8 ms·

At many colleges, it is way cheaper to stay in an big apartment than in a cramped dorm. At Berkeley, I saved thousands and thousands of dollars by living off ca

At many colleges, it is way cheaper to stay in an big apartment than in a cramped dorm. At Berkeley, I saved thousands and thousands of dollars by living off campus in a pretty big apartment with a "flatmate" but not a "roommate".

odonnellryan 11y ago
Really? How much is dorming? I'll relate it to Stevens by me (closest I can get to a similar cost of living). Single Room Rate: $5,035 per semester Cheapest rent I can find is 3K a month for a 3BR in Hoboken (same town as the college). Sure you can live outside town for probably around 2K a month rent for a 3BR until you get so far that it isn't worth it anymore. Add in utilities and food (meal plan may no longer be effective since you're off campus) and let's say it is 3500 per month for three people. Let's say about 1100 a person. You need to do a year lease, at least, generally. So that's 13K + per person for an off-campus by several miles (so a 20-30 min train or bus ride) VS 10K for two semesters. You do have more control so maybe you can save a few bucks, but I don't see thousands?
- jonsterling 11y ago
  Room and board for a year at UC Berkeley is $14,388. That's for nine months (June, July & August you have to vacate, IIRC). So, that's about $1,600 per month. On the other hand, I lived in a fairly spacious apartment with one flat-mate; my half of the rent was $700. I don't remember how much I spent on food, but it was probably around $200 per month; utilities another $100. The apartment was a 20 minute walk from campus. So, off campus expenses for a living far more comfortable than cramped dorm life was about $1000 per month. Over the course of the three years it took me to complete my degree, that means I saved about $16,200 ($600 saved per month, 9 months per year, for three years). [That's "thousands and thousands".]
  - odonnellryan 11y ago
    1,400 that close to campus?! That's crazy!
    - jonsterling 11y ago
      Yeah! We did really well; your mileage may vary, but at the time I was there, you could definitely get a 2-3 bedroom apartment within 1.5mi of campus for less than 2000. I was in Elmwood (a nice little area right on the border of Oakland). Not sure how it is now (but it has only been a few years).
      - odonnellryan 11y ago
        That's pretty cool. Well done!

odonnellryan 11y ago

Really? How much is dorming? I'll relate it to Stevens by me (closest I can get to a similar cost of living). Single Room Rate: $5,035 per semester Cheapest rent I can find is 3K a month for a 3BR in Hoboken (same town as the college). Sure you can live outside town for probably around 2K a month rent for a 3BR until you get so far that it isn't worth it anymore. Add in utilities and food (meal plan may no longer be effective since you're off campus) and let's say it is 3500 per month for three people. Let's say about 1100 a person. You need to do a year lease, at least, generally. So that's 13K + per person for an off-campus by several miles (so a 20-30 min train or bus ride) VS 10K for two semesters. You do have more control so maybe you can save a few bucks, but I don't see thousands?

jonsterling 11y ago
Room and board for a year at UC Berkeley is $14,388. That's for nine months (June, July & August you have to vacate, IIRC). So, that's about $1,600 per month. On the other hand, I lived in a fairly spacious apartment with one flat-mate; my half of the rent was $700. I don't remember how much I spent on food, but it was probably around $200 per month; utilities another $100. The apartment was a 20 minute walk from campus. So, off campus expenses for a living far more comfortable than cramped dorm life was about $1000 per month. Over the course of the three years it took me to complete my degree, that means I saved about $16,200 ($600 saved per month, 9 months per year, for three years). [That's "thousands and thousands".]
- odonnellryan 11y ago
  1,400 that close to campus?! That's crazy!
  - jonsterling 11y ago
    Yeah! We did really well; your mileage may vary, but at the time I was there, you could definitely get a 2-3 bedroom apartment within 1.5mi of campus for less than 2000. I was in Elmwood (a nice little area right on the border of Oakland). Not sure how it is now (but it has only been a few years).
    - odonnellryan 11y ago
      That's pretty cool. Well done!