Are you interested in spending a year abroad in the United States? Or would you even like to let your child go on a trip abroad? Then it's important to inform yourself thoroughly beforehand, for example about what a year in the USA will cost. That's what this text is about, so if you're interested, keep reading!

How expensive will the trip be?

Prices for the trip are quite expensive. They also keep rising and are a clear part of the trip. Cheap flights to New York, with a few stopovers and waiting times, start at around $1,650 (€1,500) round trip. If you want to travel business class, you have to expect at least $3,300 (€3,000), but note that flights to New York aren't possible without a stopover.

Cost of a gap year in the USA

But the trip is far from everything, the really high costs are still to come. Of course, you first have to think about how long you want to stay there, since that makes a big difference. You also have to decide whether you want to attend a public high school or would rather go to a private high school here too. But what is the difference between public and private anyway? It's not just the cost of a gap year in the USA that depends on it. That's relatively easy to explain. Private high schools have a much larger range of subjects and leisure activities. You can often choose among a wide variety of school subjects, and you can often play more sports as well. In short, private high schools are more individual. In addition, private schools in the USA are often attended only by upper-class families, so the level of the students, but also of the teachers and staff, is higher.

That in turn strongly affects the cost of a gap year in the USA. So now you have to decide on the duration and which school to choose. For a half year, you can get in at a public school from $9,500 (€8,600). That would include the flight, insurance, supervision and accommodation with a host family. But even that isn't everything, because in the USA children and students have to pay for lunch themselves. That's why pocket money of $275-$385 (€250-350) per month is often recommended. On top of that come further costs. The visa costs about $330 (€300). For a half-year stay at a private school, you have to expect a cost of around $14,900 (€13,500). For a whole year, the costs are about $11,000 (€10,000) for public schools and about $22,000 (€20,000) for private schools.
So you have to decide clearly whether luxury is indispensable, because the cost of a gap year in the USA depends on it.

Cost of a gap year in the USA

So what costs how much?

Travel there and back, which is often already included, ranges from $1,650 (€1,500) to $5,500 (€5,000) depending on the luxury and comfort class. For the stay itself, you should budget $11,000 (€10,000) for a half year at public schools and $16,500 (€15,000) at private schools. For a whole year, expect at least $13,200 (€12,000) and $24,200 (€22,000) respectively.

Costs at a glance

  • Travel there + back
  • Accommodation
  • School costs (large fluctuations)
  • Meals
  • Leisure activities
  • Sports activities