<p>If you need to rent housing, and you have roommates, say $750 a month for housing and assorted bills. $400 a month for food, etc. Transportation… well, both my kids lived offcampus some of the time, but close enough that they walked or rode their bikes, so transportation costs were negligible. I would think that a frugal person could get by on $1400 a month. Lots of free stuff to do on and around campus, and medical care already covered.</p>