<p>Hello everyone,
I have a chance to be an exchange student at UCSB. 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 UCSB, but my financial limits are very strict.</p>
<p>I am serious in need of those information, any suggestion and information is welcome.</p>
<p>well rent will be at least $600 a month… you should be fine with $400 a month for food… if you try and keep yourself from spending money on useless things you should be fine</p>
<p>Honestly if you don’t get drunk and go to Freebird’s all the time, you probably won’t find yourself spending much money. You should really be fine with amount you have, but I would start looking for housing ASAP to get a better deal. It is okay for people to live in dorms any year (if available…) but honestly that’s probably your most expensive option. The nice part is that you don’t have to worry about food as much, but that’s expensive.</p>
<p>PS WASSUPPP KYLE!?</p>
<p>Well, you can also get the off campus meal plan. 10 would be probably what you need. It’s $1102 every quarter (price might increase depending on each year), averaging about $370 a month. And you don’t have to pay for it until the end of the quarter. I personally get the 5 meal plan, and it works pretty well. But if you cook, it’s be a lot cheaper.
It might be very unrealistic to keep your spendings under $1100 a month, if you drink and party a lot. Just beware of it.</p>
<p>With rent (San Clemente apartments) and food I would say I spend about $1000 a month. I cook mostly for myself and rarely go out to eat or buy alcohol. If you have a kitchen it will definitely be cheaper then a meal plan but then again meal plans are not to bad. I would say it will be tight on you but you could do it. Find good affordable housing is key.</p>