Top 10 Most Affordable College Towns In The US
With their young, vibrant vibe, thrilling athletics, and abundance of job opportunities, college towns are appealing places to settle down.
WalletHub evaluated 415 cities of various sizes with a college or university population of at least 7,500 students to determine the most affordable college towns. Housing costs, monthly fitness club fees, the average price of pizza, burgers, movies, and bowling, and the cost of higher education were all used to rank the cities.
School: University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley
According to WalletHub’s “Best College Towns and Cities in America” study, Edinburg, home to the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, is the most budget-friendly college town. We recommend a monthly budget of around £900 in Edinburgh, excluding tuition fees, to cover your rent, essential expenses, and socializing. This will vary depending on the type of accommodation you choose and your lifestyle, so keep this in mind when budgeting.
In comparison to the rest of the UK, student housing in Edinburgh is a little different. There are more flats than houses here, so don’t be surprised if you have 9 housemates. On the plus side, UniAcco has some of the best student accommodations in Edinburgh, with students able to select from a variety of room configurations such as en-suite rooms, studio rooms, and student flats in Edinburgh. A 5 bedroom flat in the city center will cost between £516 and £711 per month on average. Edinburgh offers a distinct blend of historical charm and modern convenience. The city is well-known for its beautiful architecture, picturesque landscapes, and vibrant cultural scene.
School: South Dakota State University
The estimated annual cost for international students attending South Dakota State University in 2023-2024 is as follows. Tuition, fees, and room and board charges are subject to annual changes published by the South Dakota Board of Regents, with annual increases of up to 5% expected.
Expense
Undergraduate
15 credit hours/semester
Graduate
9 credit hours/semester
Graduate, with Assistantship
9 credit hours/semester
Tuition*
$5,642
$5,886
–
Program Fee
–
–
–
General Activity Fee
$50.85/credit hour
$763
$458
$458
International Student Fee
$150
$150
$150
Residence Hall
Based on Mathews, Pierson, Young
or Hansen Halls (double occupancy)
$2,311
$3,000**
$3,000**
Premier Meal Plan
$2,127
$2,100**
$2,100**
Books
$575
$575
$575
Other
Includes estimate for transportation and other incidental costs
$740
$740
$740
Semester tuition, fees, and living costs
$12,308
$12,909
$7,023
Yearly Health Insurance (Mandatory)***
$708
$708
$708
Annual Cost of Attendance (2 semesters)
$25,324
$26,526
$14,754
School: University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley
Brownsville, Texas has a BestPlaces Cost of Living index of 74.9, indicating that the total cost of housing, food, child care, transportation, health care, taxes, and other necessities is 25.1 percent lower than the national average but 20.5 percent higher than the Texas average. The average home costs $162,600, which is 51.9 percent less than the national average of $338,100 and 45.4 percent less than the average Texas home, which costs $297,600. Brownsville rents a two-bedroom unit for $910 per month, which is 36.4 percent higher than the national average of $1,430 and 40.7 percent higher than the state average of $1,280.
A minimum annual income of $31,320 for a family and $28,800 for a single person is recommended to live comfortably in Brownsville, Texas.
Our cost of living indices are based on a 100-point scale in the United States. A value less than 100 indicates that Brownsville is less expensive than the national average. Brownsville, Texas is more expensive if the cost of living index exceeds 100.
READ MORE: Top 15+ Cheapest and Affordable Degrees for Addiction Studies In the US Today
University: Utah State University
Logan, Utah received a BestPlaces Cost of Living index of 102.2, indicating that the total cost of housing, food, child care, transportation, health care, taxes, and other necessities is 2.2 percent higher than the national average and 10.5 percent higher than the Utah average.
The average home costs $358,500, which is 6.0 percent more than the national average of $338,100 and 29.8 percent less than the average Utah home, which costs $510,600. Logan rents a two-bedroom unit for $950 per month, which is 33.6 percent higher than the national average of $1,430 and 34.7 percent higher than the state average of $1,280.
