Living on a student budget can be tricky, so we’ve taken a look at some of the UK’s most affordable university cities so your student budget can stretch further.
Updated: 19 Jan 2026
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 2025 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.
NatWest ranked Lincoln as the top 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 services to support students through their studies.
NEXT: Find out more about Lincoln’s cost of living.
Cardiff, Wales’ capital city, came 3rd on the list for affordable UK cities according to NatWest's Student Living Index 2025. 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 Cardiff University or Cardiff Metropolitan University. Cardiff Metropolitan University is known for its diverse community, with over 140 countries represented by its student body, while the Cardiff University ranked 22nd in the UK according to Complete University Guide’s 2026 league tables.
NEXT: Learn more about Cardiff’s cost of living.
Surprisingly, one of England’s major cities has made it to the list! Birmingham was ranked 4th for affordability by NatWest’s Student Living Index 2025. 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! 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, which has invested over £340 million into transforming its campus and facilities.
NEXT: Read more about the cost of living in Birmingham.
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 joint 6th most affordable for students in the UK by the NatWest Student Living Index 2025, 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.
1. NatWest Student Living Index 2025. 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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