Ideal Cost of Living in San Francisco for International Students

Visiting San Francisco at least once in a lifetime is a dream of many people. This astonishing city has allured people from around the world. Besides, many students from different corners of the world come to this fabulous city to acquire higher education. The University of California, San Francisco is a major institution in this city. 

When students come to this city, their need has to be to manage their living expenses. So, it will be good for them to know about the living expenses in this city in advance. Here, you will read about the costs of some significant things in San Francisco, which will help you in this regard. 

Cost of Accommodation 

Student accommodation San Francisco is a major requirement for students coming to this city. Accommodations are available in different price ranges in San Francisco. There are different housing options available for students in this city. 

On-campus accommodation is chosen by many students. Their prices vary depending on the college or university you have chosen. You can get on-campus accommodation in San Francisco between $8,000 and $18,000 per month. 

You also have the option to rent off-campus student housing San Francisco. Many students like to rent off-campus accommodations in nearby cities such as Richmond, Berkley, and Oakland. Here, you can get accommodation at much cheaper rates compared to the on-campus accommodation in San Francisco. You can get accommodation between $790 per month and $14,060 per month. 

Apart from the on-campus and off-campus properties designed for students, you can also rent a room in a private apartment in San Francisco. The price of an apartment room starts from $1,500 per month. You can get a high-priced apartment accommodation at around $5,000 in San Francisco. 

An affordable option for students in San Francisco is homestay. Some families in San Francisco vacate a part of their houses for students. The prices of homestays in San Francisco range from $38 per night to $200 per night. On a per-month basis, you can get a homestay accommodation from $950 to $1,400. 

Cost of Food 

Numerous students in San Francisco visit restaurants for eating out on their weekends or in other spare time. So, the cost of food in the restaurant is part of the living expenses of students. In an inexpensive restaurant, you can have a meal at $25. Meals for two people in San Francisco can be acquired at $120. You can visit McDonalds to have McMeal, which is available at $12. 

Costs of Groceries 

Groceries are the everyday items to prepare foods. You will need them in your daily life, so we are mentioning the prices of some of the grocery items here. 

Regular milk (1 liter): $1.59  

Loaf of fresh white bread (500 grams): $4.92  

White rice (1 kg): $6.90 

Local cheese (1 kg): $23.05 

Water (1.5 liter bottle): $2.54 

Apples (1 kg): $7.05 

Bananas (1 kg): $3.24  

Oranges (1 kg): $5.60  

Tomatoes (1 kg): $8.12  

Potatoes (1 kg): $4.61  

Onions (1 kg): $4.04  

Lettuce (1 head): $3.03 

Price of Transportation 

You would like to visit different places during your years of study in San Francisco. Besides, if your accommodation is at some distance from your university or college, then you will need it on a daily basis. Let’s have a look at the price of transportation in San Francisco. 

1. Bus/Streetcar 

You can get a Muni monthly pass at $86 for unlimited rides on Muni buses, streetcars, and light rail. Muni refers to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. 

2. Ride-Sharing (Uber/Lyft) 

Short rides may cost between $8.00 and $15.00. 

3. Biking 

Bay Wheels Bike Share: 

Costs of Utility Bills 

In some accommodations, utilities can be part of the rent. But, still, you may need to pay the bills in some of the apartments. For the basic utilities, which include electricity, heating, cooling, water, and garbage, you need to pay the total amount of $255.08 for an 85m2 apartment. The monthly mobile plan with calls and 10GB+ data is available here at $54.42. You can buy 60 Mbps or more internet with unlimited data at $63.85. 

Costs of Sports and Leisure 

Here are the costs of sports and leisure in San Francisco. 

The monthly fee of a fitness club for an adult: $95.75  

Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend): $18.20  

One seat in cinema for international release: $17 

Final Thoughts 

The above-mentioned price ranges show that the cost of living in San Francisco is high. According to reports, it is 84% higher than the national average. Still, there are ways through which you can reduce the living expenses in San Francisco up to some extent. You can choose the affordable options in accommodations and consult online portals. You can also choose to rent accommodation in the nearby cities. The above-mentioned ones are the tentative prices, which may change with the passage of time.