Studying in the US has always been a dream for most international applicants. With the world's best universities and abundance of courses to choose from is what makes the US most sought after study abroad destinations. Studying abroad comes with an expense of living abroad apart from heavy tuition fees.

Cost of living in the US varies a lot because of the vast territory of the country. In general, living in urban areas is more expensive than living in smaller towns or suburban areas. Once you have gotten admissions with US universities, accommodations are a primary concern for those moving to the country. Determining the type of student accommodation that fits best per your needs can help you in many ways.

• Understanding the overall expense along with transportation, if living off-campus
• Planning a budget ahead of time
• Choosing apartments/dorms/etc at best available price

Overall the student accommodation can cost anywhere from 9,800 USD to 14,400 USD a year depending on the choice of location and type of housing. The article below discusses the on-campus and off-campus student accommodation in the USA for international students in depth.

Moving to the USA? Visit our US checklist here.

On-Campus Student Accommodation in USA

Popular among freshmans, on campus housing is the most affordable option for international students looking to study in the USA. The rent is cheaper, there is barely any cost of transportation and the meals are taken care of. In the United States, students usually live in shared dormitories if they choose on campus residency.

Student accommodation in US Universities often cost:

• 9,800 USD/academic year at public colleges in US (four-year)
• 11,100 USD/academic year at private colleges in US (four-year)

Student Dorms in USA

On campus students usually live in halls or residency apartments called dorms. These dorms, much like the hostel system in India, are further classified into different categories like gender, ethnicity, language, academically oriented, sports or other activity based etc.

• Dorms are based on various themes to choose from, so that the student may find it easier to settle in the new world.
• Some dorms are especially built for freshmens to keep them away from the older batches.
• Dormitories usually are provided along with a kitchen, living space, laundry services, meal services and common washrooms.
• Few allow international students to choose rooms or beds, few simply allot you.
• There are 1-5 housemates in each dorm, you can choose the dorms and these based on your own preferences.
• Students usually eat at dining halls/cafeterias within their campus. They can have customised meal plans upto 4 meals per day, moreover there are additional cafes on campus that they can explore.
• Basic medical facilities are also taken care of by their colleges. Dorms are managed by experienced staff and are the preferred option for new students.

Though dormitories are the most popular and affordable student accommodation in the US, international students can also check out apartments, and family homes offered by the US universities.

On-Campus Student Accommodation in USA Costs

The cost of living with dorms and other on-campus student accommodations in US universities are discussed below:

Choosing Student Accommodation in USA

• The safety of the neighborhood is a priority. With hate crimes increasing day by day the choice of the neighborhood has become extremely important.
• Setting a budget and researching accordingly is a must.
• Apart from the budget one should look at other things like location of the accommodation with respect to the distance from their university, access to market area and presence of public transportation.

Pros of living on-campus:

• Closer to the main campus and most residences.
• Being a part of the residential community is a great way to network.
• On- campus costs are inclusive of other living costs such as electricity, meals, water supply and other basic amenities. Internet is also included in the fee, be it WiFi or other ethernet connections.
• You do not have to go through a whole other procedure to get to an agreement, it is much simpler than lease agreements for apartments.

On-campus student accommodation in the USA comes along with a variety of facilities. The costs of these are:

• Electricity: 50 – 100 USD/month, depending on the size of your apartment, and if your heating is electric, the overall price may go up to 150 USD/month
• Heating: 50 – 100 USD/month
• Internet: 45 – 50 USD/month
• Phone subscription: 50 USD/month
• Water, sewer, and trash — the landlord usually covers them, but if you have to pay, those will cost 50 – 75 USD/three months

Health Insurance is important for international students choosing to stay on-campus. Check out: Health Insurance in USA!

Cons of living on campus:

• Lack of privacy.
• Bound by the norms and rules of the campus.
• Year long agreement

Off Campus Student Accommodation in USA

Off campus student accommodation in the USA is generally not available for first-year students. They are required to live on-campus with the university itself. However, continuing students can explore plenty of off-campus student accommodation options in the US.

Most universities have ‘partner websites’ for easier processing of finding an accommodation off-campus. Options on these sites are verified and relatively safer from scams. These places are also listed keeping in mind the accessibility of the market and other facilities.

Types of Off-Campus Student Accommodations in USA: -

You can choose from homestays, or rental apartments. The details of the type of accommodations are discussed below:

Moving to the US for studies? Learn more about Student Visa for USA!

