Cost of Living in Los Angeles for Indian Students

The cost of living in Los Angeles is 52% higher than U.S. national average, mainly because of high housing costs, transportation expenses, and state taxes.

Cost of Living in Los Angeles for Indian students at a Glance

Here is an overview of the cost of living in Los Angeles in Indian rupees and US dollars: 

Expense	Estimated Cost (USD/INR)
Accommodation (1-bedroom apartment)	USD 2,413–2,544 (INR 2.30–2.42 lakh) per month
Food and groceries	USD 300–500 (INR 28,500–47,600) per month
Transportation	USD 72–140 (INR 6,800–13,300) per month for a public transport pass
Healthcare and insurance	USD 854–2,506 (INR 81,300–2.38 lakh) per academic term, depending on the university and plan
Education	USD 18,000–80,000 (INR 17.13–76.13 lakh) per year, depending on the university and course
Utilities and internet	USD 200–520 (INR 19,000–49,500) per month
Miscellaneous expenses	USD 30–175 (INR 2,900–16,700), depending on the purchase

These costs vary based on your university, accommodation, and spending habits. In the sections below, we will break down each expense to help you estimate your budget for studying and living in Los Angeles.

Cost of Living in Los Angeles by Profile

If you are planning to study in USA and moving to Los Angeles for higher studies, your monthly budget mostly depends on one question: are you covering only yourself, or supporting a family too?

As per Numbeo, the cost of living for a single person is approximately $1,487.40 (INR 1.42 lakh) per month (exc. rent) while for a family of four, it may go upto $5,364.90 (INR 5.10 lakh) per month (exc. rent). 

So now, let us understand the total costs including the rent for these profiles in Los Angeles: 

Profile	Monthly Living Cost (USD/INR)	Monthly Rent (USD/INR)
Single person	$1,487.40 (INR 1.42 lakh)	2,413.33–2,544.44 (INR 2.30–2.42 lakh)
Family of four	$5,364.90 (INR 5.10 lakh)	4,289.62–5,496.88 (INR 4.08–5.23 lakh)

Total estimated monthly cost, including rent:

• Single person: 3,900.73–4,031.84 (INR 3.71–3.84 lakh)
• Family of four: 9,654.52–10,861.78 (INR 9.19–10.34 lakh)

You can take these figures as the starting points, but they may vary depending on your lifestyle.

Cost of Living in Los Angeles vs Other US Cities

If you’re deciding to study in Los Angeles or other US cities, the table below shows what one person spends each month on everyday costs. 

It also includes Numbeo’s cost-of-living index, so you can see at a glance how each city ranks against New York, the most expensive city in the group.

US City	Cost of Living Index	Estimated Monthly Cost for One Person (Exc. Rent)
New York	100.0	$1,671.10 (INR 1.59 lakh)
San Francisco	96.9	$1,513.40 (INR 1.44 lakh)
Boston	89.1	$1,522.70 (INR 1.45 lakh)
Los Angeles	85.5	$1,487.40 (INR 1.42 lakh)
Chicago	75.8	$1,268.60 (INR 1.21 lakh)
Dallas	75.8	$1,287.00 (INR 1.22 lakh)

Los Angeles is more affordable than New York, San Francisco, and Boston for everyday spending. The gap with San Francisco and Boston is small, though, so it’s not a big saving. 

If keeping monthly costs low is your top priority, Chicago and Dallas come out ahead.

Check out all the information about Student Visa for USA. 

Student Accommodation Costs in Los Angeles

Finding a place to stay is one of the first things to plan before moving to Los Angeles for university. Rent will depend on the size of the apartment and its location, while buying property involves a much larger upfront cost. 

The figures below cover both options, so you can compare rental expenses with apartment purchase prices: 

Monthly Rent in Los Angeles

Accommodation Type	Approx. Monthly Rent (USD/INR)
1-bedroom apartment in the city centre	$2,544.44 (INR 2.42 lakh)
1-bedroom apartment outside the city centre	$2,413.33 (INR 2.30 lakh)
3-bedroom apartment in the city centre	$5,496.88 (INR 5.23 lakh)
3-bedroom apartment outside the city centre	$4,289.62 (INR 4.08 lakh)

Apartment Purchase Prices in Los Angeles

Property Location	Average Price per Square Metre (USD)
In the city centre	$7,323.18 (INR 6.97 lakh)
Outside the city centre	$7,101.12 (INR 6.76 lakh)

Source: Numbeo, Cost of Living in Los Angeles

Going outside the centre saves about $130 (INR 12K) a month on a 1-bedroom, and sharing a larger flat with roommates is the most common way students bring their share down. 

