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York is a cathedral city in the north of England with Roman origins, and it has grown into a diverse and dynamic community of around 156,000 residents. York was recently voted the 6th most friendly city in the UK, and it’s a fun, welcoming place to go to uni. In this article, we cover the basics of how to experience York on an affordable budget, so that you won’t be surprised by its cost of living situation when you get there.
Fees and funding in York
York’s universities offer a range of course options, but most of them will be priced at £9,250 per year at undergraduate level (this will be rising to £9,535 from the 2025/26 academic year). Tuition fees will make up a significant portion of your annual budget, and are often payable in full at the start of the year. This can be tricky to organise, but fortunately there is a solution.
Student Finance offers both tuition fee and maintenance loans to help with the cost of study. Their tuition fee loans are paid directly to your uni, and are renewed each year until you graduate. Their maintenance loans help with your cost of living expenses, and the amount you receive will depend on your household income. You won’t have to pay either of these loans back until you have finished uni and earning over the threshold minimum income for your loan plan.
Scholarships and bursaries are another great way to help with your educational costs, and there are many options available. The University of York has several scholarship programmes awarded as tuition fee reductions, annual financial stipends, and access to specialist equipment and facilities. Your university can also help you apply to external funding schemes through their financial services department, so be sure to explore your options at the start of the year!
Student accommodation in York
The student population of York lives in a range of accommodation types, from uni-owned halls of residence to private student studios, shared flats and rented houses.
Student housing at the University of York is designed around eleven college communities situated within their beautiful parkland campus, only minutes from lecture halls and campus services by foot. Prices range from £99 - £224 for a self-catered, single room. Catered options start at only £148 per week, and top out at £238 for the priciest ensuite package. Whatever your budget, you’ll find something to suit you.
Catered accommodation may seem like an extravagant option, but our advice is to plan ahead and estimate your weekly self-catered grocery budget and do the maths yourself. You might be surprised, and with so much going on in your first year of uni, you may decide that the time spent buying and cooking your meals could be better spent elsewhere.
In York's private rental market, a studio flat costs £1,050 per month in the city centre, and a three bedroom apartment costs £2,085 per month. These prices drop if you start looking out of the city centre. Utility bills can set you back a further £50-70 per person per month, so be sure to factor this into your budget.
Cost of groceries in York
York is well supplied by supermarket chains such as Asda, Tesco, Sainsburys, Aldi and Lidl. Additionally, there are street markets and several weekly farmers markets in the city, offering fresh produce at a reduced price.
Commonly purchased items are priced as follows:
- Milk (1L): £1.08
- Bread Loaf: £1.12
- Rice (1kg): £1.29
- Eggs (12): £2.92
- Cheese (1kg): £7.23
- Chicken fillets (1kg): £7.05
- Apples (1kg): £2.08
- Potatoes (1kg): £1.11
Prices in York are roughly comparable to its neighbouring city, Leeds. Both places are priced lower than large cities like Manchester or London.
Going out in York
As a historic, medieval city there are hundreds of pubs to choose from, around 450 in total. Most of them sell real ale at around £5 per pint, with plenty of local breweries to choose from. An inexpensive meal out will cost around £13, and a dinner date for two could come to as much as £60.
You won’t have to look far to find things to do, with weekly pub quiz events and themed parties throughout the city. There are cocktail bars, nightclubs and more, with many places offering student drinks deals and discounted entry for large groups.
Transport in York
York is a medium-sized and fairly walkable city, which is also safe to cycle around. There are cycle lanes in places, and there are also a lot of useful short-cuts for getting about quickly. Walking and cycling are a very cost-effective way of navigating the city, and have the added benefit of free exercise, however if you’d prefer to take the bus, a single one-day ticket will cost around £2.10 which isn’t bad at all.
Monthly travel passes start at around £65 which is almost 60% less than in London, and a good investment if you are going to be using it every day. Taxis are around 30% cheaper than in London too, so whether you’re late for class or coming home from a night out, you can afford to take a trip without eating into your weekly budget.
Other student expenses in York
There’s a lot to discover in York, and it’s worth allocating some of your budget for new activities. There are many clubs and societies at the University of York which are free to join, but may incur certain expenses along the way.
Similarly, you’ll want to put aside some money for course supplies too. Some uni courses require the purchase of extra books and reading material, or perhaps you’ll need to print and scan documents, or buy art supplies. Keep this in mind and you’ll be prepared for anything.
Not considering tuition fees, you'll need a budget of around £950 a month to study in York. This will vary depending on your accommodation situation and your lifestyle, so make sure you take those into account when you budget.
