<p>Hello everyone,
I have a chance to be an exchange student at UCI. I am worried about financials. I do not want to exceed $1000 per month. I won't be paying tuition, but I am expected to supply housing expenses.</p>
<p>Do you think I can manage to live in Santa Barbara and not spend more than $1100 per month? (Including eating and housing)</p>
<p>It is OK for me to share a room off campus, or live in a dorm. </p>
<p>How would you comment on eating expenses? What are prices of fast food etc?</p>
<p>I am not much of a social person, I would plan to focus on studies even I could manage to come. I want to study at UCI, but my financial limits are very strict.</p>
<p>I am serious in need of those information, any suggestion and information is welcome.
(I copied my msg at the UCSB topic, because I wonder the same things for both colleges)</p>
<p>As an exchange student, your best bet may be to live in Arroyo Vista. The rooms are furnished (you’d have a roommate), and you only pay rent for the academic year (if you’re planning to spend the summer, other options may be better).</p>
<p>The deposit (for '09-'10) is $350; the monthly rate is $545 (but that includes all utilities and internet). So the total (for this year) is $5255. Assuming your total budget is $9000, that leaves you about $1250 a quarter for food and other expenses.</p>
<p>The cost of textbooks varies tremendously depending on which courses you take. But if you’re careful, you can probably get by spending no more than $250 a quarter. So that leaves $1000 a quarter for food, etc.</p>
<p>The AV houses have a common kitchen. I don’t know how often residents cook dinners there, but you should be able to fix a breakfast (and maybe pack a lunch). There are plenty of fast food places around Irvine, but nobody should live entirely on them (see the documentary “Super Size Me”).</p>
<p>Others should chime in here, but I think it’s possible to get by on $1000 a month, assuming a somewhat frugal lifestyle.</p>
<p>As for being social, that can cost between $0 and infinity. If you’re coming all this way, you should have some fun.</p>