Swede in New York

October 26, 2006 12:14 PM

I need to provide a foreign student studying in Sweden with information about relocating to New York for a semester.

Specifically, she needs to know about the cost of food, housing, etc. Ideally, I'd like to find a website where all of this information is compiled. Now, I live in New York, and could probably guess what it will cost this person to move here, but I would like something a little more official, or quasi-official, or just more official than me. Also, if anyone has an idea how living in Sweden compares with New York, I'd appreciate it.

posted by dshargel to travel & transportation (3 comments total)

Rent, utilities, telephone, clothing, food and transport expenses for New School students are estimated here (scroll down). Look light to me, but. Other colleges probably have similar sites.
posted by jamesonandwater at 12:26 PM on October 26, 2006

In my limited experience food used to be cheaper in the U.S. than in Sweden, but now it's pretty comparable, while rent is much, much more expensive here (YMMV). It's a lot cheaper to eat out in New York than in pretty much any place I've ever been in Sweden, though.

Try some cost of living calculations to get a better feel. The most recent numbers are here. With New York as the base level of 100, Stockholm, Sweden scored an 84 - so it's likely to be more expensive than she is used to.

Depending on where she is from, the big issue might not be going from Sweden to the U.S, but instead adjusting to such a big city (pollution, people everywhere, homeless people, etc).

I didn't catch if she was actually Swedish or not? If she is, and gets homesick in New York, the Swedish Church on E 48th Street (between 5th Ave and Madison) is a nice haven. They have Swedish food, papers, etc., and can be a good place to meet people, even if you aren't a church-going kind of person.
posted by gemmy at 4:53 PM on October 26, 2006

Talk to the prospective school(s). They should be able to provide some numbers as these will be required for the visa later.
posted by Pollomacho at 11:22 PM on October 26, 2006