As US is a home to many world famous cities, it is also housing many small cities. There is no wonder the cost of living here in US ranges from a few thousand dollars(<$2000) in one city spanning to several thousand dollars(>$4000) in another city.

Cost of living in east coast and the extreme west coast(New York, Boston, San Fransisco, Los Angeles to name a few) is relatively high, compared to cities in the southern central part of USA. Cost of living depends upon several cost factors like place of residence, housing or apartment rents, auto insurance and health insurance, state taxes, food and utilities etc.

Cost of living is the consolidated expenses of accomodation, utilities, food and living, transportation etc. In our sample data, we will consider the normal expenses of a family of two living in a moderate city. Considering the federal, state taxes and the health insurance are debited automatically from your pay slip, we have excluded these in our sample.

* All prices are estimated.

Sample Monthly Expenses:

Expense Description	Monthly Expense Cost($)
Apartment Rent(One bed room)	500-800
Electricity	100
Home Telephone	40
Cell Phone	40
Cable TV	50
Internet(High speed or Cable)	50
Food & Grocery	300
If you have purchased a new car on loan for 5 years	350
Auto(Car) Insurance	100
Gas(Petrol) for Car	100
Laundry	50
Apartment Rental Insurance	10

Sample Annual Expenses:

Expense Description	Annual Expense Cost($)
Car Tag(License) Renewal	100
Car(Emission Test)	40

All visitors are subject to federal and state income tax on U.S.-source income, as well as on most grants and scholarships. In certain cases, particularly if your stay in the United States exceeds a certain number of years, you may be subject to income tax on your worldwide income. The extent of your tax liability for that income, however, varies significantly depending on numerous factors, including your tax status as either a resident or nonresident taxpayer. Tax status is different than immigration status. You may find that you are treated as a nonresident for immigration purposes and a resident for tax purposes.