Guidance for Twelve-Month Living Expenses

Below are the base budgets for a twelve-month period in 2023-24 and 2024-25:

  2023-24 2024-25
  Moderate
12-Month
Budget
Low
12-Month
Budget
Moderate
12-Month
Budget
Low
12-Month
Budget
United States $33,520 $22,460 $35,190 $23,580
Northeast:
Boston–Cambridge–Newton MA–NH 37,542 25,155 39,413 26,410
Hartford–East Hartford–Middletown CT 34,861 23,358 35,894 24,052
New York–Newark–Jersey City NY–NJ–PA 36,872 24,706 38,709 25,938
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington PA–NJ–DE–MD 34,526 23,134 36,950 24,759
Pittsburgh PA 33,520 22,460 35,190 23,580
South:
Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Alpharetta GA 34,190 22,909 35,894 24,052
Baltimore–Columbia–Towson MD 35,196 23,583 36,950 24,759
Charlotte–Concord–Gastonia NC–SC
Raleigh NC
33,855 22,685 35,542 23,816
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington TX 35,866 24,032 36,950 24,759
Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land TX 34,526 23,134 35,894 24,052
Jacksonville FL
Orlando–Kissimmee–Sanford FL
33,855 22,685 35,894 24,052
Miami–Fort Lauderdale–Pompano Beach FL 34,861 23,358 36,246 24,287
New Orleans–Metairie LA 33,520 22,460 35,190 23,580
Oklahoma City OK 33,520 22,460 35,190 23,580
Richmond VA
Virginia Beach–Norfolk–Newport News VA–NC
34,190 22,909 35,190 23,580
San Antonio–New Braunfels TX
Austin–Round Rock TX
33,520 22,460 35,190 23,580
Tampa–St. Petersburg–Clearwater FL 33,520 22,460 35,190 23,580
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria DC–VA–MD–WV 38,883 26,054 40,820 27,353
Midwest:
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin IL–IN–WI 34,526 23,134 36,246 24,287
Cleveland–Elyria OH
Cincinnati OH–KY–IN
Columbus OH
33,520 22,460 35,190 23,580
Detroit–Warren–Dearborn MI 33,520 22,460 35,190 23,580
Indianapolis–Carmel–Anderson IN
Louisville/Jefferson County KY–IN
33,520 22,460 35,190 23,580
Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington MN–WI 35,531 23,808 36,950 24,759
St. Louis MO–IL 33,520 22,460 35,190 23,580
West:
Anchorage AK 35,531 23,808 37,301 24,995
Denver–Aurora–Lakewood CO 36,537 24,481 38,357 25,702
Urban Honolulu HI 36,537 24,481 38,709 25,938
Las Vegas–Henderson–Paradise NV 33,520 22,460 35,542 23,816
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim CA 37,207 24,931 39,061 26,174
Phoenix–Mesa–Chandler AZ 34,190 22,909 35,894 24,502
Portland–Vancouver–Hillsboro OR–WA 35,531 23,808 36,950 24,759
Riverside–San Bernardino–Ontario CA 34,526 23,134 35,894 24,052
San Diego–Chula Vista–Carlsbad CA 38,548 25,829 40,469 27,117
San Francisco–Oakland–Berkeley CA 38,883 26,054 41,172 27,589
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue WA 37,878 25,380 39,413 26,410

Note: These budgets are provided to assist financial aid officers in developing living expense budgets for their independent, off-campus students. The budgets should not be confused with the actual boarding expenses experienced by an on-campus student. These budgets are intended as broad guidelines or starting points which should be adjusted to local economies, individual situations, and Department of Education Cost of Attendance guidelines.

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