What UNH charges for 2026–27
These are UNH's published Durham housing and dining rates for the 2026/2027 academic year (roughly nine months of occupancy):
| On campus | Per year | ≈ Per month (9-mo year) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard double room | $9,410 | ≈ $1,045 |
| Single room | $10,550 | ≈ $1,172 |
| Triple room | $8,164 | ≈ $907 |
| On-campus apartments | $10,510–$11,498 | ≈ $1,168–$1,278 |
| Residential meal plans | $5,624–$6,424 | ≈ $625–$714 |
So a typical dorm double plus the cheapest residential meal plan is about $15,000 for the academic year — roughly $1,670 a month for a shared room and a dining hall. (Rates from UNH's published food & housing schedule; check unh.edu for the current year.)
What off-campus actually costs near UNH
Off-campus pricing is usually quoted per person per month. Real examples from our own listings:
- $700–$875 per person at a large group house in Madbury (rate depends on group size, 6–8 people).
- $725 per person for a shared bedroom — or $1,225 for your own room — in a 2-bedroom apartment right on Main Street in Durham, heat and hot water included.
- $1,300–$1,600 for studios (Durham and Newmarket) if you want to live alone — still less than a dorm single plus meal plan.
Add utilities where they're not included — commonly heat, electric, and internet, call it $60–$120 per person per month in a shared house — and groceries, which for most students run well under a meal plan's ~$650 a month.
The honest comparison
| Dorm double + meal plan | Shared off-campus room | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | ≈ $1,670 | ≈ $700–$900 + utilities + food |
| Months you pay | ~9 | usually 12 |
| Own bedroom | No (double) | Usually yes |
| Kitchen | Shared floor kitchen at best | Yes — often two in group houses |
| Parking | Permit lottery | Often included |
| Summer | Move out | Keep it or sublet it |
Run the full-year math for your own group: even paying 12 months at $800/person (~$9,600) plus, say, $1,000 of utilities and $3,600 of groceries, you land around $14,200 for a full 12 months with your own bedroom — against ~$15,000 for nine months in a shared dorm room. Sublet the summer or split a doubled room and the gap widens fast.
Costs off-campus adds that dorms don't
- Security deposit — in NH generally capped at one month's rent (details in the first-lease guide).
- Renter's insurance — typically $10–$20/month, often required.
- Furniture — one-time, and used furniture in a college town is cheap.
- A guarantor — not a cost, but most first leases need one.
Bottom line: off-campus usually wins on price and space, as long as you compare 12-month totals honestly and know what utilities you're signing up for. When you tour, ask for the all-in per-person estimate — we give it to you straight.