If you are planning to buy the a property in Los Angeles, note that the figures provided above are per square metre, so a full apartment costs much more, and the final price depends on size, location, and extra costs like taxes and fees. 

Read More:

Bachelors in USA | Masters in USA | MBA in USA

Monthly Food and Grocery Expenses in Los Angeles

How much you spend on food in Los Angeles majorly depends on how often you eat out and cook. The more you cook at home, the more savings on the food costs can be done. 

For your reference, we now have below the costs of eating meals outside in Los Angeles along with the prices of some common grocery items of daily need. Check these out and compare the costs as per your budget: 

Eating Out

Food Item	Approx. Cost (USD/INR)
Meal at an inexpensive restaurant	20–50 (INR 1,900–4,800)
Meal for two at a mid-range restaurant	80–200 (INR 7,600–19,000)
Fast-food combo meal	13–18 (INR 1,200–1,700)

Restaurants can be a big expense, particularly if you purchase your lunch close to your University and then have dinner elsewhere later in the day. You can end up spending around  200–300 (INR 19,000–29,000) on a weekly basis in an average week in restaurants. 

So, try to bring your lunch from home on school days, and plan out your restaurant visits on weekends! 

Groceries

Food Item	Approx. Food Item Cost (USD/INR)
Milk (1 litre)	0.92–1.59 (INR 90–150)
White rice (1 kg)	2.20–9.00 (INR 200–900)
Eggs (12)	2.50–9.00 (INR 240–860)
Chicken fillets (1 kg)	6.59–26.46 (INR 600–2,500)
Bananas (1 kg)	1.52–4.41 (INR 150–420)
Potatoes (1 kg)	1.21–4.41 (INR 120–420)
Tomatoes (1 kg)	2.20–8.82 (INR 200–840)

If you cook your meals mostly on your own, you may require around 300–500 (INR 29,000–48,000) per month for groceries. If you share a kitchen with roommates, splitting bulk purchases may also help reduce costs. 

So, if you are short on budget, plan this expense wisely, since it really makes a difference.

Source: Numbeo – Cost of Living in Los Angeles.

Read more: Fully Funded Scholarship in USA for International Students

Transportation Costs in Los Angeles

Transportation is another important expense that needs proper planning, especially if your university is far from where you live. 

Here the cost can be cut down if you use public transport since using taxis or driving your own car can cost more. 

Now let us compare cost of living in Los Angeles for international students per month in terms of transporation:

Transport Option	Approx. Transportation Cost (USD/INR)
One-way local transport ticket	1.75–2.50 (INR 170–240)
Monthly public transport pass	72–140 (INR 6,800–13,000)
Taxi starting fare	3.10–5.00 (INR 300–480)
Taxi per kilometre	1.85–3.11 (INR 180–300)
Taxi waiting charge per hour	32.11–55.00 (INR 3,100–5,200)
Petrol per litre	1.21–1.79 (INR 120–170)

Did you know that a monthly public transport pass in Los Angeles can cost around 72–140 (INR 6,800–13,000)?

If you commute to university by bus or train on most weekdays, a monthly pass may help you manage your travel budget. Before buying one, check whether it covers your route from home to campus and back.

Source: Numbeo – Cost of Living in Los Angeles

Check out: Study in USA for Free

Healthcare and Insurance Costs in Los Angeles

Health insurance is an expense you should plan for before moving to Los Angeles. Many universities ask students to have insurance during their studies. The cost depends on your university and the type of plan you choose. 

Here are some example costs to help you plan your budget:

Healthcare Expense	Average Healthcare Costs (USD/INR)
Student health insurance at Los Angeles City College (per semester)	$853.68 (INR 81,000)
UCLA undergraduate health insurance (per academic term)	$1,295.34 (INR 1.23 lakh)
UCLA graduate health insurance (per academic term)	$2,505.66 (INR 2.38 lakh)
Urgent care visit without insurance (median cash price)	$227 (INR 21,600)

Please note that some universities may have the health insurance costs already covered in their total fee amount, so check this carefully. 

Education Costs for Indian Students in Los Angeles

Tuition is the most significant expense when studying in Los Angeles, with top institutions charging more than $50,000 (INR 47.58 lakh) annually, although many public universities maintain relatively low fees. 

