In order to bring you the best possible user experience, this site uses Javascript. If you are seeing this message, it is likely that the Javascript option in your browser is disabled. For optimal viewing of this site, please ensure that Javascript is enabled for your browser.
Jump to page content Jump to navigation

College Board

Educators - Information & Tools For Teachers, Counselors, Higher Education Faculty and Administrators Home > Data, Reports & Research > Higher Ed Trends & Related Reports > Living Expense Budget > Twelve-Month Academic Year

Twelve-Month Academic Year

2009-10 low and moderate living expense budgets

This table shows living expense costs by region and metropolitan area over a 12-month period. Both a moderate and a low budget are provided. The budgets reflect increases in the Consumer Price Index (calculated by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) of 4.3 percent for 2007, and an estimated adjustment of 2.4 percent for 2008.

The budgets are developed based on data from the most recent Consumer Expenditure Survey (CES) and the Indexes of Comparative Costs, both produced by the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. Budget regions correspond to the metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. The CES sample changes about every 10 years, which changes the MSAs for which indexes can be developed. There were 28 MSAs for the period from 1996 to 2004, but that number dropped to 24 for 2005, the most current year for which CES data is available. Therefore, the regional tables of the living expense budget now reflect only 24 MSAs. Also, since a factor could not be established for every region of the country, no region is adjusted by a value of less than 1.0.

 Moderate 12-Month  BudgetLow 12-Month Budget
United States $ 22,970 $ 15,390
Northeast:
Boston–Cambridge–Quincy, MA–NH 24,348 16,313
New York–Northern New Jersey–Long Island, NY–NJ–PA 25,267 16,929
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MD 23,200 15,544
Pittsburgh, PA 22,970 15,390
North Central:
Chicago–Naperville–Joliet, IL–IN–WI 23,889 16,006
Cleveland–Elyria–Mentor, OH 22,970 15,390
Detroit–Warren–Livonia, MI 23,200 15,544
Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington, MN–WI 24,119 16,160
St. Louis, MO–IL 22,970 15,390
South:
Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Marietta, GA 23,659 15,852
Baltimore–Towson, MD 23,659 15,852
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TX 23,659 15,852
Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown, TX 23,429 15,698
Miami–Ft. Lauderdale–Miami Beach, FL 23,659 15,852
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV 26,416 17,699
West:
Anchorage, AK 24,348 16,313
Denver–Aurora, CO 23,889 16,006
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Santa Ana, CA 25,726 17,237
Phoenix–Mesa–Scottsdale, AZ 23,429 15,698
Portland–Vancouver–Beaverton, OR–WA 23,889 16,006
San Diego–Carlsbad–San Marcos, CA 26,186 17,545
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA 27,105 18,160
Seattle–Tacoma, WA 24,119 16,160
Honolulu, HI 24,808 16,621

Customized Entry Pages

Higher Education Financial Aid Products

Back to top