According to the results of a new study Istanbul is among the top 15 cheapest cities for international students relocating to university in 80 popular cities around the globe.
Furnished apartment search engine, Nestpick, has released data revealing the first semester living costs. It outlines the potential costs that prospective students would incur in their first semester whilst attending university abroad, focusing on international students. The first semester living costs have been calculated by determining the average living costs for six months in each respective city, in addition the university tuition fee for one semester, as well as each respective country’s student visa price. For the purpose of the study, the most prominent university has been chosen for each location.
“Studying abroad is an amazing opportunity for prospective students, and something that is increasingly considered an integral part of education.” comments Ömer Kücükdere, Managing Director of Nestpick. “Relocating means not only experiencing a new city and culture, but also the chance to gain independence, connect with other international students and in many cases, even learn a new language. However, students should be aware of all the financial implications of moving to a new city in terms of living costs and potential tuition fees, as these can vary enormously between different universities and cities. We hope that this data will not only help prospective students to budget and plan for their semester abroad, but also encourage and inspire them to consider new and exciting locations.”
The table below reveals the first semester living costs for 80 cities around the world, ranked from most to least expensive:
| # | CITY | COUNTRY | VISA FEES | RENT | INTERNET COST | PHONE | FOOD/DRINK | TRANSPORT | TOTAL | TOTAL 6 MONTHS LIVING COST | UNIVERSITY | FEES FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS | TOTAL SEMESTER COSTS |
| 1 | San Francisco | USA | $160.00 | $915.21 | $42.44 | $70.37 | $1,013.53 | $74.04 | $2,275.59 | $13,653.54 | University of San Francisco | $23,775.00 | $37,428.54 |
| 2 | Dubai | UAE | $1,613.00 | $515.96 | $111.02 | $72.81 | $531.51 | $69.14 | $2,913.43 | $17,480.59 | American University in Dubai | $12,220.85 | $29,701.44 |
| 3 | Austin | USA | $160.00 | $390.23 | $49.05 | $70.37 | $612.78 | $43.65 | $1,326.09 | $7,956.56 | The University of Texas at Austin | $21,698.00 | $29,654.56 |
| 4 | Toronto | Canada | $114.17 | $310.03 | $45.69 | $70.37 | $605.73 | $113.22 | $1,259.21 | $7,555.24 | University of Toronto | $21,410.00 | $28,965.24 |
| 5 | Seattle | USA | $160.00 | $511.90 | $46.09 | $70.37 | $827.83 | $104.78 | $1,720.98 | $10,325.86 | University of Washington | $18,121.00 | $28,446.86 |
| 6 | Vancouver | Canada | $114.17 | $318.59 | $39.60 | $70.37 | $692.74 | $72.79 | $1,308.25 | $7,849.53 | University of British Columbia | $18,844.95 | $26,694.48 |
