University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (UIUC)

In spite of the favorable euro-dollar exchange rate housing is still more expensive than in Austria. The price level at the bars around campus is very low (probably due to the high competition between bars). Wireless telephone systems are backward compared to Europe and rather expensive. Local calls via landphones are free. Calling via the Internet (Skype) becomes an important way of communication (especially for making calls to Europe). The main reason for an overall increase of expenditures compared to the usual way of living is travelling.

I had no telephone connection -> no costs As I live with my family at home, of course the cost for accommodation were new for me and being abroad should be used to travel around -> more costs for travelling

i travelled a lot and i went out more often than i did at home. you can certainly do it cheaper, but maybe it's not that fun...

travelling is costly in the US, housing too, other than that i didn't have a phone (okay, therefore i spent less, but the best is that a beer is usually only 2 bucks!

I spent more money in the US because back home I used to live with my family therefore I had no big expenses. And in the US I was living on my own, so I had to pay for everything.

My dorm in the states was more expensive than at home and I wouldn't travel for weeks.