Living in the Twin
Cities on a graduate student budget
Affordable living in the Twin Cities
depends greatly on where you choose to live and on what kind of
living arrangements you choose.
During most of 2002, renters saw an increase in vacancy rates, a
stabilization of rent prices and a hefty increase in inducements from landlords
to rent in their buildings. They can expect more of the same in 2003.
Star Tribune,
January 18, 2003
Apartment vacancies rise, rents flat
The Business Journal, January 17, 2003
Among the most expensive options is
living alone near the University, in the areas known as Dinkytown
or Southeast Minneapolis. One-bedroom apartments range from $550
to $750/month. If you are coming to Minnesota without a car, you
will find living in these areas convenient, particularly since
you won't have to drive to campus. On the other hand, these areas
don't have grocery stores - taking a bus is an option but may be a
hassle.
You can also find reasonable
two-bedroom apartments in Dinkytown and Southeast Minneapolis -
rents range from $750-$950. The higher rent you pay to be near
campus may be worth it if you plan to walk to school; parking
near and on campus can be difficult and quite expensive
($.50-$1.50 per hour).
The least expensive option is to live
with one or more roommates in one of the other neighborhoods in
Minneapolis or St. Paul. Uptown Minneapolis is a popular location
with a wide range of apartments; rents tend to be a bit lower
than rents near campus. In general, you can expect to pay $525-$700 for a one-bedroom and
$800-$900 for a two bedroom.
There are numerous bus routes through Uptown, and there is
accessible shopping. There are beautiful lakes nearby if you like
to walk, bike, or jog. A disadvantage to living in Uptown can be
parking; make sure to consider the hassles of on-street parking
before you opt to live in a building without a parking lot. I
found locating an apartment in Uptown to be a difficult process -
the occupancy rates are quite high there, so plan to spend some
time searching for the perfect place!
There are several nice areas in and
around St. Paul that also tend to be less expensive than living
near the University. Rents are comparable to rents in Uptown; you
may have to do a bit of driving and searching to find apartment
complexes in St. Paul. They aren't clustered together like in
Uptown - several areas to try are those around some of the
smaller local colleges. I live in a suburb of St. Paul called
Roseville; my drive to campus takes about ten or fifteen minutes.
Your monthly expenses will reflect your
style of living. Entertainment here is relatively inexpensive -
there are numerous free museums and activities; you might also
look into student "rush" tickets to various cultural
events and performances.
Living on a graduate student budget
isn't easy; neither is it impossible. You need to take into
account rent, car expenses, utilities, food and entertainment,
travel expenses (particularly if you live far from home), and
other miscellaneous expenses. Many current ICD students will be
happy to talk with you about graduate student funding and about
possibilities for apartment hunting—just ask!
Minnesota – A great place to live
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