A minimum annual income of $68,760 for a family and $30,800 for a single person is recommended to live comfortably in Logan, Utah.
School: South Texas College
McAllen, TX has a lower cost of living than the state average and a lower cost of living than the national average. McAllen, TX housing is 44% less expensive than the national average, while utilities are about 6% higher. When it comes to basic necessities like food and clothing, McAllen, TX is about 10% cheaper than the rest of the country, while clothing is about 10% cheaper.
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry are 23% cheaper here than in the United States. At the same time, non-essential expenses like entertainment and grooming services are 10% less expensive in McAllen, TX.
School: Stephen F. Austin State University
The average cost of living in Nacogdoches is $1481, ranking it 3209th out of 9294 in our global list, 2085th out of 2202 in the United States, and 123rd out of 130 in Texas State.
The average after-tax salary is $5403, which covers living expenses for 3.6 months. Ranked 4773rd (TOP 51%) on the list of best places to live in the world, 1774th best city to live in the US, and 96th most liveable city in Texas State. Nacogdoches is the 1399th largest city in the United States, with a population of 32.1K.
School: Miami University
Oxford has an average cost of living of $1657, placing it in the top 27% of the world’s most expensive cities. It is ranked 2466th out of 9294 in our global list, 1901st out of 2202 in the United States, and 54th out of 89 in Ohio.
The average after-tax salary is $3773, which covers living expenses for 2.3 months. Ranked 3754th (TOP 40%) in the world’s best places to live list, 1285th best city to live in the United States, and 65th most liveable city in Ohio. Oxford is the 1937th largest city in the United States, with a population of approximately 23,000.
School: Idaho’s Brigham Young University
Rexburg, Idaho has a BestPlaces Cost of Living index of 93.4, indicating that the total cost of housing, food, child care, transportation, health care, taxes, and other necessities is 6.6 percent less than the national average and 11.5 percent less than the state average.
A typical home costs $392,000, which is 15.9% more than the national average of $338,100 and 11.9 percent less than the average Idaho home, which costs $445,000. A two-bedroom apartment in Rexburg costs $770 per month, which is 46.2% more than the national average of $1,430 and 45.5% more than the state average of $1,120.
A minimum annual income of $75,240 for a family and $26,400 for a single person is recommended to live comfortably in Rexburg, Idaho.
School: Texas A&M University in Central Texas
Killeen has an average cost of living of $1516, placing it in the top 33% of the world’s most expensive cities. It is ranked 3060th out of 9294 in our global list, 2062nd out of 2202 in the United States, and 122nd out of 130 in Texas State.
The average after-tax salary is $4187, which covers living expenses for 2.8 months. Ranked 3599th (TOP 39%) among the best places to live in the world, 1209th best city to live in the United States, and 72nd most liveable city in Texas State. Killeen is the 182nd largest city in the United States, with a population of approximately 153,500 people.
School: Georgia Southern University
Statesboro, Georgia has a BestPlaces Cost of Living index of 79.3, indicating that the total cost of housing, food, child care, transportation, health care, taxes, and other necessities is 20.7 percent lower than the national average but 16.1 percent higher than the Georgia average.
A typical home costs $224,100, which is 33.7% less than the national average of $338,100 and 27.3 percent less than the average Georgia home, which costs $308,200. Statesboro rents a two-bedroom unit for $850 per month, which is 40.6 percent higher than the national average of $1,430 and 50.6 percent higher than the state average of $1,280.
A minimum annual income of $42,840 for a family and $27,200 for a single person is recommended to live comfortably in Statesboro, Georgia.
Please consider these towns if you are looking for an affordable place to study. We have information on living and studying costs that you may find useful.
Plan a trip to Europe? Which factor do you consider the most when planning a trip to this continent? We are sure one of them …
Explore the 10 best public universities and colleges in the US in 2024, according to rankings by The Wall Street Journal. The information in the …
Find out the top 20 most prestigious public colleges across the nation in the U.S. News & World Report list of best universities after the …