<p>I'm an international applicant from a rather poor (for U.S. standards ) family. In case of admitting to my first-choice college, I expect to get 100% aid from it and the money for air tickets from my country's officials. </p>
<p>I wonder, what amount of money I still need for other expenses, like food, local transportation, medical stuff, and so on. I understand that I ask a strange question, and the exact answer can't be given, but... Can someone who lives on campus give me approximate amount of his/her expenses? I believe that costs for living don't differ too much from city to city, right?</p>
<p>If you look for the Cost of Attendance at each college/university website, you will find some estimates. You also should email the International Student Office at each place, and ask for their advice. Or, ask here in the International Students Forum.</p>
<p>The cost of living can be very different from one city to another in the US.</p>
<p>The costs you describe can have huge disparities from one campus to another. At a “full need met” university, their aid package will include room & board, medical insurance, transportation and personal expenses. This would mean that your cost for the areas you list would be $0 (although they will likely include a requirement for you to earn a couple thousand dollars during the summer and school year).</p>
<p>At other shools however, the Financial Aid budget might include a minimal (unrealistic) food budget and housing allowance. It might not include any medical coverage, local transportation or personal expenses. Schools use this approach so that their published costs appear more affordable. In this case, your expenses might well be thousands of dollars each semester.</p>
<p>If you provide some places that interest you, we might be better able to answer your question.</p>