Hello,

I just wanted to start a post to discuss the cost of living in NYC for foreigners like me that are planning to come to NYC and start a LL.M. Program. I came up with the following expenses. It IS just an approximation. Do you guys agree?

rent 1,500
electricity 125
phone 40
cable 90
groceries 300
Entertainment 600
subway 90
Transportation (others) 150
health related expenses, e.g., pharmacy 120
Total 3,015

is it in $?

Yes, american dollars.

700 dollars a month? For rent and electricity? Wow that is low. Do you pay that for rent? Groceries and entertainment are a bit high, but I don't plan to cook a lot so I'll be eating out... Let's say spending 15 dollars a day that's about 450 dollars for food. Entertainment includes not only going out (cinema, museum, or smth) but also buying things or paying for unexpected expenses (like a trip, let's say, or a happy hour). I don't know. That's an approximation. I don't think that is a party course. Do you really think so?

depends on if you want to share a flat or live alone. A flat downtown shared with 2/3 people will be 900$ ( tax included ). if you want to live alone in the same area 1700 $ will be necessary...
Parties are not that expensive, i mean you can have a lot of students parties and so on and you can easily find a way to take part of the night life for not a lot if you know some people there, and you will cause youre there with a lot of students..
but what is expensive is food if you do not plan to eat burgers and pizzas only..
then theatre and so on are expensive as well..

you can travel around the us by bus ( chinese ones ) and it is not that expensive, plus i think tht the univ will organise trips as well..

i dont know where you are from but if you already live in a big city it is almost the same + as you are new you ll have to add "the discovery things"..

So do you think food is expensive? I don't think eating McDonald's everyday will be the answer to eat cheap :))))

Adding all those "the discovery things" will be expensive IMHO. I don't plan to go to parties, but I will be in NYC so I would like at least to go to one broadway show or at least to see one cultural thing (concert or an opera).

I mean, I won't be there to party, but I am also looking forward to enjoying some cultural options the city has to offer.

I can cut let's say a 1,000 dollars from my budget calculations but I don't think that is a safe approach because let's face it once you are there you will have to make ends meet and it won't be easy if you are not working. Anyway, this is silly I don't think is helping.

What about living in the University housing? Do you think that's a good option?

That's a good option if there are vacancies.. But the least you are going to pay is about the same as if you were sharing an apt with some friends. At least considering the prices in Columbia's website (http://facilities.columbia.edu/housing/types-accommodations-0#MorningsideHeights).

At NYU, around 1.800/month....
I'm sure you can find something cheaper outside the "campus". But is it really worth it?
I mean NYU housing seem pretty comfortable, it is located just by the law school, in a nice area in manhattan and you probably get to know your colleagues better. Or am I wrong to think like that?