cost of living near princeton university (Edison: apartment complexes, rental, health insurance)

[kabirkumar]

I am planning to visit Princeton University for 1 year research work along with my family wife, two kids 6 and 3 years old. I will be getting $ 3000/months fellowship. What will be cost of living, including family health insurance.

[Viralmd]

It's NOT an inexpensive area in which to live. Your stipend will cover all your expenses. Is there any way you can get health insurance through the university?

[block911]

high.

[annerk]

A small 2 br apartment will run you over $1500 a month. Health insurance--if you put the kids into the State plan and just have to pay for you and your wife, about $600 a month for a moderate plan with deductibles. Your utilities will be another $300 or more, then there's car insurance, groceries, etc.

At least they pump the gas for you.

[jerseyj]

I don't know if this applies to you but you can check out the Universitys' health coverage here-http://www.princeton.edu/uhs/student-insurance/student-health-plan/

[kabirkumar]

Originally Posted by Viralmd

It's NOT an inexpensive area in which to live. Your stipend will cover all your expenses. Is there any way you can get health insurance through the university?

There is no option through the university. Every expenses has to be met through the fellowship amount.

[Viralmd]

Originally Posted by kabirkumar

There is no option through the university. Every expenses has to be met through the fellowship amount.

I don't think you understood what I meant. I didn't mean that the university would pay for your insurance, but rather that they have a group insurance policy for which you would be eligible. You, of course, would have to pay for it.

[timneh5]

Originally Posted by kabirkumar

I am planning to visit Princeton University for 1 year research work along with my family wife, two kids 6 and 3 years old. I will be getting $ 3000/months fellowship. What will be cost of living, including family health insurance.

If that amount is before taxes, I don't know how you'll be able to afford to live in that area. If your wife gets a job and the University provides daycare, it might work.

[sholden]

Originally Posted by annerk

A small 2 br apartment will run you over $1500 a month. Health insurance--if you put the kids into the State plan and just have to pay for you and your wife, about $600 a month for a moderate plan with deductibles. Your utilities will be another $300 or more, then there's car insurance, groceries, etc.

At least they pump the gas for you.

My 2br apartment (well condo, but I'm renting it from the owner) is under $1500 and so were lots of the ones we looked at a couple of months ago. It has a swimming pool, tennis court, lots of open grass areas for the kids to play - not "luxury" but certainly not a slum. It's bikable to the University or a 5 minute drive - though of course it's a big University the other side of it is over twice as far away. You can get 2 br apartments for $1100 in the various garden apartment complexes in Plainsboro.

Can your wife work (not that finding a job in the current job market is a certainty)? Can you get a TA job at the University at the same time? Do you qualify for university apartments - I know they they have apartments for graduate students with the cheap 2 br ones running ~$1k a month including utilities?

[RutgersParent]

If you would consider Edison, currently Durham Woods Apartment is giving out 3 month rent FREE!!! So, that may help 25% of your rental for the year to come... Why it gives out 3 month rent FREE? Because Obama gives out $8,000 tax credit, and many current tenants went out to buy condos and townhouse Moderator cut: no advertising