In the UK, accommodation represents the largest portion of your living expenses, and it accounts for the majority of your outgoing costs. Students have a variety of housing alternatives to select from, including individual apartments, communal housing, dorms, university residence halls, and local homestays. The most preferred kind of housing for overseas students is dorms.

Here is an overview of the typical rent for several student accommodation alternatives.

Your monthly living cost in the UK may differ based on the city you live in in addition to the type of accommodation. Living in cities like London or Brighton, for instance, might be more expensive than in places like Aberdeen or Manchester.

Check out the average rent in a few of the UK’s most well-known student cities:

Commuting within the city is also included in the cost of living in the UK. You must factor these fees in, especially if your flat is far from your university. However, there are many student discounts available for overseas students, making the cost of travel relatively reasonable.

Additionally, because the UK’s public transportation system is so well connected and practical, students can always use it. Compared to taxis, taking a bus, rail, tube, or even just cycling about the city can be a much more cheap transport choice for international students.

Following are the typical transportation options and associated ticket prices:

When residing in the UK, a number of household expenses are involved. Electricity, water, cellphone, and other utility bills should all be paid on time. The majority of the time, your rent already includes all of these expenses, but in the event that it doesn’t, you must take into account the cost of various expenses while living in the UK. In addition, health insurance costs are included in the price of living in the UK for international students.

The average cost of all the bills you would have to pay is as follows:

There are many more elements of college life besides coursework, reading, and exams. It is beneficial to engage in some leisure activities to expand your social network, tour the nation, and discover the culture and people in greater depth. Consequently, while estimating living expenses in the UK for Indian students, you need to account for the cost of recreation.

Look at some of the most popular entertainment choices and their associated prices.

Last but not least, miscellaneous expenses cover a wide range of things including extracurricular activities, stationery, shopping, toiletries, household goods, and everything else you might spend money on. Please be aware that supplemental spending might differ from person to person and is entirely dependent on your lifestyle.

You must therefore prepare properly. When you are attempting to set out a fair budget for living in the UK, it is strongly advised that you stay away from luxury goods and imported goods.

Look at a few of the other expenses listed below:

A Master’s degree typically costs between 13,000 and 15,000 pounds in the UK. The lowest tuition cost at a G5 institution, however, is 17,250 pounds at University College London. 

Some of the best colleges for Masters in the UK are

#1. University of St Andrews

#2. University of Oxford

#3. University of Cambridge

#4. Imperial College London

#5. London School of Economics and Political Science

#6. Durham University

#7. University College London

#8. University of Warwick

#9. University of Bath

#10. Loughborough University 

The cost of living in the UK can be quite high. However, there are other ways for overseas students to reduce expenses. Here are some tips:

Student Discounts

In the UK, there are incredible student discounts available on everything from purchasing movie tickets to grocery shopping. These discounts should be utilised as much as feasible because they can control UK student living expenditures very well.

Transportation cards

It is preferable to bring a transportation card that also provides student discounts if you plan to use public transportation regularly. Use a railcard or Oyster card, for instance, for regular transportation.

Cheaper alternatives

Despite being the most popular tip, this one is still highly significant. When shopping in markets, you might hunt for less expensive options if you’re on a tight budget. Avoid purchasing expensive or foreign goods.

Scholarships

When it comes to helping students pay for their living expenses in the UK, scholarships are their greatest option. There are many scholarships available in the UK that could either pay all of your living expenses or your tuition. Find the scholarships that are the best fit for you, then apply.

Part-time jobs

If you want to boost your income in the UK, part-time work is a fantastic option. Students are permitted to work 20 hours per week and can expect to make between GBP 10 and GBP 12 per hour.

Here are a few affordable cities for living in the UK:

Cardiff

Cardiff is the 11th largest city in the UK. It is one of the most affordable cities to live in. Cardiff’s estimated monthly cost of living is £655, whereas rent for a one-bedroom, hall, and kitchen (HBK) apartment, for instance, runs about £662 in the city and $504 outside of it.

The cost of the average utility payment is about £202, although leisure, sports, and education are all reasonably priced. Cardiff is the least expensive student city in the UK, according to the 2019 NatWest Student Living Index.

Belfast

Belfast is one of the most affordable cities in the UK. In fact, Belfast has a lower cost of living than 65 percent of the cities in Western Europe.

Without rent, the living cost in Belfast is $577; the average rent for an HBK apartment in the city is £400 and the average rent for an HBK apartment outside the city is $280. Additionally, the city is home to a wide range of reasonably priced supermarkets, malls, dining establishments, and bus and metro services.

Newcastle

Newcastle, a significant centre for business, the arts, the sciences, and shipbuilding and manufacturing, is located on the Tyne River in the North Eastern part of England.

Newcastle is another economical city in the United Kingdom, noted for its friendly attitude and low cost of living, which is estimated to be £590 a month without rent.

Aberdeen

Despite being the third most populous city in Scotland, Aberdeen is also one of the most economical cities to live in. 

Aberdeen became one of the most expensive areas to live and work in the UK as a result of the rising cost of oil and housing prices.

The living cost in Aberdeen is £636 per month, making it one of the cheapest cities in the UK despite the slump and decline in oil and gas prices.

Coventry

Coventry, a city in West Midlands, is considered one of the cheapest areas to live in the country, particularly for students. Coventry is ranked among the most affordable cities because its average rent is substantially lower than that of other major cities in the UK.

Edinburgh

Edinburgh is the safest city, and its top educational institutions, gorgeous landscape, and welcoming social scene make it one of the most sought-after places to live in the country.

Although housing costs are high in Edinburgh, they are still comparatively low compared to London, and the cost of living is moderate. Recent research indicates that Edinburgh’s cost of living is £687 per month.

Birmingham

Because of its size, economic significance, and cultural influence, Birmingham is considered the second city in the United Kingdom and is the second most significant city in the country after London.

Birmingham provides you with a superior alternative to living in London because it is both stunning and reasonably priced, with a monthly living cost without rent of around £640.

Lincoln

Lincoln has a reasonable cost of living thanks to its historic districts, shopping hotspots, low utility costs, and public transit.

As one of the least expensive cities in the UK for students to study, Lincoln is also student-friendly.