Homestay in US for International Students

Homestays are extremely popular in the United States. It is an arrangement where a student can live with one of the American families who have volunteered to offer students a place to live. Students can choose a basic room-rental arrangement or immerse themselves with the host/family when it comes to homestays. In such arrangements, generally, students will be given their room but may be expected to participate in family meals and activities.

Other than the monthly rent, students can be asked to submit an up-front fee. Homestays on an average charge an amount of $600 per month as their accommodation fee and an additional up-front fee that can go uto $300.

How to find a homestay?

• The American Homestay network was established in 2012 to keep a check on safety, service and quality of homestays for international students in America.
• AHN can provide homestay arrangements for international students in many cities like Washington D.C., Chicago, and Portland.
• In addition, AHN has a unique feature of placing students close to their universities and helping them figure out various options for transportation.

Rental Apartments for International Students in USA

Renting a private space is one of the most common preferences of students from abroad. This allows one to share their accommodation with their friends and have some scope for privacy as well. The entire episode of learning to manage a house from buying groceries to the finances, looking into plumbing and bills follows afterwards.

The options you would get are from a private room, apartment, or suite when looking for rental student accommodations in USA:

• When renting a private room, you get access to a shared or separate kitchen, bathroom and sometimes other parts of the home, such as the living room.
• The rent depends a lot upon the location, facilities and the condition of the housing you go ahead with.
• Subletting can also be an option while renting.

A liaison officer is assigned by most universities to help international students with information regarding off-campus accommodation. This facility should be prioritized and first approached for any queries or help you need with your housing.

If that does not work out, there are various housing companies that you can browse on the internet. College websites might come with links to housing agencies you can contact. While booking off-campus apartments it is crucial to enquire about the cost of utilities and safety of the neighborhood.

Student Hostels for International Students in USA

While students are looking for a permanent residence, student hostels work as a buffer stop and provide them with a temporary shelter. Since there is a floating population of students, student hostels come with ample arrangements to ensure the safety and security of its residents. Student hostels have a security detail, secure locker facilities, and dining facilities.

Some student hostel chains in the USA are HI, NY Moore Hostel and Freehand.

Discussed below are student accommodations in USA available to those looking for off-campus housing facilities:

Student Accommodation in US Cities

Top three student cities in the US are Boston, NY and San Francisco. Some of the popular cities are discussed in detail below followed by accommodation costs for those studying in various regions of the US.

Student Accommodations in Boston

Home to Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston is one of the most desired student locations.

• Not only the top two, Boston is home to five other universities ranked in the top 400 of the world.
• The high concentration of leading universities propels it to joint 13th place in the QS Best Student Cities index.
• Boston being the city earning the second best score in the index for ‘employer activity’, is definitely the correct place to kick start your career.
• Accommodations cost 1,500 – 3,000 USD/month

Student Accommodations in New York

Ranked 20th in the Best Student City Index,there is no shortage of top universities in New York either.

• A perfect blend of arts and sciences, New York is extremely popular for the variety of courses its universities offer.
• New York is home to NYU, Columbia and nine other universities that make it to top 800 in the QS World Rankings.
• New York is definitely one of the most desired cities for higher education.
• Student accommodations cost around 1,700 – 3,000 USD/month

Student Accommodations in San Francisco

San Francisco, the iconic city that lies adjacent to Silicon Valley is another popular study destination.

• With universities like UCB and Stanford, it makes it to one of the top student cities of the world.
• The leading Financial Centre is home to hundreds of innovative companies, this combined with the caliber of its institutions, helps the city score a strong employment rate.
• San Francisco is ranked 27th in the QS Best Student City Index.
• Student accommodations cost around 2,200 – 4,000 USD/month

Some of the regions and costs of student accommodation in USA are discussed below:

International students looking for off-campus accommodations in US must try having a yearly budget for other personal or unexpected expenses- 2,000 USD is a good start to keep as an additional amount.

Pros of living off campus:

• Privacy is assured.
• Freedom in comparison to rules in on-campus housing.
• Getting to live in a neighborhood and make friends outside the college.
• Learning experience.

Cons of living off campus:

• Exclusive of electricity, grocery and other miscellaneous charges.
• Limited scope for socializing with fellow students.
• Proximity to campus amenities is limited

Student accommodation in the USA costs are just as varied as general living costs. The average apartment can start at 600 USD (1-bedroom apartments in rural areas) and go up to 3,000 USD+(1 bedroom apartment in Boston). Renting off-campus in the USA might be less expensive than living on campus, but one must take into account the distance to the university and daily commute expenses that might be added.