United States
US
Cost of Living in the USA for TEFL Teachers (2026): Real Monthly Budget & Salary Breakdown
Last Updated
October 12, 2026
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Cost of living in the USA
- Average cost of living
- TEFL teacher salaries in the US
- High-cost vs low-cost regions
- How to live on a TEFL budget
- Hidden costs
- How to budget & save
If you’re considering teaching English in the USA, the burning question you’ll likely have is: can you really afford it? In this guide, we break down the true cost of living in the United States for TEFL teachers, including rent, groceries, transportation, and typical TEFL salaries. We’ll also share what we personally spent while living in Baltimore as online English teachers this year.
Quick answer: Cost of living in the US as TEFL teachers
| Monthly budget (shared housing) | $1,500-$2,500 |
| Monthly budget (private apartment) | $2,200-$3,800 |
| Typical TEFL salary | $18-$40/hour |
| Private tutoring rates | $25-$80/hour |
| Most affordable regions | Midwest and parts of the South |
| Most expensive regions | New York, California & Hawaii |
| Baltimore affordability | Moderate (‘price gap’ city) |
If you had told us a few years ago that we’d be living in a different country every single month while working online, we probably would have assumed you needed a massive savings account to make that happen. Turns out — that’s not the case.
Read more: How To Travel Long-Term Without Savings: Our TEFL Digital Nomad Lifestyle
We’re Matt and Perlie, two TEFL teachers who started out in traditional classrooms across Spain, South Korea, and Türkiye. For years, we followed the typical path — teaching in person, working set schedules, and squeezing travel into weekends and holidays.
But for the past 2.5 years, we’ve been doing things differently. We’ve been teaching English online while travelling full-time, living in a new country every month. From Southeast Asia to Europe to Latin America, our lifestyle has been built around flexibility — working from wherever we have a laptop and a solid wifii connection. And recently, that “wherever” brought us back to the United States.
More specifically, Baltimore.
Matt grew up about 45 minutes north of the city, but this is the first time we’ve actually lived here as adults. And interestingly enough, we didn’t end up here by chance. We found our way here through TrustedHousesitters.
If you’re not familiar with it, TrustedHousesitters is a platform where homeowners go away and need someone to look after their home (and often their pets). In exchange, you get to stay there for free.
It’s something we’ve used all over the world, and it’s become one of our biggest “travel hacks.” When we started looking at options in the US, we were surprised by just how many sites were available across the country, from major cities to smaller towns.
Baltimore happened to be the perfect fit.
After years of paying for Airbnbs around the world, being able to live in a comfortable home without paying rent, especially in the US, has been a huge shift. It’s also allowed us to experience the city in a much more local, grounded way.
Baltimore itself is a mid-sized city on the East Coast—gritty, historic, and full of character. It’s not as polished as places like New York or Washington, D.C., but that’s part of its appeal. You’ve got the Inner Harbour, cobblestone streets in Fells Point, and neighbourhoods that all feel completely different from one another.
But what really stands out is this: Baltimore sits right in the middle of what is called the “price gap” in the United States.
It gives you a city lifestyle — restaurants, culture, walkability — without the overwhelming costs that often make the cost of living in the USA so high. And when you’re earning a relatively fixed online English teacher salary, that difference can completely flip your monthly budget when living in the country.
Average cost of living in the USA
Housing is easily the biggest expense in the United States, and it’s the area where you can save the most if you’re strategic.
In Baltimore, a room in a shared apartment typically ranges from $700 to $1,200 a month. A studio or one-bedroom usually falls between $1,200 and $1,800.
However, this is where we’ve been able to dramatically reduce our costs.
Through TrustedHousesitters, we’ve been able to eliminate rent entirely during our time in Baltimore. In exchange for looking after a home (and in many cases, pets), we’ve had access to comfortable living spaces at no cost beyond the annual membership fee.
What makes this especially valuable in the US is the sheer number of opportunities available. Whether you’re looking in cities like New York, Los Angeles, or smaller places like Baltimore, there are consistently listings available.
For us, this has been one of the most effective ways to maintain our lifestyle without increasing our expenses, especially in a country where accommodation can otherwise take up the majority of your income.
