Moving to the USA: Your First-Months Budget

Moving to the USA costs more in the first few months than most people expect. You pay for a place to stay before your first paycheck, deposits before you have a credit score, and insurance before you know which policies you need. A simple plan keeps those costs from catching you off guard.

This guide sets out a first-months budget for moving to the USA: temporary housing, your first apartment, insurance and banking. It uses categories rather than prices, because costs vary widely by city. Fill in your own numbers from local listings and quotes.

Your first-months budget for moving to the USA

Start by splitting what you'll pay once from what you'll pay every month.

Then add a buffer. Your first paycheck, bank card or Social Security number can take longer than planned, and rent is still due.

Temporary housing when you first arrive

Book somewhere for your first few weeks rather than signing a long lease for a place you haven't seen. That gives you time to visit neighborhoods, test your commute and view apartments in person.

Options include extended-stay hotels, furnished short-term rentals, rooms in shared homes, or staying with friends or family. Some employers pay for temporary housing as part of a relocation package, so ask before you book.

Booking from abroad is where many scams start. The FTC warns about real listings copied with a scammer's contact details, and fake listings with prices far below the market. If someone insists you pay by wire transfer, gift card or cryptocurrency, the FTC says it's a scam.

Our relocation costs guide covers flights, shipping and other moving expenses.

Renting your first US apartment

Many landlords check credit, and you probably don't have a US credit score yet. That doesn't rule you out, but it can mean paying more upfront.

A landlord may ask for a larger security deposit, a guarantor (someone who agrees to pay if you don't), proof of income such as a job offer letter, or rent paid in advance. Deposit limits and return rules are set by each state, so check your state attorney general or tenant rights agency before you pay.

Federal law protects you, too. HUD says the Fair Housing Act prohibits housing discrimination because of national origin, among other protected traits, in nearly all housing.

For detailed tactics, read our guide to renting in the USA without credit history.

Renters, travel medical and car insurance

Renters insurance

Renters insurance covers your belongings against events like theft or fire, and it usually includes liability cover if someone is hurt in your home. Your landlord's policy generally covers the building, not your things.

Many leases require it. When you compare policies, check the deductible (what you pay before insurance pays) and whether it pays full replacement cost or a lower amount after wear and tear.

Travel medical insurance

Your employer's health plan may not start on your first day, and some plans have waiting periods. A travel or visitor medical policy can cover emergencies in that gap.

Read the exclusions. These policies often limit cover for preexisting conditions and routine care, and they aren't designed as long-term health insurance.

Car insurance

Outside large city centers, many people need a car. States set their own car insurance requirements, so check yours before you buy or register a vehicle.

Without a US driving record, quotes may be higher. Ask insurers whether they consider your driving history from home, and compare several quotes.

Setting up US banking

Open a bank or credit union account early. You'll need it for rent, your paycheck and building credit.

The CFPB says a bank must verify your name, date of birth, address and an ID number. That number can be a Social Security number, an ITIN (a tax ID from the IRS for people who can't get a Social Security number), or a passport number and country of issue, among others. Some banks and credit unions accept foreign passports and consular ID cards.

An ITIN is for taxes only. The IRS says it doesn't authorize you to work or give you immigration status. The CFPB also notes you need a Social Security number or ITIN for an account that pays interest.

Once your account is open, start building credit. Our guide to loans for immigrants without credit history explains secured cards and credit-builder loans.

Your first months, step by step

1. Before you fly: book two to four weeks of temporary housing and buy travel medical insurance that covers any gap.
2. Pack your paperwork: passport, visa documents, job offer and recent bank statements from home.
3. Week one: open a bank or credit union account.
4. As soon as you're eligible: apply for a Social Security number through official channels.
5. Apartment hunting: view places in person and verify the landlord before paying anything.
6. Before move-in: buy renters insurance if your lease requires it.
7. Before buying a car: get insurance quotes.
8. When your health plan starts: end your travel medical policy.

A hypothetical first-months plan

Here's a made-up example. Leila moves to Texas for a job starting three weeks after she lands. Her employer's health plan begins a month after her start date, so she buys travel medical cover for about seven weeks.

She books a furnished short-term rental for a month. The apartment she likes asks for two months' rent as a deposit because she has no credit score, plus the first month's rent. She sets that aside, keeps an extra month of living costs as a buffer, and waits to buy a car until she knows her commute.

Common mistakes when moving to the USA

• Sending a deposit for a place you haven't seen or verified
• Letting travel medical cover end before your health plan starts
• Assuming the landlord's insurance covers your belongings
• Buying a car before checking insurance quotes
• Moving all your savings at once without comparing transfer costs
• Skipping a buffer for delays in pay, paperwork or bank cards

What to do next

Write your one-time and monthly costs in a simple spreadsheet, using real quotes from your new city. Then book temporary housing, arrange travel medical cover for the gap, and plan to open a bank account in your first week.