Newcastle-upon-Tyne is a popular student city in North East England, close to the Scottish border. Famed in the UK for its nightlife and abundance of student nights, Newcastle is an exciting city with plenty going on. In general, the cost of living in the north of England is comparatively cheaper than that in the south, so students in Newcastle can stretch their budgets further than those in many other UK cities. As a student, understanding budgets and living expenses is really important, so keep reading to learn more about the cost of living in Newcastle.
As a student, when it comes to fees and funding in Newcastle, you’ll need to be aware of the biggest expense involved in going to uni in the UK – tuition fees. These are the fees you pay to study your course and usually cost up to £9,250 per year (this will be rising to £9,535 from the 2025/26 academic year). To help pay these fees you can apply for a tuition fee loan through Student Finance, which for most UK students will cover the entire cost of your tuition.
You’ll also need to think about your day-to-day and living costs, like rent, bills, going out costs, food expenses and everything else you’ll need to pay for, which we’ll go into in more detail in this article. As well as your tuition fee loan, you’ll also be able to apply for a maintenance loan through Student Finance. This loan is worth up to around £10,000 per year depending on factors like your family income (this will be rising to up to £10,544 from the 2025/26 academic year).
Loans from Student Finance don’t need to be paid back until after you’ve graduated and are earning over a certain amount. For new students on Plan 5 this threshold amount is £25,000, although it will differ depending on which plan you’re on.
Depending on your personal circumstances, you may also be able to apply for extra funding from your uni in the form of scholarships and bursaries. For example, at Newcastle University there are several sports scholarships available for students who’ve achieved highly in their sport. Northumbria University also has various additional funding available for certain students, e.g., the Northumbria Scholarship which is available for students on 11 different courses who’ve achieved a minimum of AAA at A-level (or equivalent qualification).
You’ll find a variety of uni accommodations available in the city, with the cost depending on factors like accommodation type, room size and location. At the University of Newcastle, prices range from £98 to £224 per week, and rooms at Northumbria University start at £116 per week. Catered and en-suite options are often more expensive than self-catered and shared-bathroom residences.
You can also live in private rented accommodation while studying in Newcastle. A one-bedroom apartment in the city centre will set you back around £775 a month, so many students choose to rent a bedroom in a shared house with friends. This option will cost you about £450 a month.
If you live in private accommodation you’ll probably have to pay utility costs on top of rent, whereas in uni halls these are often covered as part of your rent payments. These costs include gas, electricity, water and internet and you should budget around £70-£80 a month for them in a shared house, or slightly more if you live alone.
Newcastle is relatively affordable compared to other major UK cities, especially those down south. Here, you’ll find lots of supermarket options, including budget chains like Aldi and Lidl. Shopping here can help keep your grocery costs down.
On average, you’ll find the following rough prices for these common goods in Newcastle:
Milk (1L): £1.23
Bread loaf: £1.17
Rice (1kg): £1.57
Eggs (12): £2.68
Cheese (1kg): £7.56
Chicken fillets (1kg): £6.56
Apples (1kg): £2.03
Potatoes (1kg): £1.46
The city of Newcastle is famed for its student nightlife. From Osborne Road in Jesmond to the Gate and Haymarket in the city centre, there’s an abundance of places for Newcastle’s students to go out. Newcastle is also known for student nights and drinks deals around the city that will help you stick to your budget.
Regular bars, pubs and clubs are more expensive with the average price of a pint of beer being around £4, while a meal in an inexpensive restaurant costs on average £15 per person. A cinema ticket is roughly £8, so you’ve always got options for a cheap evening out.
The University of Newcastle estimates that students in the city spend around £129 to £214 per month on social and leisure activities.
Newcastle is well connected to the rest of the UK by train. Train fares from Newcastle to London start from £10.90 and begin at £20.60 to Manchester, £21.20 to Liverpool and £5.90 to Edinburgh. To get the cheapest fares you should book as early as possible and buy advanced single tickets where you can. You can also buy a 16-25 Railcard for £30, which will give you 1/3 off rail fares.
Travelling around the city of Newcastle is convenient because of the public transport systems including the Metro and bus networks. A one-way ticket is £2 and there are student passes that start at £65 a month. Depending on where you live, the University of Newcastle recommends budgeting around £28 to £60 a month for local transport costs.
Depending on your individual lifestyle, you might find other expenses to keep in mind while budgeting for living in Newcastle. Your uni will have clubs and societies to join, which usually have a small joining fee but opportunities for trips and socials throughout the year. On top of food and bills, you’ll also need to consider any clothes, toiletries and other personal items. Of course, you also have studying to think about, and depending on your course you might want to set aside £20 a month for course materials and books.
As a university student in Newcastle, we’d recommend budgeting for around £900 a month, not including course fees, although this will vary by the individual.
Why not start searching for courses in Newcastle or check out our list of reasons to study in the city?