Is It Cheaper to Commute or Live Near Campus in NYC?

Overview

It is a known fact that being one of the top two global cities, New York City is one of the most expensive cities in the world. In that case, many international students ask whether it is cheaper to commute or live near the campus in NYC. As a matter of fact, NYC hosts numerous international students every year and this question is quite obvious. In this article, you will get the answer to this question in the sections below.

Hybrid Living Options

Hybrid living options are available in NYC, which are one of the most convenient options. Students can choose accommodations located far from the city center and universities, so they can get them at low costs. But, you should always remember that the accommodation should be near the easy transport links or routes. Besides, you can live near the university or city center in shared accommodation to reduce your rent. It is because when you share accommodation with one or more co-residents, you only need to pay a part of the rent since the rent is equally split among all occupants.

Time vs. Money

“Time vs. Money” is the aspect to which students must pay attention. Sometimes, you may find cheap accommodation far from your university but in that case, you may have to spend a lot of time on commuting. It may impact the time you have to give to your studies and other activities. Moreover, if you are living so far, some of the money you have saved may be spent on transportation.

So, you need to keep a balanced approach in this regard. You can get accommodation far from the university to save your money but it should not be so far. Besides, as stated in the previous section also, there should be easy transport links and travel routes to your university.

Commuting from Outside NYC

You can also choose to stay outside NYC in a nearby city/state or suburb wherefrom you can commute easily. Therefore, you can get accommodation at a cheaper cost without a second thought. You can choose to stay in the nearby states like New Jersey or Connecticut. But, you may have to spend a big sum of money on train tickets.

You must consider flexibility if you are choosing accommodation in NYC. You can face transit delays, which are very common. The schedules may not be perfect if you have to go for late-night classes or early-morning exams. In addition, some regional transit options are limited on weekends, so if you have to go to your campus on weekends for extracurricular activities, you may face difficulties.

The Cost of Living Near Campus

People feel convenience by staying near campus and this is a costly affair. Apartments in such neighborhoods like Greenwich Village for NYU or Morningside Heights for Columbia are among the pricey in NYC with one bedroom’s rent ranging from $3,500 and above. Apparently, even sharing an apartment with other people can be as expensive as between $1000- $2000 per person. University housing can often be found cheaper than other private housing options, with costs still ranging between $1,500 and $2,500 per month.

But the factor that cannot be overemphasized is the fact that the place to be is near the university. Students do not travel back and forth to college and can engage well in other activities within the compound. Additionally, living on or near campus allows easier access to study spaces, faculty, and networking opportunities, which can be invaluable for personal and professional growth.

Conclusion

You can decide whether you should commute or live near campus in NYC, and to decide this, you should think about how you can balance cost, time, and lifestyle preferences. People who live outside the city to avoid high-cost apartments to cut the cost of accommodation are likely to spend a lot of time commuting or delayed. On the other hand, living close to campus provides unmatched convenience and many academic and social opportunities; the expenses are however very steep. Intermediary solutions include co-living, or living in a shared house or shared neighborhood but good transportation areas can be considered more appropriate. Finally, it depends but still requires a deep analysis of financial and individual priorities in order to reach the ultimate goal of an excellent student experience.