How much does it cost to study abroad?

Money. That’s usually the first thing people think about when they hear the words “study abroad”, and sadly, it can turn many students away from incredible adventures because they think it’s too expensive. While studying abroad certainly requires funding, it can be much more doable than people think. In this post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the cost of studying abroad.

The first step to your study abroad budget is to look at the total cost — every single dollar you’ll need. That total cost includes everything from the program fees, to basic needs like food, shelter, and utilities to travel-specific costs like airfare, visas, and insurance … and you can’t forget a souvenir or two while exploring a new place! So let’s break it down:

The Basics:

Housing options vary by program and might be homestays, a residence hall or dorm, or an apartment. Some programs even offer all three for you to choose from.
Food might be a meal plan at the cafeteria or buying ingredients and cooking meals on your own. A homestay may also include one to three meals per day.
Clothing includes laundry costs and any clothes you buy while abroad, as well as luggage overage fees if you bring too many clothes.
Utilities like electricity, garbage, and internet can vary greatly across programs. Something like a dorm might be all-inclusive, while an apartment might have additional charges for utilities.
Communication requires a little research with your phone company. Can you use your current phone and just get a foreign SIM card, or will you purchase a phone in your host country to use while you’re there?
Health insurance may be included. Some countries require that you purchase national health insurance, or insurance might be included in your program’s or host institution’s fees. Regardless, it’s important to maintain your health insurance at home in case of emergencies.
Program fees are also unique to each program.

Travel Costs:

Airfare can be a group or individual flight. While group flights purchased through USAC’s partner, Frosch Student Travel, might cost a bit more, they come with excellent insurance and support in case of delays or cancellations. Purchasing flights on your own might save you money, but consider all contingencies to make sure you won’t lose money.
Local travel includes all the in-city or in-country travel you do and might be a bus card, train tickets, taxis, or even something like tuk-tuks in Thailand. How much you spend on local travel will depend on how far your residence is from campus and how often you explore your host city or country.
Travel to and from your program site. Some programs include this travel while others do not. USAC will offer guidance regardless, but know that some programs might require you to purchase a bus or train ticket on-site to get to your host campus or call a taxi to get across the city. The cost will depend on how far you’re traveling — in my case, when I arrived in South Korea, I had to purchase a bus ticket at the airport to get to Gwangju, and then get a taxi from the bus station to my campus.
Insurance is something to consider. Do your research to figure out what will match your situation best, if certain travel or flight insurance will be important for you, or if you need something specific on top of the insurance you already have.
A student visa is permission from the host country to enter the country as a student, and is usually a stamp or sticker in your passport. Visa costs vary greatly — some countries have very expensive visas, while other countries are inexpensive or even free. Some countries require in-person visa appointments, which require you to go to the consulate in person to obtain your visa (which may mean planning a trip to another state). However, USAC offers a batch processing service where you can send your passport and application materials to USAC, and they will attend your appointment on your behalf. This can save you a lot of money if you otherwise would be traveling to the consulate.
A passport is required to travel internationally. If you don’t have one, you’ll need to factor in the cost of a new passport into your study abroad budget. If you already have one, make sure it won’t expire for at least six months after your return from study abroad — and then factor the renewal cost into your budget.

Living Abroad:

Personal expenses is a broad category covering everything from basics like toothpaste and sunscreen to museum tickets, souvenirs, eating out, and shopping. Essentially, this category includes all the LIVING that you will do abroad, which can often include a lot more exploring than we typically do at home.
Textbooks and classroom supplies will vary depending on the classes you’re taking, as well as if you can rent or purchase used textbooks.

Add up the estimated cost for each category, and that’s your total cost of study abroad. If you’re freaking out now, take a deep breath and remember that USAC has interactive budget sheets. These incredible budget sheets are unique to each program and show you exactly how costs break down, including price ranges to help you see both the low- and high-end costs to expect, and costs that are required, as well those that might be optional. Rather than pulling out a calculator, try out the budget sheets to estimate your total study abroad cost.

So what now? Play around with USAC’s interactive budget sheets for the programs you’re considering and read the FAQs. Different cities in the same country might have different costs, so be open-minded as you choose a destination.

In my case, I discovered that a yearlong program in Gwangju was cheaper than a semester in Seoul, and I was willing to study in a city I hadn’t originally planned on in order to have a longer experience abroad (and I have ZERO regrets).

Melissa Beals studied abroad in Gwangju, South Korea at Chonnam National University for the 2023-2024 academic year. Her experience abroad was one of the most life-changing, growing, and fun experiences she’s ever had, and she dream of returning to Korea one day for grad school and eating lots of bindaetteok and soondubujjigae again. She is excited to share her insights on budgeting and study abroad, not only to inspire students that they can afford to study abroad, too, but also to offer real-life examples of what spending money looks like when you’re living in another country.

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