TEFL teacher salaries in the US
One of the biggest differences we’ve noticed about teaching English in the US compared to countries like Spain, South Korea, or Türkiye is how unstructured the industry is.
In many countries, TEFL jobs come with clear contracts, stable salaries, and even benefits like housing. In the US, it’s a bit more of a mix, and your income can vary quite a bit depending on the path you take.
Read more: What To Expect In A TEFL Contract
There are a few main types of TEFL jobs in the US.
Private language schools and ESL academies are the most common starting points. These typically pay between $18 and $30 an hour, depending on your experience and the city you’re in. Work is usually part-time, and hours aren’t always guaranteed, which can make income a bit inconsistent.
Community colleges and adult education programs tend to offer slightly higher TEFL teacher salaries, usually in the range of $25 to $40 an hour. These roles can feel more stable, but they’re still often contract-based rather than full-time positions.
Public schools offer the highest level of stability, with salaries typically ranging from $45,000 to $70,000+ per year. However, these roles almost always require additional teaching credentials beyond a TEFL certificate, which makes them less accessible for many teachers.
Then there’s private tutoring, which is where we, and many other teachers, have found the most flexibility. When it comes to your TEFL salary, rates can range anywhere from $25 to $80 an hour, depending on your niche, experience, and client base. While it can take time to build up a steady schedule, this is often where teachers can earn the most.
Read more: How To Start Teaching English As A Private Tutor
One important thing to note is that most TEFL jobs in the US are paid hourly rather than monthly. This means your income can fluctuate depending on how many classes you teach, cancellations, and even the time of year.
Major expenses:
In Baltimore, typical costs look like this:
- Shared room in an apartment: $700–$1,200 a month
- Private studio or 1-bedroom: $1,200–$1,800 a month
- Higher-end or central neighbourhoods: $1,800+
In reality, most TEFL teachers end up sharing housing to keep costs down.
For us, this has been completely different thanks to Trusted Housesitters, which has allowed us to eliminate rent entirely while staying in Baltimore. That has been a game-changer in making the cost of living in the US financially workable while earning an online teaching income.
Read more: How Teaching English Online Lets You Travel The World
Transportation
Transportation costs in Baltimore are relatively moderate compared to larger US cities.
Typical expenses:
- Public transport (monthly pass): $70–$80
- Single bus or subway ride: ~$2
- Gas (if you own a car): $120–$200/month
- Insurance + maintenance (car owners): varies widely but often $150–$300+ extra
Baltimore is somewhat walkable depending on the neighbourhood, but most people still rely on a mix of buses, light rail, rideshares, or cars.
Food & groceries
Food costs in the US can vary a lot depending on lifestyle, but Baltimore sits close to the national average.
Typical monthly spending:
- Groceries (one person): $300–$500/month
- Basic grocery staples (milk, bread, eggs): slightly above the national average
- Casual restaurant meal: $15–$25 per person
- Dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant: $60–$90
- Coffee: $5–$7
High-cost vs low-cost regions
One of the biggest things we’ve noticed after years of teaching and travelling is just how extreme the cost differences are across the US.
On one end, you have the most expensive cities to live in, such as New York, San Francisco, Boston, and Los Angeles. These places are amazing to live in, but financially they’re tough on a TEFL salary. Rent alone can easily be $2,500–$4,000+ a month, and even shared housing often comes at a premium. Day-to-day costs like food, transport, and going out also add up quickly, which makes it difficult to rely on teaching income alone.
On the other end, there are many more affordable regions – smaller cities, suburban areas, and parts of the Midwest and South– where rent can drop to around $700–$1,200 a month and overall living costs are significantly lower. In these places, TEFL teachers can actually stretch their income and live more comfortably without constantly watching every dollar.
Most Expensive vs Cheapest States (2026)
| Most Expensive | Most Affordable |
| Hawaii | Arkansas |
| California | West Virginia |
| Massachusetts | Mississippi |
| New York | Oklahoma |
| Washington | Alabama |
How to live in the USA on a TEFL budget
Living on a TEFL or student budget in the US is definitely possible, but it requires being a bit more intentional than in many other countries. The main difference here is that costs, especially housing and healthcare, can take up a large portion of your income if you’re not careful.
