Exeter is enormously popular with students and we can see why. The city is famous for education, sport, and culture, and is teeming with student activities, pubs and club nights. This guide breaks down the essentials of how to live in Exeter on a student budget.
Updated: 16 Jun 2026
Nestled in the heart of Devon, Exeter strikes a great balance of city and country life. It provides fantastic access to some of the most spectacular natural scenery the UK has to offer, including wooded valleys, moorland, and the sandy beaches of England’s south coast.
Exeter also provides an excellent standard of living and is famous for its cultural scenes, with a strong offering of literature, theatre, music and the arts. Plus, it has some of the best value student living of anywhere in the country, and we’ll share with you some of our best tips and tricks to make the most of your time here.
Want to know about the uni in Exeter? Read our profile of the University of Exeter!
Undergraduate tuition fees in England are usually set at £9,790, regardless of which course you study. The best way to cover these is to take out a tuition fee loan through Student Finance which covers your annual course fee. This loan only needs to be paid back once you’re graduated and earning over a certain threshold. The amount will differ depending which plan you’re on, but for new students on Plan 5 the threshold is £25,000.
You can also receive up to £10,830 per year as a maintenance loan, designed to help with university costs such as rent, transport and general living expenses. The amount you’ll receive is based on your household income and enables you to study in confidence.
Another great way to subsidise the cost of study is by applying for a scholarship or bursary. There are loads available at the University of Exeter, so the best thing to do is to go online and check whether there are any which you are eligible for. These financial awards are non-repayable, and can be redeemed as discounted course fees, or cash stipends to be spent on university living costs.
Discover funding opportunities to help you afford university with our handy scholarships search tool. Filter by subject, course, criteria and more to see all your options for extra funding.
There are around 140,000 people living in Exeter, of which over 25,000 are university students. As you can imagine, this creates a large demand for housing, and as an incoming first-year student, there are two main options.
You can live in halls of residence owned by the University of Exeter. These are available to new students and are a great way to spend your first year in the city. They are fun, convenient and very cost-effective.
The university has a huge variety of locations. There are catered and self-catered options available, each offering a selection of room sizes and setups. Weekly prices range from £146 to £342, and this covers a wide range of options including single, double and studio rooms with or without en-suites.
Another option is to rent privately in Exeter, where you can expect to pay around £905 for a one bedroom flat in the city centre. A three-bedroom apartment in the city centre costs on average £1,840 per month, working out at around £615 per person. As a comparison, this is 20% less than living in Bristol, and less than half the cost of living in London. Plus, the further out of the city you look, the cheaper it will be. Utility bills can cost around £115 per person per month, so don’t forget to factor this into your monthly budget.
Exeter has a diverse landscape of supermarkets, independent stores, and local markets. Students typically budget around £40 per week for groceries, and commonly bought items are priced on average around this much:
Milk (1L): £1.12
Bread Loaf: £1.24
Rice (1kg): £1.31
Eggs (12): £3.29
Cheese (1kg): £6.58
Chicken fillets (1kg): £6.48
Apples (1kg): £2.30
Potatoes (1kg): £1.15
Devon is renowned for its superb agricultural produce. Devonshire cream (and ice cream) is legendary, and you’ll also find freshly caught seafood in a lot of places. Be sure to check out local markets for the absolute best quality local ingredients, at surprisingly affordable prices.
Avoid the guesswork of university living costs with our new Student Cost of Living Calculator. From accommodation to bills, it breaks down all the costs to help you plan your budget with confidence.
Student nightlife in Exeter is extremely well catered for. There are plenty of places to eat, drink and dance. Student nights are organised on a weekly basis, and these are a great way to have fun on a modest budget. Entry prices are often heavily discounted (or free) for students, and there are usually food and drinks deals too.
Exeter has a great range of cuisines and there are restaurants, fast food places and cafes to suit all tastes and budgets. A meal at an inexpensive restaurant is typically around £15 in Exeter, and a pint of local beer generally costs £5.50.
Exeter is a very walkable place, and with so much green space and historic architecture, it’s a nice experience to navigate the city by foot. Cycling is another great way to get around, and there are places to safely lock your bicycle at the university.
Buses are also a decent option with one-way tickets costing an average of £3. It’s worth picking up a monthly travel pass if you’re going to travel by bus often, which costs £80. Be sure to apply your student discount for extra savings.
Exeter is a very keen sporting city, and is home to top teams in rugby, football, cricket and more. Keep an eye out for match day tickets and get involved. Similarly, you might join one of the many clubs and societies that the University of Exeter organises. They are often free to join, however they may require regular costs for things like equipment, events or travel expenses, so keep a small reserve to ensure you can participate.
Remember to keep some funds aside for course costs. You might need to pay for books, materials or other equipment depending on your subject. On average, we’d recommend budgeting around £1,200 a month as a student in Exeter, not including course fees.
NEXT: Take a look at what courses are available at the University of Exeter!
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