Student budgets are a hot topic right now, and if you’re applying to university or going through Clearing, then the cost of living in the cities you might be moving to is probably on your mind. Most undergraduate students will be eligible for the student maintenance loan, but it certainly goes further in some cities than others. We’ve picked out a handful of UK cities with lower-than-average cost of living to help you make an affordable uni choice.
Please note, because of the multiple different factors, it’s not possible to say for certain which uni city is the ‘most affordable’ in the UK. For this list, we’ve used Numbeo’s average rent prices and NatWest’s Student Living Index 2023 to select a range of cities in different UK locations. While this list is only considering university cities, smaller university towns also often have a lower cost of living than their nearby university cities.
Located in the South West, Bournemouth is a relatively small city with great transport connections to larger cities such as London and Manchester. The city was named most affordable for students in the UK by the NatWest Student Living Index 2023, and Bournemouth University halls start from £140 per week (without a bus pass, which can be added on to your accommodation if you're a Bournemouth University student). In Bournemouth, you'll also have the option of studying at Arts University Bournemouth, a small and friendly specialist university offering courses across a range of creative subjects.
4th most affordable city in the UK according to the NatWest Student Living Index 2023 is Portsmouth. Unsurprisingly then, you’ll find renting privately to be relatively affordable in Portsmouth, with a 3-bed apartment in the city centre costing around £470 per person, or £440 per person if you live a bit further out. Studying here, you’ll be a student of the University of Portsmouth, the only UK uni to offer 'Connected Degrees' – a type of flexible placement year set up where students can choose to complete their placement before or after their final year of study.
Learn more about the cost of living in Portsmouth.
Surprisingly, one of England’s major cities has made it to the list! Birmingham was ranked joint 8th for affordability by NatWest’s Student Living Index 2023. The rent in Birmingham is a bit more expensive than in some of the other cities on this list, though as it’s a much larger city that’s to be expected! An average three-bedroom apartment in the city centre goes for around £1750 per month, or about £580 per person. As Birmingham has a great public transport network, you may save money by living a little bit further out of the city and travelling in. Here, you’ll have a range of unis to pick from, including University College Birmingham and Birmingham City University. University College Birmingham came 2nd in the 2023 Whatuni Student Choice Awards for Best University, while Birmingham City University have invested over £340 million into transforming their campus and facilities.
Read more about the cost of living in Birmingham.
Cardiff, Wales’ capital city, came 2nd on the list for affordable UK cities according to NatWest's Student Living Index 2023. As a capital city, this might be a bit of a surprise, but for anyone on a student budget, Cardiff is an ideal choice. If you live a bit further out of the city, we wouldn’t be surprised if you could find a room in a shared house or flat for £350 per person – a bargain! Here, you’ll be able to choose to study at the University of Cardiff or Cardiff Metropolitan University. Cardiff Metropolitan University is known for its diverse community, with over 140 countries represented by its student body, while the University of Cardiff ranked 21st in the UK according to Complete University Guide’s 2024 league tables.
Learn more about Cardiff’s cost of living.
While it wasn’t included in NatWest’s Student Living Index study, we felt Aberdeen deserved a place on this list thanks to its astoundingly low rent prices. The average rent for a three-bedroom apartment is just over £1300 per month, which would work out to around £430 per person. It’s a smaller city than most of those on this list, but it’s still home to two universities – the University of Aberdeen and Robert Gordon University. The University of Aberdeen ranked 35th in Complete University Guide’s 2024 league tables, while Robert Gordon University is proud to be an industry-led university, meaning it offers excellent connections to local businesses and offers students plenty of chances to get involved in more practical-based learning.
Find out more about the cost of living in Aberdeen.
NatWest ranked Lincoln as the third most affordable UK city. It offers students a central location within the UK and has transport connections to other major cities including London and Leeds. The University of Lincoln is located in the heart of the city, and is renowned for innovative teaching, strong relationships with organisations across a range of industries, and offers many advice and wellbeing servies to support students through their studies.
Find out more about Lincoln’s cost of living.
1. NatWest Student Living Index 2023. This is calculated based on students’ monthly outgoings (rent, items, activities) compared to their average monthly income (student loan, parental support, earnings from part-time work).
2. Numbeo. Numbeo calculates average prices in different towns and cities based on aggregated information submitted by users.
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