For us, the key has been building a lifestyle that prioritises flexibility over fixed expenses. One of the biggest game-changers has been keeping accommodation costs as low as possible. In our case, using TrustedHousesitters has meant we’ve often been able to eliminate rent entirely, which immediately makes a TEFL income much more sustainable in the US.
Outside of that, living with roommates is one of the most common ways teachers and students make it work, especially in cities. Sharing housing can cut your biggest monthly expense in half.
Hidden costs in the US
For sure – TIPPING! Especially having lived around the world, where tipping may be a growing trend but certainly doesn’t have the same connotations as back in the US.
Tipping isn’t just occasional here; it’s built into everyday life. In restaurants, cafés, bars, taxis, delivery apps, and even some service-based jobs, you’re generally expected to tip anywhere from 15% to 25% depending on the situation. What feels like a small extra amount at first can add up significantly over a month, especially if you eat out or order food regularly.
For example, a simple $20 meal can easily become $24–$25 once tax and tip are included. If you’re not factoring this into your budget from the start, it can quietly increase your monthly food and social spending more than you expect.
How to budget & save as a TEFL teacher in the US
- Eat out once a week: eating out adds up, especially when factoring in the added tip and tax.
- Take public transport: try to refrain from taking Ubers or Lyfts unless 100% necessary- these are often inflated. However, if you live in a city with a lack of a transport system, look into rideshares.
- Always look for deals: many restaurants run daily/weekly deals on social media to help you save money.
- Take advantage of apps: Couchsurfing or Trusted Housesitters can help you save, save, save.
All in all, the US is an exciting place to call home if you are an online TEFL teacher from another country or just an American teacher.
Yet, you do need to be mindful that it is a lot more expensive than in much of the world.
If you are looking to start your online TEFL journey, the US may not be the best start. You need to have your finances in line before making a stop here! Once you do, you can explore this massive country that really has so much to offer.
Read more: The Realities Of Teaching Online: Tips, Challenges, And A Success Story
Author Bio
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Cost of living in the USA
- Average cost of living
- TEFL teacher salaries in the US
- High-cost vs low-cost regions
- How to live on a TEFL budget
- Hidden costs
- How to budget & save
If you’re considering teaching English in the USA, the burning question you’ll likely have is: can you really afford it? In this guide, we break down the true cost of living in the United States for TEFL teachers, including rent, groceries, transportation, and typical TEFL salaries. We’ll also share what we personally spent while living in Baltimore as online English teachers this year.
Quick answer: Cost of living in the US as TEFL teachers
| Monthly budget (shared housing) | $1,500-$2,500 |
| Monthly budget (private apartment) | $2,200-$3,800 |
| Typical TEFL salary | $18-$40/hour |
| Private tutoring rates | $25-$80/hour |
| Most affordable regions | Midwest and parts of the South |
| Most expensive regions | New York, California & Hawaii |
| Baltimore affordability | Moderate (‘price gap’ city) |
If you had told us a few years ago that we’d be living in a different country every single month while working online, we probably would have assumed you needed a massive savings account to make that happen. Turns out — that’s not the case.
Read more: How To Travel Long-Term Without Savings: Our TEFL Digital Nomad Lifestyle
We’re Matt and Perlie, two TEFL teachers who started out in traditional classrooms across Spain, South Korea, and Türkiye. For years, we followed the typical path — teaching in person, working set schedules, and squeezing travel into weekends and holidays.
But for the past 2.5 years, we’ve been doing things differently. We’ve been teaching English online while travelling full-time, living in a new country every month. From Southeast Asia to Europe to Latin America, our lifestyle has been built around flexibility — working from wherever we have a laptop and a solid wifii connection. And recently, that “wherever” brought us back to the United States.
More specifically, Baltimore.
Matt grew up about 45 minutes north of the city, but this is the first time we’ve actually lived here as adults. And interestingly enough, we didn’t end up here by chance. We found our way here through TrustedHousesitters.
