The United States is one of the top choices of immigrants when choosing a place to live. For the longest time, this country remains as one of the most influential in the world. America will always be the “land of dreams” where people dream to live the life that they want. Yes, it has become a melting pot of cultures since people from all over have already found their place here.
Let us take a quick look at the cost of living in the United States.
At present, there had been some economic problems such as the recession which has greatly caused the country to suffer economically. Still, this has never stopped the people from moving here. One thing that people have to learn about the United States is that this is different from what you may see on TV. Life in US is complex and diverse. With a large land area, you will find it very interesting that the states here are different from one another in terms of economy, culture and environment. Living here, you may find life to be a little exciting for you.
The USD ($) is one of the most powerful currencies in the world. When it comes to trading, you may find it together with the Euro and other currencies being traded. The rate of 1 USD is around 1.45 Euros and 1.63 GBP. There is no generalization when it comes to the cost of living in the United States because depending on where you live, you may find life to be expensive or pretty cheap.
Housing Costs
Housing is not a problem when you choose to move here. There are so many real estate agents that are willing to help you choose a house where you can live in. Houses usually cost around $200,000 to $1M here in the United States which can be a little expensive so there are mortgages and such paying options. If you want, you can always have an apartment that you can rent. Depending on the location that you choose, you can have a cheap and expensive rate. For the cheaper apartments, you can find some at $100 to $250 per month. In bigger cities, high-end apartments cost around $1000 to $3000 per month.
Transportation Costs
Driving you care is the best way to get around in the United States especially when taking long trips. There are also domestic airports that bring you from one state to the other. Gas prices are around $2.50 to $3.00 per gallon. Taxi cabs are also available here so you can take a cab when you are in hurry. For air fares, there are a lot of discount air lines that are found here. You can check out these so that you can more or less save when you have to go from one state to another by plane.
The bus system is a convenient way of travelling. There are a couple of buses that travel within the city or the states. This is a cheap way if travelling when you are in the country. There are also interstate buses as well as trains that travel in the United States. You can choose your way whenever you want to travel to one destination to another.
For your transportation expenses, you may need to spend around $150 to $250 per month depending on which route you take. But there are so many public transportation systems here so you will it more convenient.
Average Cost of Monthly Utilities
One thing that you can get when you live here is that there are some apartments which already provide you with electricity. Sometimes, the rent will already cover the electricity and utilities bill. If not, you can set a budget around $50 to $100 per month. But remember that electricity bills can go high depending on how often you use it. Stay away from appliances that use too much electricity.
As for other expenses, you may or may not choose to have them. Local landline bills may cost around $20 per month. For internet you can pay around $20 to $40 per month. Sometimes, internet companies offer internet connections with cable TV so you may want to check out things from time to time.
Cost of Maid Services
Maid service or housekeeping is one thing that is very expensive here. If you want to hire one, you can expect to pay them around $500 to $1000 per week. This is something that is really expensive especially if you are on a budget. You might not need one all the time so think carefully whenever you hire a maid service.
Cost for Food and Drinks
Food and drinks are practically cheaper in the United States. Grocery expenses reach up to $200 to $300 per month for food and drinks. Eating out is quite cheap when you are in the United States since there are a lot of fast food chains here. You can find yourself spending around $2 to $10 per day for your food. This is why it is very enjoyable to eat out when you are here.
Healthcare Costs
Healthcare is something that the United States boasts. With a first-class quality here, you will be sure that your health is taken care of here. For most people, these medical services are very expensive. But with health insurance, you can save a lot when it comes to your hospital bills. Health insurance costs around $150 to $200 a month. You can choose get one if you really want to be sure of your health.
Costs for Clothing
Shopping is very cheap in the United States. There are so many department stores that sell retail brands. You may find that there are high end stores here but there are also cheap stores here. Clothing expenses will never be a problem because there are so many affordable places where you can shop.
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