Share a flat
Shared rooms are the cheapest option; a studio costs much more than $1,000.
🇺🇸 North Carolina, USA
Cost of Living in Raleigh–Durham
The Research Triangle: biotech, pharma and tech employers. Here's a realistic monthly budget for an Indian student in Raleigh–Durham — rent, food, transport and insurance — in USD and rupees.
- Rent $650 – $1,000/month
- Total $1,568 – $1,918/month
- ≈ ₹1.5 lakh – ₹1.8 lakh/month
- 3 universities
Talk to an expert
Plan your Raleigh–Durham budget
A counsellor replies on WhatsApp with your checklist and next steps
Quick answer
How much does it cost to live in Raleigh–Durham as a student?
Budget $1,568 – $1,918 a month (about ₹1.5 lakh – ₹1.8 lakh), or $18,800 – $23,000 a year. Rent for a room in shared housing is the biggest cost at $650 – $1,000. 78 of the 122 cities we track in the USA have lower rents.
Ask on WhatsAppUpdated · Reviewed by the Visa Edu Loans admissions & finance desk
Official sources: travel.state.gov — Student visa
Raleigh–Durham budget at a glance
- Room in shared housing
- $650 – $1,000 a month
- Monthly budget
- $1,568 – $1,918
- Yearly budget
- $18,800 – $23,000
- In rupees (a year)
- ₹18 lakh – ₹22 lakh
- Health cover
- University student health plans usually cost $2,000–4,000 a year and are often compulsory
- Getting around
- Many universities include a bus pass; big cities have monthly transit passes
- Exchange rate used
- $1 ≈ ₹94
Monthly budget
Student budget in Raleigh–Durham
Planning estimates for 2026 — rents move quickly, so check live listings before you sign.
Compare
Raleigh–Durham vs other student cities in the USA
Universities
Universities in Raleigh–Durham
Save money
Cutting costs in Raleigh–Durham
Cook at home
Groceries for about $400 a month — Indian grocery stores are common in big cities.
Use student transport
Many universities include a bus pass; big cities have monthly transit passes
Work part-time
Up to 20 hours a week on campus during semesters; off-campus work only through CPT/OPT
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Still have a question?
Ask a counsellor directly — we reply on WhatsApp during working hours (Mon–Sat, 9 AM–6 PM IST).
About $1,568 – $1,918 (₹1.5 lakh – ₹1.8 lakh), including rent.
A room in shared housing usually costs $650 – $1,000 a month.
Part-time work (up to 20 hours a week on campus during semesters; off-campus work only through CPT/OPT) helps, but it rarely covers everything — plan savings or a loan for living costs.
Explore
Keep exploring
Universities
Universities in Raleigh–Durham
Compare
Cost of living in other USA cities
Talk to an expert
Talk to a counsellor today
Share your profile — we reply with a checklist and next steps. Expert consultations over call start at ₹355.
Mon–Sat, 9 AM–6 PM IST