If you’re not familiar with it, TrustedHousesitters is a platform where homeowners go away and need someone to look after their home (and often their pets). In exchange, you get to stay there for free.
It’s something we’ve used all over the world, and it’s become one of our biggest “travel hacks.” When we started looking at options in the US, we were surprised by just how many sites were available across the country, from major cities to smaller towns.
Baltimore happened to be the perfect fit.
After years of paying for Airbnbs around the world, being able to live in a comfortable home without paying rent, especially in the US, has been a huge shift. It’s also allowed us to experience the city in a much more local, grounded way.
Baltimore itself is a mid-sized city on the East Coast—gritty, historic, and full of character. It’s not as polished as places like New York or Washington, D.C., but that’s part of its appeal. You’ve got the Inner Harbour, cobblestone streets in Fells Point, and neighbourhoods that all feel completely different from one another.
But what really stands out is this: Baltimore sits right in the middle of what is called the “price gap” in the United States.
It gives you a city lifestyle — restaurants, culture, walkability — without the overwhelming costs that often make the cost of living in the USA so high. And when you’re earning a relatively fixed online English teacher salary, that difference can completely flip your monthly budget when living in the country.
Average cost of living in the USA
Housing is easily the biggest expense in the United States, and it’s the area where you can save the most if you’re strategic.
In Baltimore, a room in a shared apartment typically ranges from $700 to $1,200 a month. A studio or one-bedroom usually falls between $1,200 and $1,800.
However, this is where we’ve been able to dramatically reduce our costs.
Through TrustedHousesitters, we’ve been able to eliminate rent entirely during our time in Baltimore. In exchange for looking after a home (and in many cases, pets), we’ve had access to comfortable living spaces at no cost beyond the annual membership fee.
What makes this especially valuable in the US is the sheer number of opportunities available. Whether you’re looking in cities like New York, Los Angeles, or smaller places like Baltimore, there are consistently listings available.
For us, this has been one of the most effective ways to maintain our lifestyle without increasing our expenses, especially in a country where accommodation can otherwise take up the majority of your income.
TEFL teacher salaries in the US
One of the biggest differences we’ve noticed about teaching English in the US compared to countries like Spain, South Korea, or Türkiye is how unstructured the industry is.
In many countries, TEFL jobs come with clear contracts, stable salaries, and even benefits like housing. In the US, it’s a bit more of a mix, and your income can vary quite a bit depending on the path you take.
Read more: What To Expect In A TEFL Contract
There are a few main types of TEFL jobs in the US.
Private language schools and ESL academies are the most common starting points. These typically pay between $18 and $30 an hour, depending on your experience and the city you’re in. Work is usually part-time, and hours aren’t always guaranteed, which can make income a bit inconsistent.
Community colleges and adult education programs tend to offer slightly higher TEFL teacher salaries, usually in the range of $25 to $40 an hour. These roles can feel more stable, but they’re still often contract-based rather than full-time positions.
Public schools offer the highest level of stability, with salaries typically ranging from $45,000 to $70,000+ per year. However, these roles almost always require additional teaching credentials beyond a TEFL certificate, which makes them less accessible for many teachers.
Then there’s private tutoring, which is where we, and many other teachers, have found the most flexibility. When it comes to your TEFL salary, rates can range anywhere from $25 to $80 an hour, depending on your niche, experience, and client base. While it can take time to build up a steady schedule, this is often where teachers can earn the most.
Read more: How To Start Teaching English As A Private Tutor
One important thing to note is that most TEFL jobs in the US are paid hourly rather than monthly. This means your income can fluctuate depending on how many classes you teach, cancellations, and even the time of year.
Major expenses:
In Baltimore, typical costs look like this:
- Shared room in an apartment: $700–$1,200 a month
- Private studio or 1-bedroom: $1,200–$1,800 a month
- Higher-end or central neighbourhoods: $1,800+
In reality, most TEFL teachers end up sharing housing to keep costs down.
For us, this has been completely different thanks to Trusted Housesitters, which has allowed us to eliminate rent entirely while staying in Baltimore. That has been a game-changer in making the cost of living in the US financially workable while earning an online teaching income.