| 7 | New York | USA | $160.00 | $771.01 | $46.52 | $70.37 | $940.72 | $123.23 | $2,111.84 | $12,671.07 | NYU | $12,616.00 | $25,287.07 |
| 8 | London | UK | $426.04 | $614.19 | $39.13 | $32.72 | $559.82 | $168.71 | $1,840.62 | $11,043.70 | UCL (University College London) | $13,493.00 | $24,536.70 |
| 9 | Manchester | UK | $426.04 | $285.69 | $39.13 | $32.72 | $504.51 | $64.89 | $1,352.98 | $8,117.90 | The University of Manchester | $14,594.95 | $22,712.85 |
| 10 | Hong Kong | Hong Kong | $57.60 | $636.27 | $29.39 | $32.32 | $713.72 | $61.30 | $1,530.62 | $9,183.69 | The University of Hong Kong | $10,226.00 | $19,409.69 |
| 11 | Los Angeles | USA | $160.00 | $539.39 | $46.46 | $70.37 | $694.53 | $105.78 | $1,616.53 | $9,699.17 | University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) | $8,409.38 | $18,108.55 |
| 12 | Helsinki | Finland | $467.17 | $326.25 | $28.82 | $24.51 | $634.42 | $61.46 | $1,542.63 | $9,255.81 | University of Helsinki | $8,776.99 | $18,032.80 |
| 13 | Stockholm | Sweden | $113.00 | $408.71 | $43.96 | $36.24 | $728.87 | $95.29 | $1,426.07 | $8,556.42 | KTH Royal Institute of Technology | $8,807.00 | $17,363.42 |
| 14 | Singapore | Singapore | $90.00 | $534.89 | $28.08 | $38.16 | $691.80 | $76.69 | $1,459.62 | $8,757.72 | National University of Singapore (NUS) | $7,546.17 | $16,303.89 |
| 15 | Sydney | Australia | $425.13 | $579.05 | $50.06 | $58.72 | $723.69 | $127.71 | $1,964.36 | $11,786.15 | The University of Sydney | $3,980.59 | $15,766.74 |
| 16 | Amsterdam | Netherlands | $317.00 | $486.67 | $40.45 | $46.91 | $593.97 | $102.62 | $1,587.62 | $9,525.73 | University of Amsterdam | $4,898.10 | $14,423.83 |
| 17 | Tel Aviv | Israel | $160.00 | $415.02 | $23.55 | $27.21 | $613.82 | $66.85 | $1,306.45 | $7,838.69 | Tel Aviv University | $5,750.00 | $13,588.69 |
| 18 | Melbourne | Australia | $425.13 | $397.45 | $47.55 | $58.72 | $686.07 | $109.35 | $1,724.26 | $10,345.58 | The University of Melbourne | $3,216.25 | $13,561.83 |
| 19 | Oslo | Norway | $653.00 | $455.58 | $44.45 | $34.73 | $908.73 | $89.52 | $2,186.01 | $13,116.03 | University of Oslo | $74.00 | $13,190.03 |
| 20 | Zurich | Switzerland | $87.00 | $532.18 | $53.34 | $106.73 | $1,193.96 | $92.16 | $2,065.37 | $12,392.21 | ETH Zurich – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology | $585.34 | $12,977.55 |
| 21 | Copenhagen | Denmark | $330.80 | $352.83 | $38.64 | $17.59 | $634.89 | $63.05 | $1,437.82 | $8,626.90 | University of Copenhagen | $3,277.89 | $11,904.79 |
| 22 | Kuala Lumpur | Malaysia | $271.54 | $145.55 | $31.53 | $15.25 | $425.86 | $25.32 | $915.05 | $5,490.28 | Universiti Malaya (UM) | $6,110.00 | $11,600.28 |
| 23 | Auckland | New Zealand | $202.07 | $355.66 | $55.88 | $63.70 | $694.34 | $104.66 | $1,476.31 | $8,857.89 | Auckland University of Technology | $2,516.00 | $11,373.89 |
| 24 | Dublin | Ireland | $116.88 | $466.39 | $61.18 | $35.18 | $611.47 | $140.74 | $1,431.83 | $8,591.00 | Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin | $2,480.00 | $11,071.00 |
