Cost of Living in New York for Indian Students 2025

Cost of Living in New York City for an international student can be high. They need to have a budget between USD 2,000 to USD 3,500 (INR 1.66 Lakhs to 2.91 Lakhs) per month to spend. This amount includes the expenses of accommodation, groceries, transportation, and other essential bills. Check out the article for details on the cost of living in New York. 

Various factors affect the living costs in the USA and its Big Apple for international students. From accommodation to transportation and miscellaneous expenses, all are calculated together to account for living costs. Since the cost of living index for New York is 100 based on 2024 reports. Thus, New York is almost ten times more expensive than Indian metros. More details are elaborated below. 

Related Read: Top 10 Most Expensive Cities in the World

Living Expenses in New York for Students Highlights 

• The cost of living in New York for an Indian student pursuing higher education is between INR 18.89 lakhs to INR 20 lakhs an annum.  
• PG course students must spend around USD 8,000 annually on housing in NYC. 
• The cost of living for UG students in the NY City is USD 22,000. 
• While the price of living in New York for PG students is around USD 18,000.  
• Overall, the cost of living in New York City is higher than in other US states for international students.

How Living Expenses are Calculated in NYC?

There are numerous ways to calculate the average living cost in New York, some of the key factors include:

1. Cost of studying
2. Cost of accommodation
3. Cost of travelling
4. Health insurance costs
5. Food costs & grocery costs
6. Personal expenses

These are important areas where an international spends maximum amounts to sustain in New York. The cost of living in New York is calculated by adding up all these expenses to get a rough idea. Let us discuss them in the section below. 

Cost of Living in New York for International Students 

The cost of living in New York for international students is slightly on the higher side. The basic expenditure that applicants may have to spend, has been given in the table below for reference:

1. Cost of Studying in New York City

As part of living costs, the calculation of the cost of studying in USA is equally important. The cost of studying in New York varies based on the type of university,

• In the case of a public university like the State University of New York (SUNY), the costs will vary anywhere between:
  • UG: USD 39,980 (approx)
  • PG: USD 25,240 (approx)
• In the case of private universities in New York like the New York University (NYU), the costs will be higher. The NYU fees can vary anywhere between:
  • UG: USD 70,350 - USD 87,448
  • PG: USD 57,421 (approx)

Applicants can choose their universities or colleges in New York carefully based on thorough research to be able to pay for the living costs while studying there. 

2. Cost of Accommodation in New York for Students

Apart from utilities, there are costs of accommodation also which are essential in calculating the overall cost of living in New York. The following are the rents paid for international students in New York City: 

• 1 Bedroom Apartment within the City: USD 4,116 
• 1 Bedroom Apartment outside the City: USD 2,685 
• 3 Bedroom Apartment within the City: USD 8,537 
• 3 Bedroom Apartment outside the City: USD 4,357 

Based on budget and option of availability, the students can opt for any of the above-given accommodation types in NYC. The cost of living heavily depends on the accommodation costs first and other costs later, so choose wisely.

3. Cost of Travelling in New York

The cost of travelling in New York is anywhere around USD 132 a month. The bifurcation can be understood this way:

• Monthly public transportation pass: USD 132
• One-way travel cost: USD 2.90
• Normal cab fare: USD 5.00

Thus, there may be other options also like bicycle renting or car-pooling for those who live in and around the campus. Thus, the applicants must keep around INR 20,000 for travelling in and around New York City regularly. Thus, this is an essential parameter for computing living cost in New York. 

4. Cost of Health Insurance for International Students in NYC

The F1 student visa holders in USA, have to have health insurance. The health insurance costs vary based on the companies selling it. The cost of health insurance i n New York for Indian students can vary anywhere between USD 50,000 - USD 1,000,000. The applicants can choose their preferred health insurance package based on their stay in the NYC for studying. Thus, it may be an important aspect of living costs in New York if it is required at the early stage of the admission process. 

5. Cost of Food & Groceries in New York City for Indian Students 

Since the price of living in New York for students is not just based on broad categories, there are different commodities also which have an expense head. The following table will help students plan how much they will be spending on the following given items irrespective of their housing options: 

Grocery Items	Living in NYC Cost	Cost of Living in New York for Indians
Dining in an inexpensive restaurant	USD 26.50	INR 2,203
1 litre of milk	USD 1.40	INR 11.6
White bread loaf	USD 4.60	INR 382
1 kg white rice	USD 7.31	INR 609
A dozen eggs	USD 5.56	INR 462
1 kg local cheese	USD 16.59	INR 1,379
1 kg red meat	USD 20	INR 1,662
1 kg apples	USD 7.03	INR 584.3
1 kg bananas	USD 2.08	INR 173
1 kg oranges	USD 5.93	INR 493
1 kg tomatoes	USD 6.34	INR 527
1 kg potatoes	USD 4.17	INR 347
1 kg onions	USD 3.63	INR 302
1.5-litre water bottle	USD 2.41	INR 200
Total Monthly Expenses	USD 113.55	INR 9,335

(Source: Numbeo) 

For Indian students, the monthly expense head to live in New York City is INR 9,335 so the yearly expenses account to INR 1,20,000 which excludes housing costs. 

6. Personal Expenses in NYC: Utilities & Other Bills

As international students, there are broad categories under which expenses are incurred on utilities while staying and studying in NY City. Check them out in the article below:

Expenses Covered for	Costs of Living in New York (Per Month)
Cost of Dining Outside	USD 128
Basic Utilities - Mobile bills, WiFi, Gasoline, Electricity	USD 306.13
Clothing	USD 211
Sports & Leisure	USD 200
Entertainment	USD 80

There may be expenses apart from the above-mentioned ones for international students studying in New York. It is always better to check for the expenses based on different entities and then plan the budget.  

Expenditure Analysis for Cost of Living in New York City 

For international students aiming to study in New York City, there is an expenditure analysis that every international student needs to take care of. As per Numbeo, for international students, the cost of living in New York requires expenditures in the following order: 

• Rent per month: 48.2% 
• Markets: 23.1% 
• Dining out: 11.2% 
• Transportation: 5.7% 
• Sports & Leisure: 5.7% 
• Monthly utilities: 4.9% 
• Clothing and shoes: 1.3% 

Overall, the life expenses in New York are heavily dependent on high rentals and taxes for international students. The next most important aspect of expenditure is on groceries from supermarkets. The lowest expenses are incurred on clothing and shoes unless they are non-branded as part of living costs in New York. 

Students who are going to study in the universities of New York should look for universities which offer scholarships on tuition. Plus, another way of catering to living costs in New York is by taking up part-time jobs in the USA. Finally, look for student discounts so that additional slashing of costs can be possible. This way, somehow, the cost of living in New York for international students can be reduced. 

If you are looking for admissions across any of the top 10 New York universities, and require assistance, you can sign up for our free Shiksha Abroad Counselling. Or you can write your queries in the comments box below.