Family Size

The size of your family will impact your life in the US. The US is an individualistic country, meaning that you pay per person for almost everything. Please review the information below featuring important information about family dynamics and cost in the US. 

Finances

• Feeding the average family of four in the US costs $700-1300/month. A family of six can cost around $1,600/month.  
  • Watch video here for shopping on a budget.Links to an external site.
• Healthcare insurance is billed per person. 
• You can claim each child on your taxes, which may provide you a break on the amount of money being taken out of your weekly paycheck. 
• Buying in bulk may be cheaper than buying individual items. Stores such as Sam’s Club, BJ’s, and Costco feature items sold in bulk. 

Housing

• Apartments in the US range from 1 to 3 bedrooms. On average, you will add $400 USD in rent for every room added to an apartment. 
• 1 bedroom: $1,000
• 2 bedroom: $1,400
• 3 bedroom: $1,800
• Cost of living varies based on city and state. Click here for a cost of living calculator.Links to an external site. 
• There are government mandates that limit the number of people that can live in one apartment/house. 
• Utility bills, such as electricity, gas, and water, will increase with more people living in your apartment/house. 
• Apartment complexes may feature pools, gyms, lounges, or internet cafes. Children should be supervised at all times. 
• Children may not be left home alone at any time. Links to an external site.

Car

• The average car (called a sedan) in the US will seat 5 people. 
• On average, a new, non-luxury sedan costs $32,000 USD. 
• If you have more than 5 people, you must buy a sport utility vehicle (SUV), which seats 6-8 people, or 2 sedans.
• Average cost of a new, non-luxury SUV is $70,000 USD. 
• Gas is averaging $4.00/gallon in the US.
• Cost to fill sedan: $48
• Cost to fill SUV: $100

Insurance

• Health insurance is billed per person. This means you will pay per adult and per child to cover them under health insurance. 
• Each service is billed per person as well. For example, if your 3 children need a vaccine, you will be billed $100, 3 times, totalling $300. 
• If you do not carry health insurance for each child, you will pay out of pocket for all medical-related services. The average cost of a doctor’s appointment is $150 USD (per person).