UCSD Housing Costs
What are the UCSD Living Expenses?
Room, board, and other expenses will add up to a great deal. How much does UCSD charge for these essentials, and how does this school compare to others?
On this page you will find:
- Outline of Housing Costs
- Room & Board Trends and Total Expenses
- Meal Plans and Housing Requirements
- Housing Costs Comparison
- References
UCSD Living Expenses Dining and housing costs at UCSD are combined. In 2021 the average student paid about $16,145 to cover living expenses.
The table below will show you the anticipated costs of both on-campus and off-campus housing and other expenses for University of California - San Diego.
Expense | On Campus | Off Campus |
---|---|---|
Room and Board | $16,145 | $16,145 |
Other Living Expenses | $4,163 | $4,881 |
Books and Supplies | $1,152 | $1,152 |
Total | $21,460 | $20,416 |
What is Room & Board Over Four Years? The Projected Sum Comes to $97,352
There has been an average 5.8% price change each year for the past five years in UCSD room & board costs, compared to a nationwide average change of 2.4%. If existing developments in room, board, and other expenses carry on, we expect incoming freshmen in 2022 to spend about $22,547 in their first year of college. By their closing year an undergraduate might spend an average of $23,696 for an associate degree, and $26,196 for a bachelor's degree.
The room and board total over four years would be close to $97,352; for just two years it will be about $46,244.

* estimated
How to Finance Your UCSD Education?
More Details on Living On Campus
Are you wondering whether you may be required to live on campus? If you are a first-time full-time student, some schools may require it. See the table below to find out whether UCSD does or not, as well as the on-campus housing capacity.
Question | Answer |
---|---|
Are Freshmen Required to Live on Campus? | No |
On-Campus Housing Capacity | 17,765 |
Above Average Campus Costs
Students at UCSD pay $21,460 to live on campus, while the average student nationwide will pay only $15,282.

Find Out More About University of California - San Diego
Related Schools
If you’re considering University of California - San Diego, here are some more schools you may be interested in knowing more about.
- University of California - Los Angeles
- University of Colorado Boulder
- University of Connecticut
- University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus
- University of Washington - Seattle Campus
Curious on how these schools stack up against UCSD? Pit them head to head with College Combat, our free interactive tool that lets you compare colleges on the features that matter most to you!
Check out the following matchups:
- University of California - San Diego vs. University of California - Los Angeles
- University of California - San Diego vs. University of Colorado Boulder
- University of California - San Diego vs. University of Connecticut
- University of California - San Diego vs. University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus
- University of California - San Diego vs. University of Washington - Seattle Campus
References
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Image Credit: By Znode at English Wikipedia under License
More about our data sources and methodologies.