US Relocation Total Cost Calculator
Select your visa type, destination city, and household size. The calculator breaks down every major cost category in both USD and Naira, updated live.
Affects visa filing fees and income assumptions.
Average monthly rent varies a lot by city.
Dependants add living costs, not separate visa filing fees for most routes.
Check DeyWithMe for today’s rate. Default: N1,620/$1.
Include tuition estimate?
For F-1 students. Uses average public university rate (~$12,000/yr in-state, ~$30,000/yr out-of-state).
COST BREAKDOWN
VISA AND APPLICATION FEES
PRE-ARRIVAL TRAVEL COSTS
FIRST-MONTH SETUP COSTS
ANNUAL LIVING COSTS (12 MONTHS)
FIRST-YEAR TOTAL (USD)
$0.00
FIRST-YEAR TOTAL (NGN)
N0.00
RECOMMENDED SAVINGS TARGET
$0.00
N0.00
Total cost + 20% buffer. This is a conservative planning target, not a visa requirement.
Assumptions: Rent estimates use 2024 average 1-bedroom rates. Living costs assume one adult unless household size is changed. Transport assumes public transit or budget car ownership. Costs are estimates and will vary by individual circumstances. Exchange rate defaults to N1,620/$1 and should be updated to today’s rate.
COMMON PLANNING MISTAKES
Only planning for the visa fee. The visa fee is often the smallest cost. The real money goes on rent deposit, flights, and monthly living while your income ramps up.
Using the official exchange rate for planning. Use the parallel market rate. That is what you will actually pay when converting savings to dollars.
Forgetting the housing deposit. Most landlords in the US ask for first and last month’s rent upfront, sometimes plus a security deposit. That is 2 to 3 months of rent before you sleep one night.
Assuming you will earn immediately. F-1 students on OPT or H-1B holders waiting for October 1 start dates often go weeks or months without income. Plan for that gap.
How This Calculator Works
The tool groups your relocation costs into four buckets: visa and application fees, pre-arrival costs, first-month setup, and 12 months of living expenses. Each category pulls from city-level rent data, published US government fee schedules, and documented first-year living cost averages. When you change your visa type or city, every number adjusts instantly.
The formula behind the total is simple:
Savings Target = Total Cost x 1.20
The 20% buffer accounts for cost overruns, unexpected emergencies, and the lag between arrival and first paycheck. It is not a visa requirement. It is just a sensible planning margin.
Why Relocating to the US Is Expensive for Nigerians
The US is not the cheapest japa destination. Canada, the UK, and Germany all have comparable or lower first-year costs in some scenarios. But the US stays popular because of the size of the Nigerian diaspora there, the quality of the school system, and the earning potential in sectors like tech, healthcare, and finance.
The expense problem is not just the dollar cost. It is the naira cost. As the naira weakens against the dollar, the real cost of planning a US move rises even when dollar amounts stay the same. Someone who budgeted N15 million for a move in 2021 would need to revise that significantly upward today for the same trip.
Cost by Visa Route
F-1 Student Visa
This is the most structured route but often the most expensive overall because tuition adds a large fixed cost. Government fees are relatively low (around $345 before the USCIS premium), but when you add in school fees, housing, and living costs, a single year in the US on an F-1 can run $35,000 to $65,000 depending on the school and city.
H-1B Work Visa
If your employer is sponsoring you, they typically cover filing fees. Your out-of-pocket cost is mainly the consular fee ($190), document costs, and relocation expenses. The first-year total is lower than F-1 if you have employer coverage, but you still need enough cash for the first 2 to 3 months before your first US paycheck clears.
B1/B2 Visitor Visa
Low application fees ($160 MRV) but you need to show you can support yourself during your visit without working. No income is allowed on B1/B2. The cost profile here is mainly about travel, accommodation (usually hotels or staying with family), and daily living.
Green Card Routes (EB-1, EB-2, EB-3)
Government fees alone can reach $1,000 to $2,000 per person. If you are self-petitioning (like EB-2 NIW), add attorney fees of $3,000 to $7,000. Then add regular living costs for the duration of the waiting period, which for Nigerian nationals can be several years. This is the highest upfront investment but the one with the clearest long-term payoff.
Cost by City: What the Numbers Actually Look Like
| City | 1-BR Rent/Month | Monthly Living (Solo) | Annual Living Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston, TX | $1,300 | $2,100 | $25,200 |
| Atlanta, GA | $1,400 | $2,200 | $26,400 |
| Dallas, TX | $1,350 | $2,150 | $25,800 |
| Maryland (DMV) | $1,700 | $2,700 | $32,400 |
| Chicago, IL | $1,800 | $2,800 | $33,600 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $1,450 | $2,300 | $27,600 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $2,200 | $3,400 | $40,800 |
| New York, NY | $2,800 | $4,200 | $50,400 |
Source: 2024 city-level rent averages and Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer expenditure data. These are estimates, not guarantees.
