Cost of Living Comparison by City in the UK

You may already know which country you want to study abroad in, but what about which city? A cost of living comparison by city is just one of the factors to consider when choosing the specifics of your higher education location.
The UK, for example, is home to 16 of the 100 best student cities in the world, according to QS Top Universities. This includes the #1 best student city for five years running, London. Student cities earn their titles thanks to the presence of excellent universities and student-friendly conditions. However, one of the caveats of studying in the UK is the relatively high expenses, which can be tough for international students to afford. However, the UK also has some affordable options to offer, if you know how to look for them. Striking the right balance between cost of living and living standards should be the goal, alongside choosing the program that suits your budget.
Here is a cost of living comparison of student cities in the UK to get you going!
Top Student Cities in the UK
The UK is famous for its vibrant and multicultural student communities, with a long history of hosting international students. One of the reasons for this incredible popularity is of course the UK’s excellent universities, which in turn fuels the growth and rising appeal of some of the world’s best student cities. You can explore these universities and their world-class programs using the GRADSearch course finder!
London continues to rank as QS Top Universities’ best student city for the fifth year in a row as of 2024. Some of the UK’s other cities rank consistently in the top 100 as well:
City | QS Top Universities Best Student City Rankings |
London | #1 |
Edinburgh | #13 |
Manchester | #27 |
Glasgow | #33 |
Newcastle | #39 |
What Makes a Great Student City?
Deciding on the best student city depends on a number of factors. Your cost of living comparison by city factors into the decision, but it is not the only aspect of your choice. The best student cities in the UK are home to some of the world’s best universities, diverse student communities, rich cultural mosaics, and excellent career opportunities. QS Top Universities takes all of these factors into consideration when ranking the world’s best student cities:
● University rankings: the presence of global and world-ranking universities in the city
● Student mix: the size of the international student population in the city
● Desirability: factors that influence quality of life, including safety and pollution
● Employer activity: factors such as graduate employability and youth employment in the city
● Affordability: tuition fee ranges and cost of living in the city
● Student view: student feedback on aspects of the city such as sustainability, diversity, and friendliness
Cost of Living Breakdown Across UK Cities
Cost of living is one of the most important concerns when deciding on a city to live in as a student. Tuition fees aside, London is one of the most expensive cities in the world for international students to live in. You will need around £1300-£1400 per month to live in London, in comparison to an average estimate of £900-£1300 in the rest of the UK.
When applying for the UK student visa, applicants heading to London will need to show a minimum of £1,334 per month in funds for nine months. In contrast, students heading to universities outside of London have a minimum fund requirement of £1,023 per month.
Here are the key components to consider when looking into your cost of living comparison by city in the UK.
Rent
Rent is the most significant expense when living abroad to study. Your accommodation will account for most of your monthly expenses during your stay. Your budget can look quite different depending on the housing you decide on.
Rent in the UK is the highest in London. Less metropolitan cities with smaller population sizes will typically see lower rent. You will see significantly lower rent ranges in the cities of Wales and Scotland, for example. In other parts of the UK, especially in the larger cities in England, rent tends to be pretty high. A comparison of rent for a one-bedroom apartment in some of the popular cities in London may look like this:
City | Average Monthly Rent in GBP for One-Bedroom Apartment |
London | £1,626.88 |
Edinburgh | £891.18 |
Manchester | £888.46 |
Glasgow | £760.62 |
Swansea | £733.33 |
Newcastle | £625.00 |
Aberdeen | £553.57 |
Durham | £362.50 |
Location and Accommodation Type
Another important aspect to consider when calculating rent is where within the city you will live. In general, residing in the city center tends to be more expensive than living farther out from the city center or in the suburbs. You will have to take into consideration the opportunity cost of lower rent if living close to campus and consider transport costs if living farther away.
