Cost of Living in St. Louis for Students

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St Louis has a distinctive Midwestern friendliness to it and fosters a supportive environment for international students. It is diverse, and welcoming and has the fastest-growing foreign-born population, making it a multicultural city. St Louis is not just beautiful, but it is safe to live in, budget-friendly and offers students life quality with green spaces, great food, and music senses.

Is St. Louis a student city?

St. Louis is a college town, therefore making it a student city. It is home to about a 3rd of the 50 colleges and universities in the US. According to reports by LinkedIn, St. Louis is one of the top 15 cities to start recent graduates. Apart from being affordable, students graduating from universities in St. Louis have great career opportunities as it is home to 14 Fortune 1000 companies.

Is St. Louis affordable for international students?

St. Louis is one of the most affordable out of the 25 most metropolis areas. The cost of living in St. Louis is $1,100 – $2,000 per month, excluding tuition fees. Your monthly expenses will entail the cost of rent, food, transportation, and other miscellaneous expenses.

For more personalized information, use our cost of living calculator to estimate your desired area’s average cost of living.

Please bear in mind that the cost of living in this city will depend upon your lifestyle.

Before we list the details of the cost of living in St. Louis, let’s summarize its cost.

Expenses	Cost (Average)
Average Tuition Fees	$22,000 – $52,000 /Year
Accommodation	$850 – $1,600 /Month
Local transport	$100 /Month

Is it expensive to study in St. Louis, US?

Since it holds the name of being a college town, there are many public and private universities in St. Louis to choose from, offering UG and PG programs. The cost of tuition fees in public universities will differ from those of private ones. Therefore, the fee will depend on the program, course, and university you choose to study. Below is only an average amount given for UG and PG program fees; please check in with your university for the same.

Undergraduate Tuition Fee	Post-Graduate Tuition Fee
$35,000 – $52,000 /Year	$22,000 – $44,500 /Year

Is it expensive to rent in St. Louis?

The cost of student accommodation in St. Louis will depend upon the type of accommodation. There are many student housing in St. Louis that offer student rooms and student apartments, too. Below are the three types of accommodation in St Louis options available to choose as your student home.

Student Housing

Student housing in St. Louis offers many benefits such as location proximity, affordability, more room options, community building, and amenities.

Most of the accommodations are at a distance of under 3 miles. While the ones outside of the city center are up to 20 miles.

Student Housing	Price
Ensuite/ Studio	$850 – $1,200 /Month

Private Apartment

Student apartment in St. Louis is a great way of living for students. It is an off-campus accommodation located close to the university campus, offers furnished apartments equipped with modern amenities and inclusive of utility bills.

Student Apartment	Price
Private	$1,300 – $1,600 /Month

University Halls

These are residence halls, which are on-campus and provide rooms, planned meals, and basic amenities with less privacy. It is usually more expensive than private student accommodation in St. Louis.

University Hall	Price
Ensuite/ Studio	$1,100 – $1,500 /Month

What is the average food cost in St. Louis?

It depends upon your lifestyle, eating, and spending habits. On average, the cost of groceries will cost you $380 per month. If you plan to eat outside, the cost of a meal in a mid-range restaurant will cost $30 per person, while eating at local eateries and cafes or drinking in local pubs may be slightly cheaper.

What is the cost of electricity in St. Louis, US?

Student accommodation includes utility bills in rent like water, gas, wi-fi, heating, cooling, CCTV, etc. The average cost of electricity in St. Louis is $150 per month.

How to get around St. Louis?

The best and cheapest way to get around St. Louis is by bus and rails. The bus is easy to get around the city, The Hill, Soulard, and Tower Grove. A one-way bus ride will cost $2.40 per person. The light rail is easy to get around town with a starting fare of $3 per ride.

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