Table of Truth: Sample Profiles and First-Year Estimates
| Profile | Visa | City | First-Year Est. (USD) | NGN Equiv. (N1,620/$) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single student, public university | F-1 | Houston | $37,000 to $45,000 | N59.9m to N72.9m |
| Single professional, employer sponsored | H-1B | Atlanta | $28,000 to $35,000 | N45.4m to N56.7m |
| Couple, work route | H-1B + dependent | Dallas | $38,000 to $48,000 | N61.6m to N77.8m |
| Family of 3, student route | F-1 + F-2 | Maryland | $60,000 to $80,000 | N97.2m to N129.6m |
| Extraordinary ability, self-petition | O-1 | New York | $65,000 to $90,000 | N105.3m to N145.8m |
Realistic Scenarios
Scenario 1: Solo Applicant, Houston, H-1B
Emeka has a software engineering offer from a Houston-based company. The employer pays all H-1B filing fees. Emeka’s personal costs cover: consular fee ($190), document authentication ($300), round-trip flight ($1,200), two months’ rent deposit ($2,600), furniture ($1,500), health insurance through employer from day one. First 3 months before steady income: approximately $7,500. Annual living costs: roughly $25,000. Total first year out of pocket: approximately $30,000 to $35,000, depending on lifestyle.
Scenario 2: Couple, Atlanta, F-1 Route
Funmi is going to study for an MBA at a Georgia public university (out-of-state tuition approximately $25,000 per year). Her husband Wale joins on F-2. He cannot work on F-2. Their combined annual costs: tuition ($25,000), rent for a 2-bedroom ($1,900/month = $22,800/year), food and transport for two ($1,600/month = $19,200/year), utilities ($200/month = $2,400/year), health insurance for both ($400/month = $4,800/year). First-year total before visa fees: approximately $74,000 to $80,000.
Scenario 3: Family of 3, Maryland, EB-2 NIW
Dr. Biodun is a published researcher self-petitioning for EB-2 NIW. USCIS fees: approximately $1,440 (I-140 + biometrics). Attorney fees: $4,500. Medical exams for three people: $900. Flights for three: $3,600. Maryland 2-bedroom deposit (2 months): $6,800. First-year rent: $40,800. Food and transport for family: $24,000. Utilities and insurance: $10,000. Estimated first-year total: $92,000 to $105,000. The NIW wait for a visa number for Nigerian nationals adds years of ongoing living costs on top.
Common Questions
Does this include the proof of funds requirement?
No. Proof of funds is money you show you have, not money you spend. The F-1 visa, for example, requires you to show you have enough for the first year of tuition and living. This calculator estimates what you will actually spend, which is a different number.
Is the round-trip flight included?
Yes. The flight estimate uses round-trip economy from Lagos (LOS) to major US cities. One-way tickets are available but round-trip is often cheaper and some consular officers view it as evidence of intent to return for visitor visa applicants.
What about health insurance?
The calculator includes an estimate for the first 3 months if you are not on an employer plan. F-1 students at most universities must enroll in the school’s health insurance plan, which is included in the F-1 estimate. H-1B holders on employer plans from day one can deduct this.
Does this cover the cost of sending money home?
No. Remittance costs are not included here. If you plan to support family in Nigeria while abroad, add that to your personal budget separately. It is a significant line item for many Nigerian diaspora members.
What if I get a scholarship?
Scholarships reduce your tuition line item directly. If you have a full scholarship, remove the tuition from the F-1 total. Partial scholarships reduce it proportionally. The calculator does not yet allow custom tuition input but you can use the skip tuition option and manually factor in your net amount.
Is this estimate the same as what I need in my bank account?
Not exactly. Your bank account needs to show the full first-year cost at the time of application. Some costs (like utilities and groceries) get paid monthly from income once you arrive. But you need to demonstrate you have the funds available, even if you will not spend it all immediately.
How accurate is this estimate?
It is a planning estimate based on publicly available data from 2024. Individual costs will vary depending on lifestyle, roommate situations, employer benefits, and city. Treat it as a directional range, not an exact budget. The actual number could be 15 to 25% higher or lower.
Disclaimer
This tool is a planning estimate only. It does not constitute financial or immigration advice. Visa fees, living costs, and exchange rates change regularly. Always verify fee schedules at travel.state.gov and uscis.gov before making financial decisions. Exchange rate assumptions should be checked against current parallel market rates before converting savings.