The final thing to consider for rent is the type of accommodation you decide on. Depending on your choice of housing, you can expect rent ranges to look different. A broad breakdown of cost classifications by housing type is as follows:
Type of Accommodation | Cost |
Shared housing | $ |
Homestay | $$ |
Managed Apartment | $$$ |
One-bedroom unit | $$$$ |
Food and Groceries
Another significant cost component for international students will be food and groceries. The cost of living in cities, including grocery bills, can vary across the UK. Estimating your monthly grocery budget is a good guidepost when conducting your cost of living comparison by city. This cost, however, will vary greatly from one person to the next. Food habits, meal preferences, and grocery requirements of each person are different. Nonetheless, a cost breakdown of common grocery items can help you assess your cost of living in different UK cities:
Food item | London | Edinburgh | Manchester | Glasgow | Aberdeen | Durham |
Milk | £1.30 | £1.20 | £1.20 | £1.23 | £1.23 | £1.34 |
Eggs | £3.18 | £3.04 | £3.06 | £2.93 | £2.88 | £2.68 |
Rice | £2.07 | £1.34 | £1.79 | £1.60 | £1.60 | £1.51 |
Chicken | £7.60 | £7.18 | £6.23 | £6.73 | £6.66 | £6.00 |
Beef | £11.95 | £15.00 | £13.20 | £10.74 | £8.33 | £9.32 |
While there may be minimal differences in some cost categories, these differences can quickly add up when you are on a budget.
Your meal costs will also include the occasional meals you eat out or order in. The cost of takeout or meals you eat out will depend on your individual choices and the frequency of going out. Restaurant costs are highest in London, consistent with the city’s high costs of living. Restaurant prices go down in smaller cities with fewer people. An overview of restaurant prices across these cities can look as follows:
City | Average Cost of Meals in Inexpensive Restaurants |
London | £20.00 |
Edinburgh | £16.00 |
Manchester | £15.00 |
Glasgow | £15.00 |
Swansea | £15.00 |
Newcastle | £15.00 |
Aberdeen | £15.00 |
Durham | £12.00 |
Transport
Public transport in London is a lifesaver, with a dense network of trains and buses making getting around both inexpensive and a breeze. The London Tube, an elaborate train system zigzagging throughout the capital, is a big advantage for students who want to commute to and from campus. Public transport networks also connect cities and locations within cities across the UK. Better yet, campus transport services and student discounts can help you max out your mobility without putting pressure on your wallet. Walking and bicycling to nearby stops are also pocket-friendly alternatives to get around!
Here is a quick look at transport costs in London:
Type of Transport | Average Cost in London |
One-way Ticket for Public Transport | £2.80 |
Monthly Pass for Public Transport | £200.00 |
Taxi | £1.90 per kilometer |
Gasoline | £1.51 per liter |
Household Bills
The final expenses to consider are your utility bills. This will depend on the type of housing you opt for, as well as your lifestyle habits. If you are living in an on-campus dorm, your utility costs are usually a one-off payment that is part of your accommodation costs for the contract period. However, if you are renting off-campus, you may have to keep track of separate bill payments for water, electricity, gas, wi-fi, etc. Utility bills will depend on the size of the home, how many people you share it with, as well as how extensively you use these utilities.
British Gas breaks down what the average energy bill may look like for people living in the UK, depending on the household size. This is a handy resource to refer to if you are trying to get an idea of how much you can expect to pay every month for electricity and gas. The portion of your monthly budget that goes into utility bills will also depend on whether you are living alone or splitting costs with flatmates.
Most Affordable Cities in the UK
Taking the cost of living into consideration is an important step in deciding which student city is the right fit for you. Tuition fees are just a part of the equation – the cost of living can also impact the financial decisions and arrangements you need to make for your time studying abroad. In fact, if budget is a key consideration when looking into your options, you can narrow your search down to world-ranking universities in the UK’s most affordable cities. In this way, you don’t compromise the quality of education you can access or your budget to study abroad:
QS Best Study Cities – Most Affordable | Top Universities |
Leicester | • University of Leicester • De Montfort University |
Liverpool | • University of Liverpool • Liverpool John Moores University |
Nottingham | • University of Nottingham • Nottingham Trent University |
Aberdeen | • University of Aberdeen • Robert Gordon University |
Leeds | • University of Leeds • Leeds Beckett University |
Belfast | • Queen’s University Belfast |
Rounding Up
Your cost of living comparison by city is an important part of the study-abroad decision-making process that you should not skip. A realistic understanding of tuition and living costs will help you plan for your time abroad and choose the right destination carefully. While the university you choose impacts your higher education and future opportunities, the city you live in can make a huge difference to your student experience. So don’t leave this factor out when considering the right destination for you!