Budgeting for life abroad, beyond tuition

Tuition gets all the attention in study-abroad budgeting. It's rarely the number that catches students off guard once they've actually moved.

Rent varies more than tuition does

Two students paying identical tuition at the same university can have living costs that differ by 50% depending on whether they live on-campus, share a flat, or rent alone near the city centre.

Groceries add up faster than takeout

Cooking at home is usually cheaper than eating out, but the upfront cost of stocking a kitchen — pots, pans, basic spices — is a real expense in your first month that's easy to forget when budgeting.

Transport passes pay for themselves

Most university cities offer discounted student transport passes. Buying one in your first week, rather than paying per trip while you figure out the system, is almost always cheaper over a semester.

Build in a buffer for the first month

Deposits, registration fees, and the gap before your first local bank account is active all land in the same few weeks. Budget for a rougher first month than the rest of the year.