US Cost of Living for Students by City (2026-27)

The cost of living for students in the US ranges from about $10,000 to over $37,000 for an academic year, depending on the city. That is based on official 2026-27 cost-of-attendance budgets from seven universities. Big coastal cities such as New York, Seattle and Los Angeles sit at the top, while smaller college towns such as Lafayette, Louisiana and Champaign, Illinois cost far less.

Last checked: 20 October 2026. Rupee figures use the NRB selling rate, 17 Oct 2026 (USD 1 = Rs 152.24).

Every number below comes from a university’s own published budget. We did not invent or average anything. Universities build these budgets for financial aid and for the I-20 funding figure, so they are the same numbers the visa officer sees on your I-20.

US cost of living for students by city (2026-27)

How to read these numbers

The budgets are not built the same way, so compare them with care:

• Period. Most cover one academic year of two semesters (about 9 months). UW gives a “four-quarter” figure, and does not say on its ISS page whether that is 9 or 12 months. Summer rent is often extra.
• Level. NYU and UCLA figures are undergraduate. The others are graduate. Graduate budgets are usually higher for personal and travel costs.
• What is inside. UW’s single figure includes books and supplies. UL Lafayette’s $9,960 is only on-campus housing (a “Junior Suite Single”) and the “Cajun Classic” meal plan; personal costs are not itemised.
• On or off campus. UCLA shows off-campus housing at $14,541 and food at $6,610, against $12,299 and $7,568 on campus. NYU uses one housing-and-food figure for both.
• Approval. NYU notes its 2026-27 amounts were to be formally approved in July 2026.

What it looks like per month

Families in Nepal often think in monthly terms. The universities publish yearly figures, so we divided each academic-year living total by 9 months (roughly two semesters). This is our own simple division, not a university figure, and your real monthly spending will vary. We left out UW because its four-quarter period is not stated.

Two things stand out. First, housing and food are the largest part of every budget, so where you live matters more than anything else you control. Second, the “personal” and “transport” lines are bigger than many students expect: ASU’s graduate budget puts them together at $8,481 a year, more than a third of its housing-and-meals figure. If you will rely on public transport, check whether your university gives a free or discounted transit pass, and adjust the transport line yourself.

Costs that are not in the living figure

The table is living costs only. Your full yearly cost also includes:

• Tuition and fees. For example, UW lists $44,740 tuition and fees for an international graduate (Tier I) and $61,052 for an undergraduate in 2026-27.
• Health insurance. UW lists $2,148 for its ISHIP plan. ASU lists $2,765 (using 2025-26 rates until 2026-27 rates are set). UL Lafayette lists $2,050 mandatory international insurance. See our health insurance guide.
• Books and supplies. From $776 (UT Austin graduate) to $1,908 (ASU graduate) in these budgets.
• One-time costs. Visa fee, SEVIS fee, flights, rent deposit and first-month setup. Our US student budget guide covers the monthly side.

How to find the real cost for your university

1. Search “[university name] cost of attendance international” and open only the university’s own page (.edu).
2. Check the year. Use the 2026-27 budget if you start in Fall 2026 or Spring 2027; look for 2027-28 when it is published.
3. Pick the right column: graduate or undergraduate, on or off campus, and the international/non-resident version if there is one.
4. Compare with your I-20. The “living expenses” line on your I-20 usually matches the university budget.
5. Add what is missing: summer months, health insurance and setup costs.
6. Convert to rupees at the current NRB rate, and add a buffer for rupee movement.

What this means for Nepali families

For a family in Nepal, the city can matter as much as the university. On these budgets, a year of living costs in Seattle (Rs 57.07 lakh) is close to four times the on-campus room and meal plan in Lafayette (Rs 15.16 lakh). Over a two-year master’s, that gap alone can be more than Rs 80 lakh.

• Bank balance. The visa officer looks at whether you can cover the I-20 total. See financial documents for the F-1 visa.
• Part-time work is limited. F-1 students can work on campus within limits. Do not plan to cover rent from a job. Read on-campus jobs for F-1 students.
• Housing decisions. Off-campus rooms can be cheaper or dearer than campus housing (UCLA’s budget shows off-campus housing costing more) and usually need deposits and leases. Compare both before you sign anything.
• Loans. If you are borrowing, use these city figures when you work out the loan amount, not a guess from friends.

Common mistakes

• Comparing tuition only. A cheaper tuition in an expensive city can cost more overall.
• Using old budgets. Universities update these every year.
• Forgetting summer. Most budgets cover 9 months; rent may run for 12.
• Trusting social media “monthly cost” posts. They often leave out insurance, transport and deposits.
• Ignoring the exchange rate. A one-rupee move in the dollar changes a Rs 40 lakh budget noticeably.

What to do next

Shortlist 3 to 5 universities, collect each official cost-of-attendance page, and put living costs next to tuition. Then turn the total into rupees with our student visa money calculator.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest US city for international students?
Of the seven budgets we checked, Lafayette, Louisiana had the lowest figure ($9,960 for on-campus housing and meals at UL Lafayette). Smaller college towns generally cost less than big coastal cities, but always check each university’s own budget.

How much does it cost to live in New York as a student?
NYU’s 2026-27 undergraduate budget lists $26,438 for housing and food, plus $2,054 personal and $2,438 transport, for two semesters: $30,930, about Rs 47.09 lakh.

Is the living cost on my I-20 enough?
It is the university’s official estimate and is what the visa officer checks. Real spending depends on your housing and lifestyle, and summer may be extra.

How much is the cost of living per month for students in the USA?
Divide the university’s academic-year budget by its months. For example, UT Austin’s graduate living total of about $23,792 over a 9-month year is roughly $2,640 a month.

Do these figures include tuition?
No. The table shows living costs only. Tuition, fees, books (except at UW) and health insurance are extra.

Related guides

• F-1 Student Taxes: Form 1040-NR and 8843 Guide From Nepal
• Sending Tuition Fees Abroad from Nepal: SWIFT, Flywire, Docs
• Education Loan in Nepal for Study Abroad: How It Works (2026)

Sources

• Cost of Attendance 2026-27 – New York University
• Cost of Attendance – UCLA Financial Aid and Scholarships
• Estimated Annual Expenses 2026-2027 – University of Washington ISS
• Cost of Attendance – Texas One Stop, UT Austin
• Cost of college for international students – Arizona State University
• 26/27 graduate estimated additional expenses – University of Illinois Registrar
• Graduate tuition and costs – University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Last checked 20 October 2026. This is general information, not financial advice. University budgets change every year; check the official page before you plan.