So how expensive is life in the States, really? [relocation advice thread]

[Az]

So, If everything goes right, I am going to enroll into grad school in the US, this fall. Nothing is finalized, but I am already in preparations, especially since the wife is stressed as hell about it.

I am considering a budget, and need to evaluate several things. I have found wildly diverging things online, so I figured trying you out guys for a source should work as well.

Food and Groceries: How much would family of 2 expect to spend on groceries.
Bills and Utilities: for a two-bedroom appartment.
Car upkeep: for a 3 yo hyundai sedan.
Healthcare: costs including good pregnancy coverage, plus - is pregnancy a pre-existing condition??

States to consider are MA,IL(Chicago), NY/NJ, CT(Yale?)

Thanks in advance guys.

[Hauldren Collider]

So, If everything goes right, I am going to enroll into grad school in the US, this fall. Nothing is finalized, but I am already in preparations, especially since the wife is stressed as hell about it.

I am considering a budget, and need to evaluate several things. I have found wildly diverging things online, so I figured trying you out guys for a source should work as well.

Food and Groceries: How much would family of 2 expect to spend on groceries.
Bills and Utilities: for a two-bedroom appartment.
Car upkeep: for a 3 yo hyundai sedan.
Healthcare: costs including good pregnancy coverage, plus - is pregnancy a pre-existing condition??

States to consider are MA,IL(Chicago), NY/NJ, CT(Yale?)

Thanks in advance guys.

I don't know the specifics for most of these off the top of my head but you've picked some of the most expensive places to live in the country.

[Ben Kenobi]

Well, aside from California that is. If budget is a concern, those are pretty much the worst places you could end up.

[Patroklos]

I had a challenge thread at civfanatics that showed a single person can buy and eat healthy food meeting USDA portion requirements and categories for $20 a week. It becomes easier and cheaper per person the larger the family.

I've been meaning to do it again as the first run through had some problems, anyone down?

[Ben Kenobi]

I had a challenge thread at civfanatics that showed a single person can buy and eat healthy food meeting USDA portion requirements and categories for $20 a week. It becomes easier and cheaper per person the larger the family.

I've been meaning to do it again as the first run through had some problems, anyone down?

Sure!

[Ben Kenobi]

When would the starting date be, the first? I could live off 80 bucks on food a month.

[DaShi]

So, If everything goes right, I am going to enroll into grad school in the US, this fall. Nothing is finalized, but I am already in preparations, especially since the wife is stressed as hell about it.

I am considering a budget, and need to evaluate several things. I have found wildly diverging things online, so I figured trying you out guys for a source should work as well.

Food and Groceries: How much would family of 2 expect to spend on groceries.
Bills and Utilities: for a two-bedroom appartment.
Car upkeep: for a 3 yo hyundai sedan.
Healthcare: costs including good pregnancy coverage, plus - is pregnancy a pre-existing condition??

States to consider are MA,IL(Chicago), NY/NJ, CT(Yale?)

Thanks in advance guys.

You'll need to be more specific. Which city/town do you plan to live in? How much are you expecting to pay?

[Dinner]

So, If everything goes right, I am going to enroll into grad school in the US, this fall. Nothing is finalized, but I am already in preparations, especially since the wife is stressed as hell about it.

I am considering a budget, and need to evaluate several things. I have found wildly diverging things online, so I figured trying you out guys for a source should work as well.

Food and Groceries: How much would family of 2 expect to spend on groceries.
Bills and Utilities: for a two-bedroom appartment.
Car upkeep: for a 3 yo hyundai sedan.
Healthcare: costs including good pregnancy coverage, plus - is pregnancy a pre-existing condition??

States to consider are MA,IL(Chicago), NY/NJ, CT(Yale?)

Thanks in advance guys.

Food and groceries are dirt cheap. You can easily survive on $100 per month per person if you cook at home but if you want to eat better (things like lots of steak, lobster, and expensive stuff) then the price goes up from there. $100 is about as cheap as it gets having a decent diet though and it requires a bit of shopping around. Utilities are also pretty cheap (water, gas, electricity) but the rental costs for an apartment can be either cheap if you live in BFE or fly over country or ungodly expensive if you want to live in places like NYC or SF. Car costs? Say $15,000 on a decent used car (though I'd avoid Hyundai is they fall apart) and insurance can be any where from $50 per month up depending on your driving record and where you live. Health care costs are EXTREMELY variable with them being very low in states like Hawaii, very high in ****ty Republican controlled red states, and moderate in other places. Most people get it through their job but if you don't you can now go through the ACA website but that is based upon income so the price could be free or it could cost a lot depending on your income, location, and if the state is a good one or a ****ty red state.

What do you intend to do for a living and are you going to be going to college or not? Much will depend upon where you actually get a job and which field it is in.

[Dinner]

Well, aside from California that is. If budget is a concern, those are pretty much the worst places you could end up.

Just kill yourself and make the world a better place, moron.

[Ben Kenobi]

Health care costs are EXTREMELY variable with them being very low in states like Hawaii, very high in ****ty Republican controlled red states

Yes, you should take Oerdin's advice on thrift. Hawaii is an amazing place to be if you're trying to save money.

Just kill yourself and make the world a better place, moron.

California is so ****ty it didn't even merit closer examination.

[regexcellent]

I had a challenge thread at civfanatics that showed a single person can buy and eat healthy food meeting USDA portion requirements and categories for $20 a week. It becomes easier and cheaper per person the larger the family.

I've been meaning to do it again as the first run through had some problems, anyone down?

This is the mission I was made for!

[Ben Kenobi]

You think you can beat me, reg?

[Aeson]

I can afford to eat on $20/week and have enough left over to pay the chef

[KrazyHorse]

Answers:

1) Food and groceries, you should budget at least 75 a week for two people. You can probably squeeze out more by making some sacrifices, but this is not really the budget buster. This assumes you basically eat in every day.
2) Utils: gas+electricity will run you about a hundred a month. If you want internet service budget 50. Ditto for each cell line. Rent is going to be the killer for you. 2 bedrooms will be expensive in any northeast city. You can economize, but you will pay for it in crime, commuting time and shiftiness of where you live.
3) Health insurance: you will get this through your grad school. Check out what likely schools have in the way of insurance and what they charge.

[regexcellent]

I am in New York and pay around $600/month in rent for a 600 sq. ft. apartment but I'm guessing you're looking at the ****ty part of New York where everything's too expensive.