Cost of Living in USA for Indian Students in 2025: Living Expenses for International Students in USA

Most of the aspirants that we meet have a lot of concerns, one of the most common one being - the cost of living. And if you are in touch with folks whole live in the US, you must have heard - the cost of living is rising. But is it? 

It is sometimes difficult to have a ballpark plan for your expenses when you start your education at your dream university in the US - your stay, commute, food, insurance, study bills, and more. It is easy to feel overwhelmed by this uncertain financial planning, bordering on making some drop their dreams of studying abroad. Don’t let that be YOU!

But for now that you are here, wouldn’t it be amazing if you get an early ballpark cost of living in the USA for Indian students? Let’s plan everything from your stay in the USA, food expenses to travel, tuition fees, etc. ➡️

According to Statista, the US easily hosted more than 1 million international students, making it the top destination for international students studying abroad. It is a popular study destination among international students due to its academic excellence, flexible education system, cultural diversity, lively/vibrant campus life, unique curriculum, and abundant job/internship opportunities.

While the number, 1,075,496 international students in the US, seems like a lot, it has dropped. This number depicts a drop of 13% compared to the Indian students who visited the USA in the 2019-2020 academic year. But what is the reason for this decline? 

Along with the curse of the pandemic, living expenses in the USA for international students are higher than in other major study-abroad destinations. This fact could be the major explanation for the decline in the numbers.

So is it impossible to study in the USA with a low budget? No. 

Planning your budget by understanding the cost of living in the USA for international students could be of great help. So let’s try and answer the question -

The estimated cost of living in the USA for students is between $10,000 - $25,000 (USD) per academic year, making the average monthly expenses in the USA for Indian students to be $900 - $2,000 or INR 74,000 - 1,60,000. This depends on where you choose to live and the lifestyle you adopt. 

So what would your bare essentials’ split look like with this amount? Here are the average living expenses in the USA for international students per year, covering various costs like tuition fees, travel, restaurant expenses, groceries, etc. ⬇️

Besides these costs, it is advised to keep $2,000 as additional living expenses in the USA for Indian students. It is always good to have a buffer. ✅

The additional living expenses in the USA for international students can include:

• Purchases such as PC, furniture, car rental, etc.
• Entertainment costs, social outings, weekend trips, etc.
• Medical expenses are excluded from health insurance like dental care, eye care, and others.

Again, as you read above, these costs will change from state to state, city to city.

Cost of living in the US for Indian Students highly depends on the areas one chooses to live in. For example, if you are living in urban areas/big cities like Boston, New York, or San Francisco, the student living cost in the USA would be much higher than the suburban cities like Texas, Seattle, New Orleans, and others.

Cost of Living in Big Cities in USA

Cost of Living in Suburban Cities in USA

Here are also some of the famous suburban cities with less cost of living in the USA for Indian students:

Further, the housing options can vary from these average living expenses in the USA for Indian students. What does the difference look like? 🔎

For full disclosure, you might need to keep a few points in mind:

• A few Universities make it mandatory for first-year students to live on campus.
• The off-campus housing option is cheaper than living on campus. However, international students can face other hassles like transportation, electricity bills, etc. Many universities in the US also offer private accommodations for students.
• They can also stay as a paying guest with a Native American family.

You can also find a detailed video explaining the monthly living expenses in the US for International Students on our YouTube Channel!

Now you know the different states’ living costs in the USA for international students. How about the difference in average living expenses in the USA for Indian students in private vs public universities?

Private Universities in the USA are funded by investors, and the students pay tuition fees. In contrast, public universities in the US are funded by the state government or through the subsidies it offers.

Let’s explore the other points of difference that directly affect the cost of living in the USA for students based at private and public universities.

What does this difference look like? Here’s a quick list for you:

The average annual cost of Public Universities in the USA for a master’s level program is $25,000 and for Private Universities is $41,000. Please note that these costs can vary every year.

Which are the Most Affordable Universities in the USA for International Students?

The most affordable Universities with less cost of living in the USA for Indian students includes:

• Brigham Young University-Provo
• Eastern New Mexico University
• Nicholls State University
• Bridgewater State University
• Mississippi University for Women, etc.

Definitely, for some aspirants, this figure might be a tad bit unaffordable. And finding financial assistance like the best education loans, scholarships, grants, etc. can be overwhelming on top of the stress of your application. 

But with proper guidance, a veteran counsellor can get you the best financial assistance your profile deserves. And with Yocket Premium, you get exactly that (and a lot more!). 

Give your study abroad dream the best shot it deserves with just a single click - learn more about Yocket Premium today!

Now, to plan your US education budget efficiently, the next crucial parameter includes…

Suggested: Scholarships for Indian Students in USA!

Living costs in the USA for Indian students can be decreased by following these essential steps. Let’s shrink the size of your study/personal bills.

• First, compare the cost of living based on the University and State in the USA.
• Sometimes, hidden charges can get deducted when a student gets their money converted through a bank. Therefore, choose transparent money exchange providers.
• The cost of living for students in the USA can be reduced by following basic saving steps like switching off extra electric appliances, using public transport, eating homemade food, etc.
• A part-time job is another option that can reduce living costs in the USA for Indian students. So a student can work in evenings, mornings, or weekends shifts.
• Use discount cards like Hostel Discount Cards, International Student Identity Cards (ISIC), International Student Exchange Cards (ISE), and more.

Suggested: How to get On-Campus jobs in the US?

Early knowledge of where you are headed can always offer you some relaxation. And as an aspirant, knowing what your cost of living will look like in the US can help you easily focus more on your academics. 

These simple tricks will surely help balance your finances in the USA. However, if you still get confused about the application for scholarships, selection of University, or the right housing accommodation choice, our counsellors will offer you dedicated and unbiased counselling with Yocket Premium and help fulfil your dreams without any hassle!

Tap to know more about Yocket Premium today.