Read more: How Teaching English Online Lets You Travel The World
Transportation
Transportation costs in Baltimore are relatively moderate compared to larger US cities.
Typical expenses:
- Public transport (monthly pass): $70–$80
- Single bus or subway ride: ~$2
- Gas (if you own a car): $120–$200/month
- Insurance + maintenance (car owners): varies widely but often $150–$300+ extra
Baltimore is somewhat walkable depending on the neighbourhood, but most people still rely on a mix of buses, light rail, rideshares, or cars.
Food & groceries
Food costs in the US can vary a lot depending on lifestyle, but Baltimore sits close to the national average.
Typical monthly spending:
- Groceries (one person): $300–$500/month
- Basic grocery staples (milk, bread, eggs): slightly above the national average
- Casual restaurant meal: $15–$25 per person
- Dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant: $60–$90
- Coffee: $5–$7
High-cost vs low-cost regions
One of the biggest things we’ve noticed after years of teaching and travelling is just how extreme the cost differences are across the US.
On one end, you have the most expensive cities to live in, such as New York, San Francisco, Boston, and Los Angeles. These places are amazing to live in, but financially they’re tough on a TEFL salary. Rent alone can easily be $2,500–$4,000+ a month, and even shared housing often comes at a premium. Day-to-day costs like food, transport, and going out also add up quickly, which makes it difficult to rely on teaching income alone.
On the other end, there are many more affordable regions – smaller cities, suburban areas, and parts of the Midwest and South– where rent can drop to around $700–$1,200 a month and overall living costs are significantly lower. In these places, TEFL teachers can actually stretch their income and live more comfortably without constantly watching every dollar.
Most Expensive vs Cheapest States (2026)
| Most Expensive | Most Affordable |
| Hawaii | Arkansas |
| California | West Virginia |
| Massachusetts | Mississippi |
| New York | Oklahoma |
| Washington | Alabama |
How to live in the USA on a TEFL budget
Living on a TEFL or student budget in the US is definitely possible, but it requires being a bit more intentional than in many other countries. The main difference here is that costs, especially housing and healthcare, can take up a large portion of your income if you’re not careful.
For us, the key has been building a lifestyle that prioritises flexibility over fixed expenses. One of the biggest game-changers has been keeping accommodation costs as low as possible. In our case, using TrustedHousesitters has meant we’ve often been able to eliminate rent entirely, which immediately makes a TEFL income much more sustainable in the US.
Outside of that, living with roommates is one of the most common ways teachers and students make it work, especially in cities. Sharing housing can cut your biggest monthly expense in half.
Hidden costs in the US
For sure – TIPPING! Especially having lived around the world, where tipping may be a growing trend but certainly doesn’t have the same connotations as back in the US.
Tipping isn’t just occasional here; it’s built into everyday life. In restaurants, cafés, bars, taxis, delivery apps, and even some service-based jobs, you’re generally expected to tip anywhere from 15% to 25% depending on the situation. What feels like a small extra amount at first can add up significantly over a month, especially if you eat out or order food regularly.
For example, a simple $20 meal can easily become $24–$25 once tax and tip are included. If you’re not factoring this into your budget from the start, it can quietly increase your monthly food and social spending more than you expect.
How to budget & save as a TEFL teacher in the US
- Eat out once a week: eating out adds up, especially when factoring in the added tip and tax.
- Take public transport: try to refrain from taking Ubers or Lyfts unless 100% necessary- these are often inflated. However, if you live in a city with a lack of a transport system, look into rideshares.
- Always look for deals: many restaurants run daily/weekly deals on social media to help you save money.
- Take advantage of apps: Couchsurfing or Trusted Housesitters can help you save, save, save.
All in all, the US is an exciting place to call home if you are an online TEFL teacher from another country or just an American teacher.
Yet, you do need to be mindful that it is a lot more expensive than in much of the world.
If you are looking to start your online TEFL journey, the US may not be the best start. You need to have your finances in line before making a stop here! Once you do, you can explore this massive country that really has so much to offer.
Read more: The Realities Of Teaching Online: Tips, Challenges, And A Success Story
Author Bio
