Hey Hey
I know you always like when I talk about money. Quantifying things is always easier to know if what others do is also possible for ourselves, right?
As so, I decided to write about my expenses during my first week in Chicago. Obviously I’ve already spent a lot of money (basically, I’m settling up in a new country). : D If you have any other questions, then feel free to email me directly at danielamatinho@gmail.com – I am always happy to help.
House
My rent is about $ 700 a month and it has already been 7 days since I moved in. YES: Time goes very fast. I have spent a lot of money on things for the house BUT my room was almost empty.
Rent: $175
Shooping: $218.83
Transports
The Chicago bus is free but all other buses are paid. They have a monthly card: VETRA, which is about $100 for the all month. Individual trips are $ 2.50 to anywhere in the city.
I’ve taken Uber and Lyft a few times and it seems cheaper than in Europe – here a tip if you ever come around.
Total: $49
Phone
I bought an unlimited card for a month at the airport. Next month I will have to subscribe to a monthly plan to make it more accessible (soon I’ll explain to you here or Instagram @danielamatinho the monthly costs).
Total: $44
Food
I find things at the supermarket way more expensive than in Europe. On Sunday, I paid $6 for tea and believe me, it was the cheapest I found. I did not see chocolate for less than $3 and cheese: let’s not talk about it.
Total: $120
Sightseeing
As I am still waiting for my student ID, I have not visited most of the touristic places yet (it is always cheaper when we are students). So the only one on the list is the Hancock Tower with the 360 ° view of the city.
Total: $27.50
Cafes/ Restaurants
I love coffee, but I do not know until when… No student can afford coffee at $4… Anyway, for my first week, I allowed myself a couple of luxuries: coffee outside a couple of times and a dinner out with my flatmates. : D
Total: $32.25
For the most curious, I hope this post helped understanding how much can cost to settled abroad. Obviously, if you are planning to come around old to travel, you will not be spending that much.
TOTAL: $672 for my first week
Beijinho,
Daniela