Cost of Living in the U.S.

Funds on Arrival

It is estimated that new students and scholars will need access to at least $3,000-5,000 (US dollars) for their immediate expenses upon arrival. This amount will help to cover costs such as:

• Short-term housing
• Security deposit for off-campus housing rental
• First month’s rent for off-campus housing rental
• Furnishing for room or apartment
• Food
• Transportation
• Personal expenses

We recommend that you arrive in the US with a credit or debit card or a certain amount of cash on hand to get you through the first few months. Be sure to check the US Customs and Borders’ regulations on how much cash you can bring into the US.

For students who have a teaching or graduate assistantship with a stipend, the first assistantship stipend check is usually issued a few weeks after the semester has begun. Stipend payments are also usually spread out throughout the school year.  

Dependent Costs

Students and scholars are required to show adequate funding when requesting an I-20 or DS-2019 for their dependents. The costs for dependent health insurance, medical care, and childcare can be very expensive.

Emergency Funds

Students and scholars should set aside some money for unexpected expenses such as medical bills, car repairs, replacing a laptop, etc.

Travel

Travel costs may include:

• Flight tickets
• Travel within the US (e.g., visiting family, sightseeing)
• Travel to conferences or networking events
• Travel to off-campus employment/internship site. Note that international students must have work authorization before they start working.

Transportation

Students and scholars may ride the Williamsburg public bus for free with their university ID. However, the frequency of the buses is reduced during the nights and weekends. Consequently, those who live further from campus often rely on rideshares (Uber or Lyft) in the evenings or weekends.

Public transportation and rideshare options are very limited in Gloucester, where VIMS is located. Most VIMS students and scholars find that it is more convenient to have a car.

If you plan to drive to campus, you will need a parking permit to park on campus.

See our transportation page for additional information.

Health Care Costs

Students: The university requires all full-time undergraduate and graduate students and all F-1 or J-1 international students to have health insurance coverage throughout the entire school year as a condition of enrollment due to the extremely high cost of health care and the importance of adequate health insurance coverage.

Scholars: Federal law requires all persons in J-1 and J-2 (dependent) status maintain adequate health insurance for the duration of their stay in the US that meets specific requirements. 

Even with health insurance, patients will usually pay a copay when receiving medical care. A copay is a fixed amount of money that a patient with health insurance pays for a covered health care service. Copays are a form of cost-sharing between the patient and their insurance provider.

Taxable Income

There are many different sources of potential taxable income for students, such as earnings from a job or internship, scholarships, assistantship stipend, etc. Review the Internal Revenue Guidelines about what parts of a scholarship or grant are taxable. If the income is taxable, the taxes will be deducted from your paycheck, scholarship, etc.

Electronics

Students will need to supply their own laptops. Check W&M IT for laptop recommendations and for software that are available to students.

Students and scholars will also need to budget for the cost of having a cell (mobile) phone.

Clothes

Williamsburg and Gloucester have a range of temperatures, typically hot and humid in the summer (around 80°F/27°C) and cold in the winter (around 40°F/4.5°C). It is also quite rainy at times.

Those coming from a warmer climate may need to invest in cold weather clothes (e.g., coat, gloves, boots).

Students will need professional attire for job interviews, conferences, networking events, etc.

Summer & Winter Expenses

Additional summer expenses for students may include tuition and fees for summer courses, room and board, and books.

Most student graduate assistantship stipends are only for 9 months (fall and spring semesters), therefore, students receiving assistantships may need additional funds to cover living expenses during the summer. 

Most undergraduate student residential halls will be closed for winter break. Students will need to make plans for alternate housing if they remain in the US over winter break.

Those with school-age children may need to pay for child care or enroll their children in summer programs (e.g., summer camps) during the summer break.

Entertainment

Entertainment means fun, optional activities, such as going to the movies, paying for a streaming service, eating out or traveling. Students and scholars can save on entertainment costs by taking advantage of the many free things to do on campus and in the community.