Costs of Attendance and Monthly Budget

Student Monthly Budget

The table below breaks down typical expenses—such as housing, food, utilities, personal costs, and transportation—and shows how those monthly amounts add up over different enrollment periods, ranging from one to 12 months.

These estimates are used by Student Financial Aid to help calculate cost of attendance and give students a realistic picture of expected living costs while enrolled at KU Medical Center.

2026–27 Monthly Budget by Category and Duration
Category	Monthly Budget	2 Months	3 Months	4 Months	4.5 Months	5 Months	6 Months	7 Months	9 Months	10 Months	11 Months	12 Months
Living Expenses
Housing	$1,561	$3,122	$4,683	$6,244	$7,025	$7,805	$9,366	$10,927	$14,049	$15,610	$17,171	$18,732
Food	$586	$1,172	$1,758	$2,344	$2,637	$2,930	$3,516	$4,102	$5,274	$5,860	$6,446	$7,032
Utilities – Electric	$95	$190	$285	$380	$428	$475	$570	$665	$855	$950	$1,045	$1,140
Utilities – Gas	$49	$98	$147	$196	$221	$245	$294	$343	$441	$490	$539	$588
Utilities – Water/Trash	$45	$90	$135	$180	$203	$225	$270	$315	$405	$450	$495	$540
Utilities – Phone	$86	$172	$258	$344	$387	$430	$516	$602	$774	$860	$946	$1,032
Utilities – Internet Service	$57	$114	$171	$228	$257	$285	$342	$399	$513	$570	$627	$684
Total Living Expenses	$2,479	$4,958	$7,437	$9,916	$11,156	$12,395	$14,874	$17,353	$22,311	$24,790	$27,269	$29,748
Miscellaneous Personal Expenses
Personal Care	$82	$164	$246	$328	$369	$410	$492	$574	$738	$820	$902	$984
Personal/Property Insurance	$32	$64	$96	$128	$144	$160	$192	$224	$288	$320	$352	$384
Dental/Medical	$74	$148	$222	$296	$333	$370	$444	$518	$666	$740	$814	$888
Laundry	$21	$42	$63	$84	$95	$105	$126	$147	$189	$210	$231	$252
Health/Dental/Vision Insurance	$157	$314	$471	$628	$707	$785	$942	$1,099	$1,413	$1,570	$1,727	$1,884
Miscellaneous	$106	$212	$318	$424	$477	$530	$636	$742	$954	$1,060	$1,166	$1,272
Clothing	$78	$156	$234	$312	$351	$390	$468	$546	$702	$780	$858	$936
Total Miscellaneous Personal Expenses	$550	$1,100	$1,650	$2,200	$2,475	$2,750	$3,300	$3,850	$4,950	$5,500	$6,050	$6,600
Transportation
Car Insurance	$98	$196	$294	$392	$441	$490	$588	$686	$882	$980	$1,078	$1,176
License/Registration	$38	$76	$114	$152	$171	$190	$228	$266	$342	$380	$418	$456
Gasoline	$114	$228	$342	$456	$513	$570	$684	$798	$1,026	$1,140	$1,254	$1,368
Repairs/Maintenance	$62	$124	$186	$248	$279	$310	$372	$434	$558	$620	$682	$744
Parking*	$29	$58	$87	$116	$131	$145	$174	$203	$261	$290	$319	$348
Total Transportation	$341	$682	$1,023	$1,364	$1,535	$1,705	$2,046	$2,387	$3,069	$3,410	$3,751	$4,092
TOTAL	$3,370	$6,740	$10,110	$13,480	$15,165	$16,850	$20,220	$23,590	$30,330	$33,700	$37,070	$40,440

*provides for cost of zone 3

Data Sources

Data for 2026-27 found on pages 8-16 of the December 2025 CPI (published January 13) https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cpi.pdf

Table 1 > All items > All items less food and energy > Commodities less food and energy > Services less energy services > Shelter (page 8)
Table 1 > All items > Food (page 8)
Table 1 > All items > Energy > Energy Services > Electricity (page 8)
Table 1 > All items > Energy > Energy Services > Utility (piped) gas service (page 8)
Table 2 > All items > All items less food and energy > Water and sewer and trash collection
services (page 14)
Table 2 > All items > All items less food and energy > Education and comunication services > Telephone services > Wireless telephone services (page 15)
Table 2 > All items > All items less food and energy > Education and comunication services > Internet services and electronic information providers (page 15)
Table 3 > Other Goods and Services > Personal Care (page 16)
Table 2 > All items > All items less food and energy > Shelter > Tenants' and household insurance (page 14)
Table 1 > All items > All items less food and energy > Commodities less food and energy > Services less energy services > Medical care services (page 8)
Table 2 > All items > All items less food and energy > Other personal services > Miscellaneous personal services > Laundry and dry cleaning services (page 15)
Table 2 > All items > All items less food and energy > Medical care services > Health insurance (Page 14)
Table 2 > Other personal services > personal care services (page 15)
Table 1 > All items > All items less food and energy > Commodities less food and energy > Apparel (page 8)
Table 2 > All items > All items less food and energy > Transportation services > Motor vehicle insurance (page 14)
Table 2 > All items > All items less food and energy > Transportation services > Motor vehicle fees > State motor vehicle registration and license fees (page 14)
Table 2 > All items > Energy > Energy commodities > Motor fuel > Gasoline (all types) (page 11)
Table 2 > All items > All items less food and energy > Transportation services > Motor vehicle maintenance and repair (page 14)
KUMC Parking website - Zone 3 is $342 for the year or $28.50 a month as of 7-1-24. No change for AY26

Data for 2024-2025 is from the student survey

Used average of students who pay $700-$1,599 a month from student survey. All submissions seemed low. Verified using 3 websites for average rent expenses in KC, MO area.
Used average of all submissions for both Groceries and Dinning out from student survey
Used average of all submissions from student survey
Used average of all submissions from student survey
Used average of all submissions from student survey
Used average of students who pay 30-149 a month since overall average seemed too low for one person
Used average of all submissions from student survey
Used average of all submissions from student survey
Used average for KC, MO area highest amount plus $10 since overall average seemed high
Used average of all submissions from student survey
Looked up average cost of using a laundromat
Used average of all submissions from student survey, included Medical, Dental, and Vision
Used average of all submissions for both Entertainment and Household supplies from student survey
Used midpoint from google search for what the average college student spends. Our amount seemed low.
Used average of all submissions from student survey
Used average of all submissions from student survey
Used average of all submissions from student survey
Used average of all submissions for both Repairs/Maintenance and Tolls from student survey
KUMC Parking website - Zone 3 is $326 for the year or $27.16 a month as of 7-1-23