At, for example, Ctown Plaza, which is already close to campus, a 6 room apartment with singles is also 625 a month, including internet, heat and water.

Also, most people already have phones/would have a phone for other reasons, so adding it to a cost of living off campus is somewhat redundant for most people looking for housing.

Of course it’s not to say that you could be living more expensively in Collegetown – but most people are not looking for studios in 312, those who do are the exceptions.

I would say living in Ctown is generally somewhat cheaper (not necessarily by much – but it is possible to save alot if one is willing to sacrifice location, etc.)

Really, the deciding factor is not the type of room, but rather the location. Shared high-density housing in the center of collegetown is even more expensive than my studio several blocks away. Food is not something I considered when I wrote this, because of the huge variance in food costs. While it’s true that you can actually save money living off campus, it’s more likely that you’ll spend more to get equivalent service with the dorms. If you don’t mind cooking for yourself and friends, walking inordinate distances, living in sketchy housing, etc., then perhaps it *is* cheaper living off campus.

In Ithaca, as well as elsewhere, you tend to get what you pay for.

You can still have a ’single’ bedroom, but live in a 3-, 4-, or even 6-person apartment/house, where everyone gets their own room. These options are worlds cheaper (Sometimes by almost a factor of 2 less than the quoted price!)

Most people in the dorms (At least 2/3 by my reckoning) already have cell phones. So that cost can’t be thought of as ‘off campus’. And lots of apartments offer free internet, and free or discounted parking (saving you between $100 and $600 off of maintaining a car on campus!)

And you neglect to do the math on food. $12/dinner is too much to pay. If four people buy together and cook together, meals can be as low as $2-$3/each per person. You save hundreds on food by operating your own stove and microwave. Yes, you could do that in the dorm. But realistically, it’d be difficult because of food theft from the public fridge (Required to hold gallon containers of milk, etc), plus you’d need to get creative on storing cooking wares in your dorm room.

If you live in a fraternity or cooperative society, housing and meals can be even less.

My math:

$500/month (rent; a safe average)
$25/month (heat; what I actually pay)
$0 phone (I had it already courtesy of folks; same as most kids)
$0 internet (free with apartment)
$100/month (food costs; roughly what I pay, including beer)

x 10 months = $6250/total school year

Even if you had a full-year lease, that will run you $1000 more for the two summer months, or a total $7250.

2004-2005 cost of living in a double on campus and eating the Any 7 meal plan: $8200/year

Conclusion: The initial premise “living off campus *can* be more expensive” is true. That having been said, I think 95% of people who live off-campus save measurable amounts of money ($500 at the low end, upwards of $2000 if you live smart and frugally enough!).

For me, off campus housing is so much cheaper and nicer (more quite, too!!). You can invite several friends over whenever you want.

$500/mo for 10 months
$500 down
$12/mo electric
Gas paid by landlord
$10 on a shared cell plan (alright, does not apply to everyone)
$12/mo intern

And food costs roughly a quarter to make yourself (my average is $2/meal/person, which could definitely go down, but we eat well. Any 14 was over $8/meal in 2004.)