| 25 | Tokyo | Japan | $53.36 | $403.75 | $38.30 | $76.08 | $964.99 | $99.50 | $1,635.98 | $9,815.89 | The University of Tokyo | $1,192.03 | $11,007.92 |
| 26 | Barcelona | Spain | $70.00 | $333.01 | $44.59 | $41.05 | $484.56 | $60.99 | $1,034.19 | $6,205.16 | Universitat de Barcelona | $3,539.36 | $9,744.52 |
| 27 | Hanoi | Vietnam | $145.00 | $148.26 | $8.11 | $23.55 | $350.42 | $9.50 | $684.83 | $4,108.99 | RMIT Hanoi University | $5,606.80 | $9,715.79 |
| 28 | Essen | Germany | $70.00 | $176.68 | $32.07 | $35.17 | $622.76 | $76.23 | $1,012.92 | $6,077.50 | University of Duisburg-Essen | $3,553.00 | $9,630.50 |
| 29 | Medellin | Colombia | $67.00 | $134.96 | $36.20 | $24.50 | $265.47 | $21.85 | $549.98 | $3,299.90 | Universidad de Antioquia | $5,774.27 | $9,074.17 |
| 30 | Paris | France | $115.71 | $490.72 | $25.28 | $51.49 | $720.03 | $82.10 | $1,485.32 | $8,911.95 | Ecole normale supérieure, Paris | $92.98 | $9,004.93 |
| 31 | Milan | Italy | $70.00 | $355.54 | $34.14 | $35.18 | $629.53 | $41.05 | $1,165.44 | $6,992.63 | Politecnico di Milano | $1,935.43 | $8,928.06 |
| 32 | Seoul | South Korea | $45.00 | $208.97 | $19.87 | $18.95 | $927.36 | $54.11 | $1,274.26 | $7,645.58 | Seoul National University | $1,091.70 | $8,737.28 |
| 33 | Vienna | Austria | $174.00 | $448.82 | $27.99 | $11.61 | $568.19 | $56.30 | $1,286.90 | $7,721.42 | Vienna University of Technology | $852.56 | $8,573.97 |
| 34 | Brussels | Belgium | $233.72 | $269.36 | $34.34 | $46.91 | $628.40 | $57.47 | $1,270.20 | $7,621.18 | Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) | $851.88 | $8,473.06 |
| 35 | Shanghai | China | $30.00 | $282.99 | $15.03 | $92.17 | $548.63 | $31.49 | $1,000.31 | $6,001.88 | Fudan University | $2,249.05 | $8,250.93 |
| 36 | Prague | Czech Republic | $112.68 | $185.66 | $18.10 | $28.15 | $347.50 | $23.87 | $715.95 | $4,295.71 | Charles University | $3,516.36 | $7,812.07 |
| 37 | Bangkok | Thailand | $80.00 | $169.43 | $17.67 | $20.92 | $516.36 | $37.35 | $841.74 | $5,050.43 | Bangkok University | $2,753.74 | $7,804.17 |
| 38 | Düsseldorf | Germany | $70.00 | $237.15 | $33.69 | $35.17 | $812.59 | $82.10 | $1,270.70 | $7,624.21 | University Duesseldorf | $81.74 | $7,705.95 |
| 39 | Karlsruhe | Germany | $70.00 | $266.63 | $33.10 | $35.17 | $517.77 | $66.85 | $989.53 | $5,937.16 | Karlsruhe Institute of Technology | $1,762.52 | $7,699.68 |
| 40 | Frankfurt am Main | Germany | $70.00 | $384.38 | $31.31 | $35.17 | $609.30 | $100.86 | $1,231.02 | $7,386.13 | Universität Frankfurt am Main | $305.02 | $7,691.15 |
| 41 | Moscow | Russia | $218.03 | $256.85 | $5.59 | $10.12 | $293.13 | $26.33 | $810.05 | $4,860.31 | Lomonosov Moscow State University | $2,724.85 | $7,585.16 |
| 42 | Mexico City | Mexico | $160.00 | $152.14 | $19.67 | $43.11 | $310.91 | $16.84 | $702.67 | $4,216.05 | Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) | $3,333.00 | $7,549.05 |
