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How much does the average student spend at university?

Preparing to go to university and want to know how much money students really spend? Read on to find out more.

Safeera Sarjoo
by Safeera Sarjoo
Last Updated:
29 Nov 2023

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Ever wondered how much the average student spends on alcohol, food, and rent? To help you prepare your finances, Natwest’s Student Living Index 2021 revealed how much cash the average student is splashing out on everything from their weekly grocery budget to their social life.

How much does the average student spend on food and drink?


According to Natwest’s findings, Newcastle has remained in the top three spenders of alcohol over the last four years, however in 2021 Durham and Exeter students overtook Newcastle spending roughly £40 a month, which is 40% more than the UK average.

Although they might not be spending much on alcohol, Canterbury students comfortably top the takeaway chart spending £38.10 a month on food.

When it comes to groceries, Oxford students go all out with an average spend of £109.40 a month (which works out to £27.35 a week), while Leicester students prefer scouring for bargains with a monthly spend of £52.90 (that’s £13.23 a week!).

In fact, supermarket shopping that tops the board as the biggest cost to students followed by rent with an average cost of £81.20 a month.

How much does the average student spend on rent and cost of living?


Speaking of rent, it’s no surprise that London remains the only city in the UK where student spend/cost outweighs their rent even though their rent has decreased. Monthly rent in London is roughly £619.90. Far higher than what students experience in Glasgow who pay roughly £447.40.

As expected, students in more affluent cities rely more on parental support to fund their student life. Parents and family of students in Edinburgh contribute £314.70 a month to their income.

If bills are a concern, Students at York continue to have the lowest cost of household bills, paying £13.80 a month. This is three times less than students at Exeter who pay roughly £38.60 a month.

How much does the average student spend on socialising?

 

Unsurprisingly, a big portion of a students’ income is spent on socialising. The students surveyed for the index found that the majority (27%) of them spent between £10 – £20 on their last night out, meanwhile students spent just under £40 a month going out with friends. Many students get part-time jobs while they're at university in order to have more money to splash out on socialising.

 

Find out more about student finance with our ultimate guide.

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