Best Accommodation at York University?

One month expenses in New York for university student?

• So, I'm about to start university in New York and I'm an international student. I plan to have a $600 budget per month (excluding accommodation). So here's my calculation: Food (groceries & eating out): $150 Shampoo, soap, toothpaste etc: $50 Books & stationaries: $150 Transportation (MTA unlimited pass): $104 Total: $454 That way, I'll have $146 left for shopping and going to the movies or something like that. Is it enough? Or is my calculation off?

• Answer:

  Tl;dr: I think it's enough money, but more on food, less on transport, less on stationery (and of course, excluding rent, which will more than double your budget). Maybe a little more for food, depending on how often you eat out. (Expect to spend at least $10-$15 if you want to eat at a sit-down restaurant, after tax and tip – and $150 only leaves you $5 a day for food.) I'm a university student, but I'm on a meal plan, so I'll defer to others on eating cheaply. Be very wary, though, especially if you planned on eating in restaurants a lot. $50 seems like an awful lot to spend on toiletries every month, but I'm male, so I'll let you use your discretion on that. I advise you to not buy the unlimited pass, especially if you're living in a school dorm. If you're not commuting daily, then there's no point in buying one. You have to take 6 round-trips a week for it to be less expensive than paying per ride. I live on campus, so I ride the subway twice a week, if that. Consider getting an EasyPay MetroCard instead, if you just don't want to think about it. It re-loads automatically from your credit card, but you only pay for what you use. I don't think it's good to think about books as a monthly purchase. Better to consider them up-front like your tuition, especially if you'll need them from the first day of class. I usually spend about $350 on books a semester, but I'm not very good at saving money, so if you don't buy them at the school bookstore, you can definitely get them cheaper. As for stationery, the only thing I ever purchase on a monthly basis would be new pens, which cost me like $2 at the drugstore. I spent quite a bit on new notebooks and papers and a stapler and things at the beginning of the semester, but nowhere near $150. More things to consider: Cell phone bill (including international calls!)? Are utilities and internet included where you're living? Insurance? Will you have enough savings for emergencies? Are there any medications you need to buy? Remember that in America, the government doesn't pay for you to go to the doctor when you get sick, so that can get really expensive really fast. Best of luck to you in your studies!