Cost calculator · United States
Year-one money, not just rent
Living costs, net tuition, and the first-month setup bill students forget. Baselines are planning aids—replace every number with your quotes before you size a loan or deposit.
Living / month
$2,090
Year-one total
$28,565
Proof-of-funds style
$25,080
Net tuition + 12× living
Rent is eating half your living budget
Look at dorms, farther shares, or a roommate. A cheaper zip code often beats a “prestige” block.
Add year-one tuition (sticker) and confirmed aid
Net tuition = published fees − written awards only. Import from your shortlist if you already typed it.
Pressure-test this number in Funding path
Loans and forex should cover year-one total + a buffer—not just tuition on the I-20.
Place & lifestyle
Search your town or campus area—not only the biggest metros. Students live in Baltimore, Ashburn, Chantilly, College Park, and hundreds of other places. Pick the closest baseline, then replace rent with a real listing.
86 areas listed · search name, suburb, or school
Selected Boston · Massachusetts — High housing; strong transit near many campuses.
Housing style
Lifestyle
Monthly living
Edit every line. Utilities matter once you leave dorms.
$2,090 / mo
Car costs
Boston: Transit-friendly — car usually optional. Baselines change with the city (NoVA suburbs ≠ NYC parking). Replace insurance with a real quote—new-to-country students often pay more.
Monthly spend mix
- Housing (rent / dorm)53% · $1,100
- Utilities & internet5% · $100
- Food & groceries19% · $400
- Local transit4% · $90
- Phone / data2% · $50
- Health / required insurance10% · $200
- Misc & buffer7% · $150
Tuition & aid (year one)
Use published fees minus written awards only—not “expected” scholarships.
Net tuition $0 · ~$0 / month averaged
One-time / first-month setup
The bill that hits before your first stipend or part-time paycheck.
Setup total · $3,485
Your estimate
All-in / month
$2,090
Living × 12 mo
$25,080
Living × 12 mo
$25,080
Year-one total
$28,565
Home currency (reference)
—
Indicative FX only—not a bank or remittance quote.
U.S. figures are town/metro planning baselines for a shared room—not Zillow quotes. Suburbs and campus edges differ; always replace rent with a real listing near your school. Proof-of-funds style ($25,080) is a planning shorthand—confirm the exact figure your visa or school requires.
Saved on this device. Not an official cost-of-living, I-20, or immigration funding figure.