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The short answer
An example budget for a single F-1 student sharing an apartment outside the most expensive cities comes to about $1,649 a month, including about $199 a month for health insurance based on one university's 2026-27 plan of $2,382 a year. Health insurance is the line Nigerian families most often miss: many schools require their own plan, and costs differ widely by school and city.
Start with your school's cost of attendance
Your school publishes an estimated cost of attendance, and the US State Department says a consular officer may ask for evidence of how you will pay all educational, living and travel costs. Use your school's own figures as the starting point; the example below shows how the monthly pieces fit together and where the surprises are.
The worked example
Example only. A single graduate student sharing a two-bedroom apartment near a mid-sized university, cooking most meals, without a car:
| Item | Example monthly cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (share of apartment) | $800 | Varies sharply by city; campus housing has its own rates |
| Groceries and some meals out | $350 | African grocery shops can cost more |
| Transport | $60 | Some schools include a bus pass in fees; a car costs far more |
| Phone plan | $40 | Compare prepaid and contract plans |
| Health insurance | $198.50 | Oakland University's 2026-27 plan: $2,382 a year ÷ 12 |
| Books and supplies | $50 | Higher at the start of each semester |
| Personal spending | $100 | Toiletries, clothing, occasional outings |
| Money sent home | $50 | Optional; transfer fees on top |
| Total | $1,648.50 |
Check: 800 + 350 + 60 + 40 + 198.50 + 50 + 100 + 50 = $1,648.50.
Where an on-campus job fits
F-1 students may work on campus up to 20 hours a week while classes are in session. Pay rates depend on the job and the state minimum wage, so check your school's job board. Example: 15 hours a week at an example $12 an hour for 4 weeks is 15 × 12 × 4 = $720 a month before tax.
- Spending: $1,648.50.
- On-campus pay (example): $720.
- Gap from savings or family: $1,648.50 − $720 = $928.50 a month.
Off-campus work needs CPT or OPT authorisation, so do not plan on it in your first year; see F-1 work rules. Wages also bring a tax filing; see do Nigerian students in the US file a tax return.
One-off costs in the first month
- Security deposit and first month's rent, often due together.
- Furniture, bedding and kitchen items.
- Winter clothing if your school has cold winters.
- Any health plan premium billed by semester or year rather than monthly; Oakland bills by semester or annually and does not allow monthly cover for degree-seeking students.
Managing naira and dollars
Most Nigerian students spend in dollars and receive support in naira, so the naira cost of the same budget moves with the exchange rate. Agree with your family a monthly figure in dollars, keep a buffer of one or two months' spending, and check the rate your provider shows on the day you transfer rather than a headline rate. For money going the other way, our guide to sending money to Nigeria from the US compares the routes.
The year in one view
Monthly figures hide the size of the commitment. Example only, using the figures above:
| Line | Example amount | Working |
|---|---|---|
| Spending for 12 months | $19,782 | $1,648.50 × 12 |
| On-campus pay for 9 months of classes | $6,480 | $720 × 9 |
| Gap to fund from savings or family | $13,302 | $19,782 − $6,480 |
The example leaves out pay in the summer months because hours and jobs are uncertain; any summer work would reduce the gap. It also leaves out tuition, which most schools bill separately, and the first-month one-off costs listed above.
Building your own version
- Take your school's published cost of attendance and split the living-cost part into months.
- Replace estimates with real figures as soon as you have them: your lease, your health plan bill, your phone contract.
- Track two weeks of actual food and transport spending after arrival.
- Add the health plan as billed (semester or annual), not as a monthly figure, so the big payments are planned for.
- Agree a fixed dollar amount with family and set a buffer of one or two months' spending.
Where Pryme fits
A Pryme Personal Account holds USD and NGN with local details for each and can be opened from any country, so family can pay in naira and you Swap when you choose, with the rate and fee shown first. The Personal Assistant can prepare reminders for rent and premiums; nothing moves without your approval. Outside Nigeria, Pryme works through regulated partners.
Questions people ask
How much does a Nigerian student need per month in the US?
It depends on the city and school. Our labelled example comes to $1,648.50 a month including health insurance; use your school's cost of attendance for your own figure.
How much is health insurance for international students in the US?
It varies by school. Oakland University's 2026-27 plan costs $2,382 a year, about $198.50 a month.
Can an on-campus job pay for living costs in the US?
Partly. As an example, 15 hours a week at $12 an hour is $720 a month, leaving a gap in our budget.
Do I need a car as a student in the US?
Not always. Many campuses have buses or shuttles; a car adds insurance, fuel and parking costs.
Sources
- Oakland University ISSO: Health insurance (2026-27) · accessed Oct 2026
- UCSF International Students and Scholars Office: F-1 Employment Options · accessed Oct 2026
- US Department of State: Student Visa · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.