Leahlearns Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 So I will be going to school in a pricey city. I don't know what sort of stipend I will receive yet, but I will be attending a master's program. However, I've been advised that I should start tackling the housing question ASAP. It seems like I could get a studio apartment (1 bedroom) for just under $700/month. That's the cheapest I see. I would really rather not share (a two bedroom) with a stranger although I know people do it all the time. The $700 would include water, but nothing else. Is it ridiculous to hope for a stipend that would allow me to do that? I just have no idea what people generally pay for housing in cities...Oh and we're talking about unfurnished. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dreams Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 So I will be going to school in a pricey city. I don't know what sort of stipend I will receive yet, but I will be attending a master's program. However, I've been advised that I should start tackling the housing question ASAP. It seems like I could get a studio apartment (1 bedroom) for just under $700/month. That's the cheapest I see. I would really rather not share (a two bedroom) with a stranger although I know people do it all the time. The $700 would include water, but nothing else. Is it ridiculous to hope for a stipend that would allow me to do that? I just have no idea what people generally pay for housing in cities...Oh and we're talking about unfurnished. Depending on the city, $700 seems reasonable. You will also need to factor in utilities. Depending on your gas and electric use, around $70 to $150 a month. But you should check the local utility company for their average rates based on usage. Do you have the opportunity to work the summer before you start? Savings from that may help alleviate some of the initial moving costs. Also, you may want to ask friends and family if they could pitch in for, or donate furniture. Check with your university on sites to go to where students sell furniture for whatever reason. You could catch a lot of beginning and end of the term sales on items. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepoorstockinger Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 This is a useless question unless you tell us the city/what part of the city. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kahlan_amnell Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 Where I'm living currently, $700 might get you a room. Rent for studios and one bedrooms is over $1,000. You haven't given us enough information for us to say if that is a reasonable amount to pay or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leahlearns Posted March 21, 2009 Author Share Posted March 21, 2009 I'll be in Seattle. From the ads I've looked at, it looks like you can get from various sections of the city to the university by bus fairly readily. If I was able to save a lot of money on housing (by living farther away from campus) I would consider driving out there. Otherwise, I don't plan to bring/have a car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilderbeast Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 I have been wondering about this too. In the city I'm moving to, the housing gets considerably less expensive around 8-10 miles from the university. But that seems so far to me (I live within a mile of my undergrad school). I've heard that graduate students typically live further off campus than undergrads, but what's a reasonable commute? Is 20 minutes commute by car too much? Is it worth it to pay $200-$300 more a month to live within 3 miles of the campus? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
belowthree Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 Remember to factor in the price of gas and parking. At some universities parking is expensive enough to actually need to be budgeted for if your housing situation ends up making it so that you need to drive to campus. Look up the prices of the parking permits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doctoraldude Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 Is it worth it to pay $200-$300 more a month to live within 3 miles of the campus? That's one thing i really want to know ! (i.e. instead of making a decision and regretting it for a year or so! :? ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UnlikelyGrad Posted March 22, 2009 Share Posted March 22, 2009 Remember to factor in the price of gas and parking. At some universities parking is expensive enough to actually need to be budgeted for if your housing situation ends up making it so that you need to drive to campus. Look up the prices of the parking permits. I think UW students get free or reduced-price bus passes. The bus system in Seattle is pretty good. Also, if you bike, it's totally feasible to live in, say, Greenwood (2-3 mi north or so?) and bike to campus. I know a number of people who went to UW for grad school and they all lived in Greenwood at one time or another so it must be a cheap place to live. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leahlearns Posted March 22, 2009 Author Share Posted March 22, 2009 Thanks! I will definitely look into Greenwood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted March 22, 2009 Share Posted March 22, 2009 UW students definitely get a free bus pass - my brother did undergrad there and confirmed it :wink: . Parking is very expensive, hard to find, and just plain icky. Seattle bus systems are excellent and can get you from just about anywhere in the city to UW campus. I had a car but never used it when lived in the city (Central District - far from campus, but even it had a UW-bound bus route if you so desire). Greenwood is a great neighborhood. You could also try Ravenna, Fremont, Wallingford, or (my brother says) "anything north of the Ship Canal Bridge that isn't Ballard." Ballard is kind-of a bus island, so it's really hard to get to campus. All the neighborhoods in north Seattle are nice and safe, IMO, so you can't go wrong if you find a good deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leahlearns Posted March 23, 2009 Author Share Posted March 23, 2009 Okay, I just found an ad for an apartment at half that price...good development. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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