USA for international students will be around $1,000 to $1,500. However expenses are usually miscellaneous and depends upon the applicants on a case by case basis. Some may need more expenditure to live in USA while the others may manage in bare minimum also. Thus, applicants must plan ahead of travelling to USA for higher education and also while calculating the costs of studying and living in USA.
Q. Which states in the US that have the highest monthly cost of living for Indian students?
A. New York, California, Maryland, New Jersey, etc are some of the states in the US that have the highest monthly expenses in USA. These are metropolitan cities and have higher costs of living in USA on the whole. Some cost analysis is given in the table below:
| US Cities | Living Costs (Monthly) |
|---|---|
| New York | USD 11,000 - USD 12,000 |
| California | USD 4,000 - USD 5,000 |
| Maryland | USD 9,000 - USD 10,000 |
| New jersey | USD 11,000 - USD 12,000 |
The costs are subject to change and applicants are suggested to check for the costs before they proceed for admission to USA.
Q. Is the housing and accommodation living cost in USA for international students expensive?
A. The housing and accommodation living cost in USA for international students is $9,800-$11,000 per year for an on-campus stay and $3,500 per month for an off-campus stay. Thus, yes, for those who are staying off-campus may have to bear additional and extra costs but those living on-campus will have to pay one time yearly fee which includes all major amenties and expenses are more or less included. Thus, if getting an option for on-campus, international students must take it up.
Q. Is it expensive to live in the US?
A. Yes, the US is one of the most expensive countries to live for international students. However, to reduce the cost of living, students can do part-time jobs. The cost of living in the US will also depend on the state where a student lives. Living in USA is expensive but again depends person to person. Thus, applicants must keep an upper calculation in rouded figure so that if they have to spend extra they are prepared for it.
Q. Which are the most affordable universities in the US to study for international students?
A. Some of the most affordable universities in the US for international students as per U.S. News & World Report are:
- Brigham Young University – Provo
- Nicholls State University
- South Dakota State University
Q. How much does it cost to live in the US as a foreign student?
A. To give an estimat, the cost of living in the USA for international students varies around USD 10,000 to USD 25,000 per year, which averages around USD 1,000 to USD 2,000 per month. These costs may vary based on the US state of study as well.
Not all US universities have strict SAT cutoffs for admissions. Colleges will not usually explicitly mention them per se. Rather most of them in their school reports mentioning SAT score range of the admitted students in the previous year. So this can be referred to for reference when applying for admissions in the USA.
Utah State ranks at #259 in the 2025 edition of National Universities category. As per Washington Monthly, this university ranked at #18 in the public universities category nationally in 2023. Additionally, there are 370+ course options available. Known for its cutting-edge research, USU is an R1 institution recognised by Carnegie. It is known for a few of its courses in academic fields like Engineering, Agriculture, Business, Education, etc. USU is a premier land and space grant institution.
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Comments
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N
a year ago
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3 years ago
A
2 years ago
Hello Nikunj! You find all possible options here - https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/usa/ms-in-embedded-systems-colleges-ds if you still want more help, get in touch with our counsellors by signing up here - https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/apply. All the best!
A
3 years ago
A
3 years ago
Hello. Kindly elaborate your question. In case if you are looking for part-time work in the US, please refer to this article: https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/10-popular-part-time-campus-jobs-for-students-in-the-us-articlepage-54
V
3 years ago
A
3 years ago
Please refer to this list of college from this link: https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/usa/ms-colleges-dc
A
3 years ago
P
3 years ago
Hi Aaryan, you can register with Shiksha Counseling Service for free through below link. They offer services online and not face to face. https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/apply
The average GMAT cutoff for MBA in USA ranges anywhere between 545 to 755. The applicants can aim for B-schools in USA accordingly.