Living expense halp Forum

[grins_at_bemusement]

1. Which t14 school has the lowest cost of living for essentials?

2. With regard to simply paying off LS debt, assuming one is paying sticker price, should the variance in the cost of living within the t14 be a decisive factor in a person's decision?

[JWicker10]

Living expense is a large function of who the individual is. Obviously the t14 schools located in NYC, LA, DC and Chicago have the highest cost of living, but it also depends on how you live. If you scrimped and saved you could live cheaper in NYC than someone who spent lavishly and lived in a super pricey place in the south/midwest. Assuming an equal standard of living though, NYC, LA, DC and Chicago (Columbia, NYU, USC, UCLA, Georgetown, Northwestern and U of Chicago) would be most expensive.

As far as whether it should be a factor, that's a question you need to ask yourself. How imporant is location? How imporant is an extra $20-$30k for 3 years of living in terms of loan amount etc. for you? What schools you end up deciding between when deciding on how big of a factor COL would be should also be a factor.

[Whatisthis]

Living expense is a large function of who the individual is. Obviously the t14 schools located in NYC, LA, DC and Chicago have the highest cost of living, but it also depends on how you live. If you scrimped and saved you could live cheaper in NYC than someone who spent lavishly and lived in a super pricey place in the south/midwest. Assuming an equal standard of living though, NYC, LA, DC and Chicago (Columbia, NYU, USC, UCLA, Georgetown, Northwestern and U of Chicago) would be most expensive.

As far as whether it should be a factor, that's a question you need to ask yourself. How imporant is location? How imporant is an extra $20-$30k for 3 years of living in terms of loan amount etc. for you? What schools you end up deciding between when deciding on how big of a factor COL would be should also be a factor.

The area around the U of C (Hyde park) is probably cheaper than 3/4 of the T14. I am
renting a 2 bedroom apartment 2 blocks from the law school for less than $900/month. Now the area is a little scary, but it is also cheap (especially for Chicago).

[kmap]

Cambridge is terrible. You can't get a decent studio for less than $1200/month, and because of my cat, I need a one-bedroom. I don't do well with roommates, so I'm choosing to suck it up and pay twice what I'd pay in most other places

[grins_at_bemusement]

How imporant is an extra $20-$30k for 3 years of living in terms of loan amount etc. for you? What schools you end up deciding between when deciding on how big of a factor COL would be should also be a factor.

I'm definitely interested in saving 20-30k, seeing that my total UG price< 20 grand.

[kaydish21]

Living expense is a large function of who the individual is. Obviously the t14 schools located in NYC, LA, DC and Chicago have the highest cost of living, but it also depends on how you live. If you scrimped and saved you could live cheaper in NYC than someone who spent lavishly and lived in a super pricey place in the south/midwest. Assuming an equal standard of living though, NYC, LA, DC and Chicago (Columbia, NYU, USC, UCLA, Georgetown, Northwestern and U of Chicago) would be most expensive.

As far as whether it should be a factor, that's a question you need to ask yourself. How imporant is location? How imporant is an extra $20-$30k for 3 years of living in terms of loan amount etc. for you? What schools you end up deciding between when deciding on how big of a factor COL would be should also be a factor.

There is a t14 school in LA???

Who knew.

[JWicker10]

Living expense is a large function of who the individual is. Obviously the t14 schools located in NYC, LA, DC and Chicago have the highest cost of living, but it also depends on how you live. If you scrimped and saved you could live cheaper in NYC than someone who spent lavishly and lived in a super pricey place in the south/midwest. Assuming an equal standard of living though, NYC, LA, DC and Chicago (Columbia, NYU, USC, UCLA, Georgetown, Northwestern and U of Chicago) would be most expensive.

As far as whether it should be a factor, that's a question you need to ask yourself. How imporant is location? How imporant is an extra $20-$30k for 3 years of living in terms of loan amount etc. for you? What schools you end up deciding between when deciding on how big of a factor COL would be should also be a factor.

There is a t14 school in LA???

Who knew.

I just listed through the top 20. Thanks for flaming me on a completely retarded point that has nothing to do with OPs question. Bet your 169 didn't take you t14 anyways.

[kaydish21]

Haha, well 1, it did. Yet more to the point, OP just said t14, and lastly, it doesn't really matter. Deep breaths boss.

Edited to add: The rest of your post answered his question pretty well, so there was no need to add more.

[grins_at_bemusement]

Living expense is a large function of who the individual is. Obviously the t14 schools located in NYC, LA, DC and Chicago have the highest cost of living, but it also depends on how you live. If you scrimped and saved you could live cheaper in NYC than someone who spent lavishly and lived in a super pricey place in the south/midwest. Assuming an equal standard of living though, NYC, LA, DC and Chicago (Columbia, NYU, USC, UCLA, Georgetown, Northwestern and U of Chicago) would be most expensive.

As far as whether it should be a factor, that's a question you need to ask yourself. How imporant is location? How imporant is an extra $20-$30k for 3 years of living in terms of loan amount etc. for you? What schools you end up deciding between when deciding on how big of a factor COL would be should also be a factor.

The area around the U of C (Hyde park) is probably cheaper than 3/4 of the T14. I am
renting a 2 bedroom apartment 2 blocks from the law school for less than $900/month. Now the area is a little scary, but it is also cheap (especially for Chicago).

I would think that would make Chicago a great bargain. Great access to biglaw market in that city, and a dollar goes a lot further than either NY or LA, if you chose to work there. But maybe starting associate pay fluctuates depending on location.

[You Gotta Have Faith]

Lowest COL schools in the T-14... my guess would be Duke, UVA, and Cornell. But I'm not totally sure. As one poster pointed out, definitely NOT the ones nestled in the middle of a huge city.

Obviously though, if one gives you better career prospects, or is just where you want to work, then you need to account for much more than COL expenses.

[joeshmo39]

I'm living in a 3-bedroom at UVA (well technically 2 and a Den, but we're making the den a 3rd BR) condo/apartment next year with 2 other guys. It's got newish appliances, hardwood floors, 1 and a half baths, and is a decent size. It's a 5-10 minute bike ride from the law school. All this for 995/month with gas/heat thrown in (poolio in the plan too). I plan to spend, personally, no more than 400 a month on rent and utilities. Pretty good deal even going by where I live now which is also cheap.

I don't know if such things should be a deciding factor but I do think that they should play a big part. All other things being equal, you might as well spend less. I'm going to UVA because it gives me a reason to get out of the city. I you value city living you may be willing to spend more.

[JWicker10]

I'm living in a 3-bedroom at UVA (well technically 2 and a Den, but we're making the den a 3rd BR) condo/apartment next year with 2 other guys. It's got newish appliances, hardwood floors, 1 and a half baths, and is a decent size. It's a 5-10 minute bike ride from the law school. All this for 995/month with gas/heat thrown in (poolio in the plan too). I plan to spend, personally, no more than 400 a month on rent and utilities. Pretty good deal even going by where I live now which is also cheap.

WOW. I'll be paying over $1,700/month all-in for one bedroom in a tiny two bedroom.