The following table provides an estimate of the annual cost based on the university, course, and level of study:

University Category	Undergraduate (UG) Tuition per Year	Postgraduate (PG) Tuition per Year
Top universities	55,000–80,000 (INR 52.34–76.13 lakh)	37,000–80,000+ (INR 35.21–76.13 lakh+)
Mid-range universities	30,000–55,000 (INR 28.55–52.34 lakh)	25,000–55,000 (INR 23.79–52.34 lakh)
More affordable public universities	18,000–25,000 (INR 17.13–23.79 lakh)	18,000–28,000 (INR 17.13–26.64 lakh)

These are estimated annual tuition ranges. 

Before you get started with narrowing your options, confirm if the fees are charged per year or per semester or per credit. Compare the entire time of the program as well as a lower price per annum might add up to a steeper total amount. 

Set aside some money for accommodation, food, health insurance, and other expenses that the university may charge you on top of the fee.

Utilities and Internet Costs in Los Angeles

If you rent an apartment in Los Angeles, make sure to know which bills are included and which you are responsible for. 

Electricity, water, heating, mobile phone, and Internet can be an additional expense and can effect your budget if not planned carefully.

Here are the approximate costs to help you plan: 

Expense	Approx. Monthly Cost (USD/INR)
Basic utilities for an 85 m² apartment	150–400 (INR 14,000–38,000)
Mobile phone plan with calls and 10 GB or more	30–120 (INR 2,900–11,000)
Home broadband (60 Mbps or faster)	50–120 (INR 4,800–11,000)

Source: Numbeo – Cost of Living in Los Angeles. 

If you have roommates, ask them about the division of bills before signing the lease agreement. You may also want to look for a mobile phone tariff that would suit your needs and check if the building you are moving into offers Internet connection.

Other Miscellaneous Expenses in Los Angeles

In addition to rent, food, and transport, you will probably want to leave some money for personal expenses and leisure time. For example, you may want to spend some money at a local gym, go to the movies, or buy new clothes or shoes. 

The approximate cost of these additional expenses is listed below for Los Angeles: 

Expense	Estimated Cost (USD/INR)
Monthly gym membership	USD 30–109 (INR 2,900–10,400)
Cinema ticket	USD 15–25 (INR 1,400–2,400)
Jeans (Levi’s 501 or similar)	USD 45–120 (INR 4,300–11,400)
Summer dress from a chain store	USD 28–100 (INR 2,700–9,500)
Nike running shoes	USD 70–175 (INR 6,700–16,700)

Source: Numbeo – Cost of Living in Los Angeles. 

These expenses are determined by the individual’s lifestyle and the frequency of shopping and leisure time. It is possible to reduce some costs by using the university’s gym and reminding about the available discounts. 

Moreover, clothes and shoes can be bought in seasonal sales, which means that these expenses can be excluded from the monthly budget since they are not necessary on a daily basis.

How Can Students Pay the Expenses of Living in Los Angeles?

Below are a few ideas for Indian students to save their hard-earned money on a monthly basis in Los Angeles:

• Splitting flats with roommates could save you some good bucks.
• Cutting down on eating out and instead, cooking food in the house could also save you a decent amount.
• Commuting by public transport and comparing the cost with single-ticket prices
• Looking out for student discounts at your institution and in the city.
• Budgeting to avoid overshooting and keeping some money aside for emergencies.

Part-Time Job And The Average Student Earnings In Los Angeles

Having a part-time job could supplement some of your personal expenses as a student in LA. But the amount of earnings is dependent on the kind of work and the working hours.

The F-1 visa holders may work on campus up to 20 hours per week during the semesters and full-time during official breaks, except as prohibited by the rules in effect. But, working off campus must be authorized by USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) or any other agency.

If the individual earns a $18.42 an hour minimum wage, he could have an income of $1,596 (INR 1.52 lakh) before deductions, working 20 hours per week. 

The average cost of living for a single person excluding rent is $1,487 (INR 1.41 lakh) per month, so there may be some costs that can be covered with part-time work, but students should budget for costs of renting and for contingencies. 

Conclusion

Studying in LA can be a great choice if you find yourself a university and course that fits your needs within your budget. But you shouldn't forget that the tuition fee isn't the only expense you'll need to consider. Rent, food, health insurance, transport, and many other things add up. 

Before you apply, check what the fee for the course is, and what kind of accommodation is available in the area to help you determine how much you'll need to spend on a monthly basis and for the entire program.

If you're still having doubts about how to proceed with your study abroad plans, book a free 1:1 counselling session with upGrad's study abroad experts today to get help with your final decisions today!