Student Experience
Cost of living in Texas for international students: what a year in San Marcos really costs
Texas is cheaper to live in than California, New York or Massachusetts — but “cheaper” is not the same as cheap. This guide breaks a year at Texas State into the five groups that actually move your budget, using the university’s own 2026–27 figures.
The five groups
| Group | What drives it |
|---|---|
| Housing | The largest item. On-campus vs. off-campus, and whether you share. |
| Food | Meal plan, cooking, eating out — or a mix. |
| Transport | Low on campus; the Bobcat Shuttle covers most of town. A car is optional, not required, in year one. |
| Health insurance | Mandatory for F-1 students; budget it as a core cost, not an extra. |
| Personal | Phone, supplies, entertainment — the group most likely to overrun without a monthly plan. |
Housing: the decision that shapes everything else
Most first-year international students live on campus. It costs more per month than a shared apartment, but it removes deposits, utilities, furniture, commuting and the risk of signing a lease you do not understand yet. From the second year, shared off-campus housing in San Marcos is where most students save — rents are well below Austin’s. See housing options.
Food
A meal plan gives predictable costs and no cooking in a busy first semester. Cooking is cheaper once you know the supermarkets; Asian and international groceries are easy to find in San Marcos and Austin. Many students settle on a small meal plan plus groceries. See dining.
Transport
San Marcos is compact and the campus shuttle is free for students. Austin and San Antonio are reachable by intercity bus or a friend’s car for weekend trips. Buying a car is a second-year decision at the earliest — insurance for a new international driver is expensive. See getting around.
Putting it together
For a first-year international undergraduate living on campus, the university’s total cost of attendance is about $43,720 for the 9-month year, of which housing and food are $13,330 and personal costs and travel $4,520; the rest is tuition, fees and books. Living off campus with roommates from year two typically lowers the housing line — but your I-20 financial requirement is still based on the university’s published figure, so plan to show that amount.
Housing, food, personal and travel figures are Texas State University’s published 2026–27 cost-of-attendance components for international undergraduates. Everything else here is planning guidance from the International Office, not a university figure.
Want a budget for your situation?
Try the cost calculator or send us your plans — on or off campus, meal plan or not — and we will run the numbers.
Ask for a budget