| 43 | Stuttgart | Germany | $70.00 | $230.17 | $34.67 | $35.17 | $500.46 | $93.83 | $964.30 | $5,785.80 | Universität Stuttgart | $1,761.82 | $7,547.62 |
| 44 | Lyon | France | $115.71 | $263.16 | $25.28 | $51.49 | $712.50 | $70.37 | $1,238.51 | $7,431.05 | École Normale Supérieure de Lyon | $92.28 | $7,523.33 |
| 45 | Munich | Germany | $70.00 | $454.67 | $33.34 | $35.17 | $557.56 | $75.06 | $1,225.81 | $7,354.86 | Technische Universitat München | $151.81 | $7,506.67 |
| 46 | Madrid | Spain | $70.00 | $313.63 | $45.17 | $41.05 | $461.70 | $64.04 | $995.59 | $5,973.57 | Universidad Autónoma de Madrid | $1,401.16 | $7,374.73 |
| 47 | Strasbourg | France | $115.71 | $230.20 | $25.28 | $51.49 | $726.52 | $56.88 | $1,206.08 | $7,236.46 | University of Strasbourg | $92.28 | $7,328.74 |
| 48 | Beijing | China | $30.00 | $244.23 | $15.03 | $92.17 | $461.05 | $30.73 | $873.22 | $5,239.29 | Tsinghua University | $1,989.74 | $7,229.03 |
| 49 | Mannheim | Germany | $70.00 | $215.77 | $34.61 | $35.17 | $468.76 | $79.17 | $903.48 | $5,420.87 | University of Mannheim | $1,761.82 | $7,182.69 |
| 50 | Montpellier | France | $115.71 | $238.38 | $25.28 | $51.49 | $682.40 | $58.64 | $1,171.89 | $7,031.36 | University of montpellier | $92.28 | $7,123.64 |
| 51 | Lisbon | Portugal | $115.00 | $238.38 | $27.12 | $31.06 | $379.58 | $42.22 | $833.35 | $5,000.12 | University of Lisbon | $2,114.18 | $7,114.30 |
| 52 | Bordeaux | France | $115.71 | $195.16 | $25.28 | $51.49 | $714.95 | $35.18 | $1,137.77 | $6,826.62 | University of Bordeaux | $92.28 | $6,918.90 |
| 53 | Hamburg | Germany | $70.00 | $301.02 | $33.44 | $35.17 | $593.69 | $98.52 | $1,131.83 | $6,791.00 | Universität Hamburg | $81.74 | $6,872.74 |
| 54 | Toulouse | France | $115.71 | $220.77 | $25.28 | $51.49 | $660.57 | $53.95 | $1,127.77 | $6,766.64 | Université Paul Sabatier | $92.28 | $6,858.92 |
| 55 | Nice | France | $115.71 | $273.35 | $25.28 | $51.49 | $608.46 | $36.36 | $1,110.65 | $6,663.88 | University of Nice Sophia Antipolis | $92.28 | $6,756.16 |
| 56 | Nantes | France | $115.71 | $281.87 | $25.28 | $51.49 | $542.51 | $73.89 | $1,090.75 | $6,544.51 | University of Nantes | $92.28 | $6,636.79 |
| 57 | Lille | France | $115.71 | $232.97 | $25.28 | $51.49 | $598.30 | $58.05 | $1,081.80 | $6,490.79 | Université de lille | $92.28 | $6,583.07 |
| 58 | Grenoble | France | $115.71 | $208.11 | $25.28 | $51.49 | $620.87 | $60.28 | $1,081.74 | $6,490.46 | University of Grenoble | $92.28 | $6,582.74 |
| 59 | Budapest | Hungary | $102.70 | $152.76 | $13.97 | $24.63 | $328.12 | $36.56 | $658.74 | $3,952.42 | Eötvös Lorànd University | $2,584.00 | $6,536.42 |
| 60 | Berlin | Germany | $70.00 | $311.38 | $35.94 | $35.17 | $488.80 | $95.00 | $1,036.29 | $6,217.73 | Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin | $81.74 | $6,299.47 |
| 61 | Marseille | France | $115.71 | $240.18 | $25.28 | $51.49 | $541.67 | $36.47 | $1,010.80 | $6,064.80 | Aix-Marseille University | $92.28 | $6,157.08 |
