Content Curator | Updated On - Nov 11, 2024
Travel Expenses for Students in USA varies depending on the mode of transportation and location. Indian students can expect to spend around $42 to $366 (3.544 to 30,884 INR) per month on transportation across top student cities in USA. Off-campus students spend more on transportation compared to those living on-campus as they travel regularly.
The most cost-effective way to travel in USA are public transports such as subways, buses, and taxis. You can expect to pay around $1.75 - $2.90 (148 - 245 INR) for a single ride in subway and $1.00 - $5.50 (84 to 464 INR) for a single ride in an Express Bus. Taxis are comparatively expensive which requires a basic fee up to $4.25 (359 INR) with additional per km charges of $1.40 - $2.18 (118 - 184 INR).
Also Read: Cost of Living in USA
Travel Expenses for Students in the USA By Top Cities
Given below are the monthly travel expenses for on-campus and off campus students across popular student cities in USA:
| Best Student City Rankings 2025 | Top Cities | Monthly Travel Expenses for On-Campus Students (USD) | Monthly Travel Expenses for Off-Campus Students (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| #16 | Boston | $75 - $124 | $220 - $314 |
| #=29 | San Francisco | $100 - $168 | $218 - $322 |
| #37 | Los Angeles | $86 - 266 | $162 - $342 |
| #44 | Chicago | $100 - $366 | $133 - $158 |
| #65 | Philadelphia | $88 - $153 | $88 - $280 |
| #69 | San Diego | $77 - $130 | $163 - $275 |
| #70 | Washington | $57 - $118 | $57 - $235 |
| #72 | Atlanta | $99 - $231 | $231 - $313 |
| #80 | Pittsburgh | $93 - $175 | $103 - $216 |
| #88 | Seattle | $42 - 198 | $129 - $198 |
Note: 1 USD = 84.38 as of November 9,2024
Travel Expenses for Students in USA By Mode of Transport
Following common mode of transportation and their cost across top cities in USA:
Subway
Subway is basically a metro system of the United States which covers more than 32 cities across different States. The United States Metro is known to be the largest metro system in the world. It is available across popular cities like New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Philadelphia. The single fare for Subway in these are given below:
| City | Single Ride Fare (USD) | One Time Fare (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Boston | $2.40 | 202 |
| Los Angeles | $1.75 | 148 |
| New York City | $2.90 | 245 |
| Atlanta | $2.50 | 211 |
| Philadelphia | $2.50 | 211 |
Shuttle or Express Bus
The Shuttle or Express Bus is majorly available across cities in the United States. This is one of the most cost-effective models of transportation in USA for students. However, Shuttles generally operate in city areas and you may need to look for alternatives if you are residing in a suburban area. Check out single Shuttle fare for international students in USA:
| City | Single Ride Fare (USD) | One Time Fare (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Boston | $1.70 | 143 |
| San Francisco | $4.40 - $5.50 | 371 - 464 |
| Chicago | $0.75 - $2.50 | 63 - 210 |
| Philadelphia | $2.00 - $2.50 | 169 - 211 |
| Seattle | $1.00 - $2.50 | 84 - 211 |
Taxi
Taxi is one of the most expensive mode to travel in the USA but comparatively more comfortable than other buses and subways. Students generally prefer ride-sharing services to reduce fare charges. Online booking services are available through popular taxi booking applications like Uber, Bolt, Lyft, and various others. Following are the basic fee for taxi along with per Kilometer price for students:
| City | Basic Fee USD) | Kilometer Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Boston | $2.60 | $1.75 |
| San Francisco | $4.25 | $2.03 |
| New York City | $3.00 | $2.18 |
| Los Angeles | $3.10 | $1.85 |
| Chicago | $3.35 | $1.40 |
Note: 1 USD = 84.38 as of November 9,2024
Car Rental
If you wish to travel in the USA during weekends or holidays, then you may consider hiring a car on rent. The rental cars are available with a duration up to 1 month. There are several that offer rental cars at a reasonable price. Provided below are the popular car rental services in USA with their per day rental prices:
| Car Rental Service | Per Day Rent (USD) | Per Day Rent (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Zipcar | $85.2 - $132.5 | 7,189 - 11,180 |
| Hertz | $87 - $284 | 7,341 - 23,964 |
| Avis | $71 - $110 | 5,991 - 9,282 |
| Alamo | $46 - $80 | 3,881 - 6,750 |
| Dollar | $26 - $55 | 2,193 - 4,641 |
Bicycles
Students living on campus or off campus housing within minutes away from the university can rent a Bicycle to get around. Bicycles are some of the cheapest mode of transportation in the USA and easily available for rent throughout top cities. You can rent a bicycle from 2 hours to 2 months as per your need. The daily rent for a bicycle ranges between $20 - $80 (1,687 - 6,750 INR). Check out more resting available for students with cost in the below table:
| Rental Duration | One Time Rent (USD) | One Time Rent (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Hours | $20 - $80 | 1,687 - 6,750 |
| 4 hours | $40 - $120 | 3,375 - $10,125 |
| 24 hours | $50 - $249 | 4,219 - 21,011 |
| 1 Week | $150 - $499 | 12,657 - 42,107 |
| 1 Month | $175 - $749 | 14,767 - 63,202 |
Tips for Students to Reduce Travel Expenses in USA
Following are the tips to reduce your travel expenses in USA an international student:
- Carry your semester passes while traveling which offers up to 11% on regular fare. You can apply for semester by passes via The online transportation management portal.
- If you are living in New York City, you can get a 50% discount on subway and bus fare through the Fare Fares NYC program.
- Students from eligible colleges in the USA can get a discounted fare between $1-4 (84.38 - 337 INR) on MetroRail, local buses, and MetroRapid.
- You can also carry your student pass to get unlimited rides on buses or subways. The student pass costs $97 per term or quarter.
Also Check: Cost of Living in New York
Students whether living on campus or off campus must prepare a monthly for transportation expenses in the USA. You must thoroughly research the transportation options available in the city you are living in along with fare charges. It is best to consider public transportation and also look for discount deals available for students.
FAQs
Ques. How much does transport cost in the USA?
Ans. The annual transportation cost in the USA for students typically ranges from $900 to $3,300 (75,945 - 2.78 lakhs INR). Meanwhile, the monthly transportation cost for students in USA ranges between $42 to $366 (3.544 to 30,884 INR) for on-campus and off-campus students.
Ques. What is the cheapest way to travel in the USA?
Ans. Public transport such as the subway and express buses are the cheapest mode of traveling in the USA. $1.75 (148 INR) is the starting fare charges for Subway while Express Buses and Shuttles starts from $1.70 (1.43 INR)
Ques. Which city has the best public transportation in the USA?
Ans. New York City is home to the best public transportation in the USA. New York is home to an extensive network of Subway, Shuttles, buses, and taxis throughout the city. The Subway System and buses are available 24/7 in New York. It is followed by cities such as Boston, Washington DC and San Francisco.
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