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Posted on 17 Aug '23
The 5 Cheapest Cities in the USA to Live in as a Student
‘Cheap’ may not be the first word that comes to mind when you think of postgraduate study in the USA, but with some clever budgeting and the right choice of location can go a long way to making it more affordable!
To help you save pennies (or cents) we’ve listed the five cheapest US cities to live in as a university student, using crowdsourced data from Numbeo.
#5 Saint Louis, Missouri
Coming in at number five is Saint Louis, a waterside city near where the Mississippi and Missouri rivers become one.
Saint Louis is home to the world’s tallest gateway arch, which stands at 630 feet and has earned it the nickname ‘The Gateway City’. Covering 1,300 acres, its prized Forest Park is larger than New York’s Central Park, and is packed with forests, nature reserves and museums which attract around 13 million visitors every year.
Here’s how living costs in Saint Louis compare to the national average:
| Item | Prices in Saint Louis | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-bedroom apartment (in city centre) | $1,242 | $1,838 | |
| One-bedroom apartment (outside city centre) | $1,002 | $1,378 | |
| Monthly utilities | $197 | $189 | |
| Monthly transportation pass | $78 | $70 | |
| Meal at inexpensive restaurant | $20 | $20 | |
| * These figures are based on crowdsourced data published by Numbeo and rounded off to the closest whole number. | |||
#4 Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is a hub for sports fans, hosting the world’s largest one-day sporting event, annual car race Indy 500, and home to teams for every major American sport from soccer to hockey. It also offers the opportunity to race in the Indy Mini, which is the largest half marathon in the United States.
If sport isn’t your thing, you can also learn about the city’s long history at the Indiana State Museum (its indigenous population can be traced all the way back to 10,000 BC!) or browse three floors of exhibits at the Indianapolis Museum of Art.
Here’s how living costs in Indianapolis compare to the national average:
| Item | Prices in Indianapolis | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-bedroom apartment (in city centre) | $1,441 | $1,838 | |
| One-bedroom apartment (outside city centre) | $1,082 | $1,378 | |
| Monthly utilities | $213 | $189 | |
| Monthly transportation pass | $60 | $70 | |
| Meal at inexpensive restaurant | $20 | $20 | |
| * These figures are based on crowdsourced data published by Numbeo and rounded off to the closest whole number. | |||
#3 Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the southern state of Kentucky, known for hosting the Kentucky Derby, the most prestigious horse race in the USA, and for being the hometown of the world-famous boxer Muhammed Ali.
Main Street, in Louisville’s centre, is home to Museum Row, a cluster of ten unique museums and distilleries within five walkable blocks. Here, you can learn about Louisville’s history, try its delicious craft beer, and find out why it’s nicknamed ‘Bourbon City’.
Here’s how living costs in Louisville compare to the national average:
| Item | Prices in Louisville | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-bedroom apartment (in city centre) | $1,440 | $1,838 | |
| One-bedroom apartment (outside city centre) | $929 | $1,378 | |
| Monthly utilities | $195 | $189 | |
| Monthly transportation pass | $50 | $70 | |
| Meal at inexpensive restaurant | $18 | $20 | |
| * These figures are based on crowdsourced data published by Numbeo and rounded off to the closest whole number. | |||
#2 Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis overlooks the Mississippi River and is famous for the now world-renowned strains of rock ‘n’ roll, soul and blues music that originated there. Industry heavyweights including Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Aretha Franklin have all resided in Memphis, and recorded at its legendary Sun Studio, which continues to attract big names in popular music today.
If its cultural significance isn’t draw enough, Memphis is also one of the USA’s greenest cities, with over 160 parks and over 230 days of sunshine every year.
Here’s how living costs in Memphis compare to the national average:
| Item | Prices in Memphis | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-bedroom apartment (in city centre) | $1,164 | $1,838 | |
| One-bedroom apartment (outside city centre) | $1,009 | $1,378 | |
| Monthly utilities | $235 | $189 | |
| Monthly transportation pass | $43 | $70 | |
| Meal at inexpensive restaurant | $16 | $20 | |
| * These figures are based on crowdsourced data published by Numbeo and rounded off to the closest whole number. | |||
#1 Cincinnati, Ohio
Clinching the prize for cheapest city in the USA is Cincinnati, one of the only cities in the USA to technically span two states (its official borders encompass the northernmost region of Kentucky) – an easy way to tick two boxes on your USA travel checklist!
One of Cincinnati’s most historic neighbourhoods is Over-the-Rhine, which contains some of the most well-preserved 19th century buildings of any district in the USA. It was largely developed by German immigrants who settled there in the 1850s. Today, it is home to craft breweries, trendy bars, outdoor markets and German-inspired architecture.
Here’s how living costs in Cincinnati compare to the national average:
| Item | Prices in Cincinnati | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-bedroom apartment (in city centre) | $1,260 | $1,838 | |
| One-bedroom apartment (outside city centre) | $1,006 | $1,378 | |
| Monthly utilities | $122 | $189 | |
| Monthly transportation pass | $77 | $70 | |
| Meal at inexpensive restaurant | $12 | $20 | |
| * These figures are based on crowdsourced data published by Numbeo and rounded off to the closest whole number. | |||
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