| 62 | Cologne | Germany | $70.00 | $235.22 | $35.06 | $35.17 | $501.59 | $105.55 | $982.61 | $5,895.64 | University of Cologne | $132.78 | $6,028.41 |
| 63 | Sofia | Bulgaria | $175.00 | $136.81 | $11.06 | $20.86 | $300.18 | $30.01 | $673.93 | $4,043.55 | Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski | $1,938.77 | $5,982.32 |
| 64 | Braunschweig | Germany | $70.00 | $187.20 | $34.90 | $35.17 | $477.23 | $82.10 | $886.59 | $5,319.55 | Technische Universität Braunschweig | $587.27 | $5,906.83 |
| 65 | Buenos Aires | Argentina | $250.00 | $208.01 | $39.90 | $29.77 | $431.79 | $18.75 | $978.21 | $5,869.29 | Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA) | $0.00 | $5,869.29 |
| 66 | Athens | Greece | $101.82 | $179.80 | $25.28 | $35.18 | $435.83 | $35.18 | $813.11 | $4,878.63 | National Technical University of Athens | $880.91 | $5,759.54 |
| 67 | Sao Paulo | Brazil | $100.00 | $201.78 | $32.03 | $57.29 | $393.03 | $60.68 | $844.83 | $5,068.95 | Universidade de São Paulo | $620.16 | $5,689.11 |
| 68 | Istanbul | Turkey | $83.00 | $157.72 | $16.21 | $70.32 | $388.52 | $60.05 | $775.82 | $4,654.90 | ISTANBUL BILGI UNIVERSITY | $1,016.33 | $5,671.23 |
| 69 | Dijon | France | $115.71 | $175.09 | $25.28 | $51.49 | $517.39 | $41.05 | $926.01 | $5,556.06 | Université de Bourgogne | $92.28 | $5,648.34 |
| 70 | Hannover | Germany | $70.00 | $267.55 | $36.90 | $35.17 | $414.76 | $68.49 | $892.88 | $5,357.29 | Leibniz Universität Hannover | $88.09 | $5,445.38 |
| 71 | Jakarta | Indonesia | $45.00 | $174.61 | $29.35 | $11.05 | $473.37 | $12.16 | $745.54 | $4,473.26 | State University of Jakarta | $869.26 | $5,342.52 |
| 72 | Warsaw | Poland | $82.00 | $232.07 | $16.28 | $5.48 | $303.38 | $30.15 | $669.36 | $4,016.17 | University of Warsaw | $1,313.58 | $5,329.75 |
| 73 | Leipzig | Germany | $70.00 | $177.09 | $34.67 | $35.17 | $477.98 | $78.58 | $873.49 | $5,240.94 | Universität Leipzig | $88.09 | $5,329.03 |
| 74 | Riga | Latvia | $105.00 | $123.94 | $15.90 | $17.59 | $341.86 | $58.64 | $662.94 | $3,977.61 | University of Latvia | $1,318.96 | $5,296.57 |
| 75 | Dresden | Germany | $70.00 | $164.34 | $37.32 | $35.17 | $461.14 | $69.20 | $837.17 | $5,023.02 | Technische Universität Dresden | $88.09 | $5,111.11 |
| 76 | Bremen | Germany | $70.00 | $191.89 | $37.07 | $35.17 | $391.81 | $70.37 | $796.31 | $4,777.85 | Universität Bremen | $88.09 | $4,865.94 |
| 77 | Johannesburg | South Africa | $100.00 | $150.71 | $43.77 | $30.29 | $337.62 | $33.77 | $696.16 | $4,176.96 | University of Johannesburg | $631.97 | $4,808.92 |
| 78 | Bucharest | Romania | $140.00 | $107.70 | $9.61 | $14.07 | $295.20 | $15.68 | $582.26 | $3,493.57 | University of Bucharest | $1,163.24 | $4,656.81 |
| 79 | Cairo | Egypt | $55.88 | $99.95 | $16.38 | $17.72 | $299.81 | $7.14 | $496.88 | $2,981.30 | Cairo University | $282.00 | $3,263.29 |
| 80 | Bangalore | India | $75.00 | $61.81 | $11.10 | $27.64 | $255.97 | $19.02 | $450.55 | $2,703.28 | Bangalore University | $218.98 | $2,922.26 |
Source: Nestpick
