Hello everyone,
As we usually do each year, we invite you to share your experiences and tell us more about the average prices of products and services in your town/city/area, so that we have updated information regarding cost of living and inflation in the USA.
Thanks to your contribution, future expats in the USA will be more informed and will be able to refine their budget and better prepare for their big move.
How much does it cost to rent an apartment or a house in the USA? How about buying an apartment or a house in the USA?
How much do you pay on average for public transportation (bus, subway, train, tram, taxi)?
How much do you pay for basic food items such as rice, bread, and pasta?
What is your monthly budget for groceries?
How much does it cost to see a doctor or health specialist in the USA?
How much do you pay for health insurance per month?
How much does childcare cost on average per month?
What is your child's schooling budget per month?
How much does it cost to fill up your car's fuel tank?
How much do you pay for electricity/gas/water etc., per month?
How much do you pay for your internet and phone subscription?
How much do you pay for your lunch pack on weekdays?
How much do you pay for an espresso coffee?
How much do you pay for a cinema ticket?
How much does a gym membership cost in the USA?
Thank you for sharing your experience.
Priscilla
Cost of living 2019 in the USA
The cost of living varies greatly depending on where you live. You pay a lot more in States like NY or CA vs. NE for example. The answers below are from my experience as a Realtor in Metro Atlanta, GA:
How much does it cost to rent an apartment or a house in the USA? How about buying an apartment or a house in the USA?
As stated above, that varies GREATLY! Georgia, for example, is still rated very high on the Affordability Index. Depending on the part of the City you live in, you can expect to pay between $1,000 and $3000 for an apartment or house (also depends on school district). In some areas you can purchase a house for $200,000, in others the MINIMUM may be as high as $400,000 (depending greatly on school district). Upwards there is no limit.
How much do you pay on average for public transportation (bus, subway, train, tram, taxi)? There really isn't any notable public transportation system, as used to in Germany.
How much do you pay for basic food items such as rice, bread, and pasta? Bread $2.50 and up, Pasta $1.00 - $1.50
What is your monthly budget for groceries? We buy a lot of organic food and spend around $300/mo
How much does it cost to see a doctor or health specialist in the USA? That's a tough one. Depends what health insurance plan you have. Can't answer, as I am self-pay (not insured)
How much do you pay for health insurance per month? Depends on whether or not you have a good plan through your employer and how many family members you have. The last time we had insurance we paid $1000/mo for a family of 3.
How much does childcare cost on average per month? $1,000 plus/minus
What is your child's schooling budget per month? 0
How much does it cost to fill up your car's fuel tank? $30
How much do you pay for electricity/gas/water etc., per month? $150 electricity/ $40 gas/ $30 water. Again, this varies by size of house, location, etc etc
How much do you pay for your internet and phone subscription? Internet $60/mo, cell phone $250 for family of 3.
How much do you pay for your lunch pack on weekdays? We pack a sandwich or salad from home, so about $3
How much do you pay for an espresso coffee? $$$ at Starbucks - IF You go there
How much do you pay for a cinema ticket? $12
How much does a gym membership cost in the USA? $20- $40
Thanks for the EXTREMELY useful information, andreac811
Good day! I'm going to come to the US for a couple of months to live and look around. I am interested in the issue of renting a car. How much advantageous offer did I find here: NU car rental MCO? I ask about this because car rental is not mentioned in the posts above. But not everyone can or is going to buy a car.
Find a location outside of the airport to rent from. You will save yourself between $2 and $15 per day (for the rental facility fee). Also consider purchasing an insurance policy yourself as opposed to going with the one from the rental company...
Is this car service also available in other countries?
I rent a 3 bedroom house in North Carolina for $2250 per month. This includes electricity, water, and garbage collection. There is no gas line in the house as far as I can tell. My phone/internet service is what I had in Israel. Using it with an American company is $150 per month. This includes television, but I do not have a TV.
Local buses are free in Chapel Hill/Carrboro. Buses throughout the Triangle cost $2.25 per ride. Uber is far less than taxis; $20 for 30 miles, approximately.
Food is far more expensive than it should be. Grocery store bread is $3-$6 and bland, so I make my own. Grocery store rice is about $1 per meal. Restaurant rice is anywhere from $2-$10, which is absurd. Tacos are also ridiculously expensive. The cheapest food truck is $6. Grocery store tortillas are $3 for a pack of 10. There is another food truck that sells hot dogs for $8 and up. When I lived in New York, hot dogs were $2 at most. This is a university town and I think businesses are charging more for food because they can. Students like what is trendy, and trendy costs more.
I have health insurance through my school, so what I pay is likely different from what others pay. I have yet to see a doctor, but I assume it is too expensive.
I have no children or cars, but I know that it is $25 to fill a Hyundai Elantra's tank.
I have yet to attend the cinema, but I saw a sign that read $12.
My gym membership is at school and free. I believe it is $100 for family of students/faculty.
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