Studying abroad in Rome - how much spending money?

[Anonymous]

My DS is spending the spring semester in Rome (John Cabot). Besides bigger ticket excursions, how much should she expect to spend? She is currently at GW and spends about $300 a month for eating out/movies/shows. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

My kid spent about 9,000, mostly on travel and food (her program did not provide food). She was in Copenhagen this fall.

[Anonymous]

Things should generally be no more expensive, and probably less. Maybe bump her current spending up by 20% to account for the exchange rate, and consider how much extra travel she might try to do.

[Anonymous]

My kid went to John Cabot for the semester. Spent about $7,000-$10,000 plus $3,800 a month for an apartment. DC didn’t get into the dorms, so we had to rent. The high cost was for travel many weekends all over—Prague, Copenhagen, Ibiza, Morocco, Amsterdam, Dublin, London, Barcelona, Greece, Sicily, Switzerland, Paris, etc. Then they rent Airbnbs in each city, go to clubs, etc. Semester abroad is soooooo expensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid went to John Cabot for the semester. Spent about $7,000-$10,000 plus $3,800 a month for an apartment. DC didn’t get into the dorms, so we had to rent. The high cost was for travel many weekends all over—Prague, Copenhagen, Ibiza, Morocco, Amsterdam, Dublin, London, Barcelona, Greece, Sicily, Switzerland, Paris, etc. Then they rent Airbnbs in each city, go to clubs, etc. Semester abroad is soooooo expensive.

Thanks! p.s. sounds like an amazing time!

[Anonymous]

Omg my son just got back from a semester in Florence and he only spent 3500. Flights are super cheap - he went all over. He didn’t buy lots of clothes but I am shocked at how much the other PPs are reporting their kid spent!!

[Anonymous]

DS spent the fall semester with GW/ Sciences Po in Paris and group excursions as well as studio accommodations were included in the tuition. He was responsible for meals and transport in the city. I’d say he spent about $300-500 a month, buying groceries, paying for metro commute to his studio in the suburbs, and occasionally going out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid went to John Cabot for the semester. Spent about $7,000-$10,000 plus $3,800 a month for an apartment. DC didn’t get into the dorms, so we had to rent. The high cost was for travel many weekends all over—Prague, Copenhagen, Ibiza, Morocco, Amsterdam, Dublin, London, Barcelona, Greece, Sicily, Switzerland, Paris, etc. Then they rent Airbnbs in each city, go to clubs, etc. Semester abroad is soooooo expensive.

No. The extras are expensive: your son certainly denied himself nothing! Most kids can’t afford all that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid went to John Cabot for the semester. Spent about $7,000-$10,000 plus $3,800 a month for an apartment. DC didn’t get into the dorms, so we had to rent. The high cost was for travel many weekends all over—Prague, Copenhagen, Ibiza, Morocco, Amsterdam, Dublin, London, Barcelona, Greece, Sicily, Switzerland, Paris, etc. Then they rent Airbnbs in each city, go to clubs, etc. Semester abroad is soooooo expensive.

Spoiled rich kid. You are not allowed to complain. You enabled this.

[Anonymous]

Yeah - my son and his friends stayed in hostels and arranged flights to avoid an extra night etc. Clubs? It doesn’t have to be SO expensive, OP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid went to John Cabot for the semester. Spent about $7,000-$10,000 plus $3,800 a month for an apartment. DC didn’t get into the dorms, so we had to rent. The high cost was for travel many weekends all over—Prague, Copenhagen, Ibiza, Morocco, Amsterdam, Dublin, London, Barcelona, Greece, Sicily, Switzerland, Paris, etc. Then they rent Airbnbs in each city, go to clubs, etc. Semester abroad is soooooo expensive.

Barf.

[Anonymous]

My DS spent about $2500 of his own money. I gave him $1000. That covered food (no meal plan), travel, etc. This was in Prague last year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid went to John Cabot for the semester. Spent about $7,000-$10,000 plus $3,800 a month for an apartment. DC didn’t get into the dorms, so we had to rent. The high cost was for travel many weekends all over—Prague, Copenhagen, Ibiza, Morocco, Amsterdam, Dublin, London, Barcelona, Greece, Sicily, Switzerland, Paris, etc. Then they rent Airbnbs in each city, go to clubs, etc. Semester abroad is soooooo expensive.

You did a service here breaking down the elective costs that DC incurred. There are some ways that others could bring those numbers down as needed. A shared apartment or shared room in Rome can be less pricey. And whether it is a club or just a bar, drinking is very expensive in Italy if it's not wine. Students can save a lot of money if they stay away from cocktails and hard alcohol. Groceries in Rome cost in total about what they do in the US, with some items cheaper and some more expensive. Shopping isn't strictly necessary, and most high-quality and uniquely Italian goods are likely to be out of student budget range anyway, so that's another way to save. No matter the budget, the goal is to come back with great memories rather than a big pile of stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid went to John Cabot for the semester. Spent about $7,000-$10,000 plus $3,800 a month for an apartment. DC didn’t get into the dorms, so we had to rent. The high cost was for travel many weekends all over—Prague, Copenhagen, Ibiza, Morocco, Amsterdam, Dublin, London, Barcelona, Greece, Sicily, Switzerland, Paris, etc. Then they rent Airbnbs in each city, go to clubs, etc. Semester abroad is soooooo expensive.

+1
Mine was in Prague for a semester and did all of the travel you mentioned - $$$$. It was the experience of a lifetime but financially, so glad it’s over!

[Anonymous]

PP again ^^ - I should mention that all of the traveling my DC did was sharing inexpensive AirBnBs and hostels. Nothing was luxurious at all, it just costs a ton to travel in Europe. And about half of DC’s spending money came from their own savings. Not a “spoiled rich kid”.