How Much Does Immigration to the U.S. Cost? What You Need to Know — A Complete Guide for Future Immigrants

Moving to the United States is not only a legal process but also a comprehensive financial undertaking. To ensure a smooth transition, it is important to understand in advance what expenses to expect. The cost of living in the U.S. varies significantly by region—East Coast, North, West, and South. Below is a practical and clear breakdown of what truly matters when planning your budget.

Initial Immigration Costs

The total amount depends on the immigration category, but there are several mandatory expenses that apply to almost everyone:

• USCIS government filing fees. The amount depends on the specific form. Starting January 1, 2026, increased USCIS fees will take effect. You can read more about this here.

• Medical examination. Required for most visa categories.

• Attorney fees. Costs vary depending on the visa category and scope of work. Expect anywhere from $3,000 to $70,000, depending on the type of visa.

• Translations and document preparation. Diplomas, certificates, reference letters, resumes, and other supporting documents.

• Relocation expenses. Airfare, baggage, transfers, and temporary housing.

  
  

The final total can vary significantly. However, regardless of the immigration category, one key factor remains the same: the cost of living after relocation varies greatly from state to state and directly impacts your real budget during the first months in the U.S.

Cost of Living by U.S. Regions

Below is an overview of four major regions. These figures provide a general understanding of what to expect.

East Coast

New York City, Boston, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and surrounding areas form one of the most dynamic—and expensive—regions in the United States. For immigrants, several important factors should be considered from the start:

• Extremely high competition for housing. Rental listings are often taken within hours, so shared housing with roommates is very common.

• Transportation costs are significant, even with well-developed public transit. Owning a car further increases expenses due to parking and insurance.Strong career opportunities thanks to the concentration of finance, healthcare, education, science, politics, consulting, and IT. At the same time, the job market is highly competitive.

• Well-established immigrant communities, especially in New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. The multicultural environment often makes adaptation easier and provides social support during the early stages of relocation.

  
  

To illustrate, here is a comparison of housing costs in two major East Coast cities: Boston and New York City.

Housing

Numbeo is a global database that provides comparative data on prices, rent, safety, healthcare, and overall cost of living. It is widely used by people planning relocation or travel.

Groceries and food

The average cost of a standard grocery basket is $108.73 in New York and $93.25 in Boston.

For a detailed comparison across additional categories, see here.

Midwest / North

Chicago, Minneapolis, Detroit, Milwaukee, and other Midwestern cities are considered one of the most affordable regions in the U.S. in terms of cost of living:

• Rent is noticeably lower and housing competition is less intense, especially in suburbs and smaller cities.

• Public transportation is available in major urban centers, but outside them a car is most often necessary.

• The job market is stable, with strong opportunities in engineering, manufacturing, logistics, IT, and healthcare. At the same time, it is generally more conservative and less dynamic than on the coasts.

• Climate requires special attention: cold winters often lead to additional costs for heating, clothing, and car maintenance, which can be a deciding factor for some immigrants when choosing a region.

  
  

Let’s compare housing and food costs in Chicago and Minneapolis.

Housing 

Chicago tends to be slightly more expensive due to its size, demand, and location. Minneapolis usually offers more affordable options, especially in the suburbs.

Groceries and dining

The ranges are similar, but in Minneapolis the grocery basket typically costs a bit less.

A full category-by-category comparison (restaurants, transportation, fitness, utilities, clothing, salaries, and more) can be found here.

West Coast

The West Coast is one of the most attractive—but also one of the most expensive—regions in the U.S. It includes California (where Bloomrich Law Firm is located), as well as Washington and Oregon. This is also where our Bloomrich Law Firm office is located:

• The region offers a mild climate, a strong economy, and high demand for skilled professionals. However, rent in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Seattle is among the highest in the country, so many people start out in the suburbs.

• Transportation depends on the city: public transit is relatively developed in Seattle and San Francisco, but a car is often still necessary. In Los Angeles, it is difficult to live without a car, which increases costs.

• The region provides strong career opportunities in technology, science, biotechnology, engineering, healthcare, and creative industries—along with high competition.

• Another major advantage is the presence of large immigrant communities and a multicultural environment, which can make adaptation easier and daily life more comfortable.

Housing 

Below are general benchmarks for rent and grocery costs in two major West Coast cities. Seattle is usually cheaper than Los Angeles, while San Francisco remains the most expensive city in the region.

Groceries and dining

A full category-by-category comparison (restaurants, transportation, fitness, utilities, clothing, salaries, and more) can be found here.

Южный регион (South)

The Southern U.S.—including Texas, Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina—is considered one of the fastest-growing and most immigrant-friendly regions:

• The cost of living is generally more affordable than the coasts, especially in suburbs. The climate is warm with mild winters, but in most cities a car becomes a necessity due to limited public transportation.

• The job market is actively developing and offers a wide range of opportunities in IT and fintech, logistics, healthcare, construction, tourism, and services, making the region a practical place to start life in the U.S. with a balance of prices, climate, and career options.

  
  

Housing

Houston is significantly more affordable, especially in the suburbs. Miami remains one of the most expensive Southern cities.

Groceries and dining

We understand that many people want to plan a budget in advance and at least roughly understand what amounts may be needed for relocation. Below are average cost ranges based on real immigrant experience. However, it’s important to keep in mind: every immigration case is individual, and the final amount depends on your category, state, family size, timeline, and personal choices. Please do not treat these numbers as an exact calculation—this is a benchmark to help form an overall understanding.

The amounts below already include:

• attorney services,

• USCIS government fees,

• medical exam,

• translations,

• flight,

• housing deposit + rent,

• furniture,

• groceries,

• initial household essentials.

  
  

This is a realistic, full picture for one adult.

Minimum budget — $10,000–$14,000

Includes:

• attorney: ~$4,000–$6,000

• USCIS: $600–$1,000

• documents/translations: $300–$500

• medical exam: $200–$400

• flight: $600–$1,000

• deposit + rent: $1,500–$2,500

• furniture + essentials: $300–$700

• groceries/transportation: $400–$600

  
  

Comfortable mid-range budget — $14,000–$20,000

Includes:

• attorney: $6,000–$10,000

• USCIS: $800–$1,500

• documents/translations: $500–$900

• medical exam: $200–$500

• flight: $700–$1,200

• deposit + rent: $2,500–$3,500

• furniture + essentials: $600–$1,000

• groceries/transportation: $500–$800

  
  

Moving to expensive states — $20,000–$28,000

Includes:

• attorney: $7,000–$12,000

• USCIS: $1,000–$3,000

• documents/translations: $600–$1,000

• medical exam: $300–$500

• flight: $700–$1,200

• deposit + rent: $3,500–$6,000

• furniture + essentials: $800–$1,200

• groceries/transportation: $600–$900

  
  

Conclusion

So, taking into account legal costs, USCIS fees, flights, housing deposits, furniture, and the first months of adaptation, an immigrant typically needs $10,000 to $28,000, depending on the state and the category of the case. Again, please do not treat these numbers as an exact calculation—this is a benchmark to help build a general understanding.

To relocate to the U.S., the first thing you need is a clear strategy—a realistic pathway and an action plan for how you will do it. That is why an immigration attorney is important at the start

During a strategy consultation with our immigration attorney Viktoria Bloomberg, you will identify the right option together and go step-by-step through what needs to be done next and in what sequence. This kind of consultation helps you avoid unnecessary steps and mistakes—meaning you don’t overpay or spend money on something that doesn’t fit your situation.

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