These are the most expensive cities for international students in 2018

These are the most expensive cities for international students in 2018
You might be surprised that London and New York haven't made the list. Source: David Rodrigo/Unsplash

Money is a big part of the equation when it comes to deciding which foreign country or city to pursue your studies in. Here, two key costs come into play: tuition fees and living costs.

To find out which study cities you can afford, check out the latest report by furnished apartment search engine Nestpick; a source that ranks 80 popular cities according to how much they international students have to spend during their first semester.

“Studying abroad is an amazing opportunity for prospective students, and something that is increasingly considered an integral part of education,” said Ömer Kücükdere, Managing Director of Nestpick.

“However, students should be aware of all the financial implications of moving to a new city in terms of living costs and potential tuition fees, as these can vary enormously between different universities and cities.”

For the report, Nestpick calculated the average living costs for six months in each respective city, together with tuition fee for one semester, plus the costs of visas, rent, internet, phone, food/drink and transport. Estimates for tuition fees are based on the most prominent university in each location.

Here are the top five most expensive cities in 2018:

1. San Francisco, US

Rent in The Fog City is US$915.21 on average per week. Source: Jakob Owens on Unsplash

Total semester cost: US$37,428.54

Top of the list is the city where Tony Bennett left his heart. It’s a wholly different city now, since Silicon Valley and the tech industry turned it into the wealthiest and most innovative region in the country. But alongside this progression comes an alarming housing crisis and growing socio-economic inequality. No surprises then that it’s also the priciest for international students.

2. Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Dubai, the City of Gold. Source: Marc Deriaz on Unsplash

Total semester cost: US$29,701.44

What was once a barren desert is now filled with skyscrapers and booming with construction. House prices are soaring. For international students, visa fees and internet costs in Dubai are the priciest among the top 10 cities, at US$1,613.00 and US$111.02 respectively.

3. Austin, US

With all the things going on in Austin, no wonder many people, including international students, are moving in by the droves. Source: Tomek Baginski on Unsplash

Total semester cost: US$29,654.56

Since 2010, the state capital of Texas has welcomed more than 100,000 new residents. New shops, restaurants, bars and hotels are popping up in this thriving metropolis, housing close to one million inhabitants and the highest-paid software engineers in the US. It’s one of the most exciting America’s most exciting cities and unsurprisingly, one of the most expensive.

4. Toronto, Canada

This Canadian city is famously diverse, with a vibrant street culture and culinary scene. Photo by Arturo Castaneyra on Unsplash

Total semester cost: US$28,965.24

Canada is the place to be for foreign talent fleeing the restrictive visa regime of the US. Its universities continue to cash in on the political turmoil occurring south of its border – top-ranked University of Toronto saw US applications rise by 70 percent in 2017 and received a 20 percent jump in international applications last autumn.

But take note that while Canadian tuition and living costs may be lower than the US, Toronto is a city that bucks the regional trend, coming in 4th in Nestpick’s rankings.

5. Seattle, US

75 people move into Seattle each day. Source: Timothy Eberly on Unsplash

Total semester cost: US$28,446.86

Within this seaport city lies some of the wealthiest residents in the US, with the 4th-highest median income according to US Census Bureau data. International students at the University of Washington fork out higher rent and food/drink prices than those in Austin.

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