College housing
Should I live at home and commute to college or move out?
Updated By the Housing Rocket moderators
Short answer
Living at home is usually much cheaper, but it costs you time and some of the social side of college. If the commute is reliable and not too long, many students find it worth it for a year or two. If it's long, unpredictable or keeps you from campus activities, moving closer may be the better investment.
Put numbers on both sides. Add up a year of off-campus rent, utilities and move-in costs, then compare it with commuting: gas, a parking permit, car wear or a transit pass, plus the hours you'd spend traveling each week.
- Your class schedule: early and late classes, labs and group projects mean extra trips.
- Work: a job near home or near campus changes the math.
- Home life: whether you can actually study there.
- Campus life: whether you'd still join clubs, study groups and events.
Some students split the difference: commute in the first year, save money, then move closer with friends they met in class. Others rent a room near campus for one busy semester only. If you do commute, ask about commuter lounges, lockers and parking options, which many schools offer.
Want the whole picture? Read Off-Campus Housing for Students: A Semester-by-Semester Timeline.