A historic and wonderfully preserved cathedral town with one of the lowest student costs of living anywhere in the country. Our guide is an introduction to the basics of affordable Norwich living, so if you’re considering studying here, read on to find out more.
Updated: 17 Jan 2025
Located around 20 miles from the East Anglian coast, Norwich is a fantastic example of a small town with a big lifestyle offering, and at a very modest cost when compared to other cities in the UK. Norwich has around 145,000 inhabitants which despite its relatively small size, makes it the largest city in East Anglia, a region which is sparsely populated and characterised by its landscape of wide-reaching fenland, open fields, warm dry weather, and more than 500 miles of coastline.
At a time where more and more people are seeking to combine the buzz of city living with the peace of nature, Norwich is truly one of the UK’s best kept secrets. We break down the key aspects of what it takes to live comfortably here on a student budget.
There are two universities based in and around Norwich, and as a student of either one, you will be paying an annual university tuition fee which is very likely to be priced at £9,250 (this will be rising to £9,535 from the 2025/26 academic year). Fortunately, you’ll have several options available through Student Finance; a company which offers both tuition fee loans and maintenance loans to ensure that you won’t need to worry about paying back these costs until you’ve graduated and are securely earning a salary.
The tuition fee loan covers the entire fee amount, although it is also possible to request partial funding. It is automatically paid in full to your uni at the start of each academic year, which is extremely convenient and ensures a smooth transition between each level of study. The maintenance loan is worth up to £9,978 per year, and the amount you receive is based on your family’s household income (this will be rising to up to £10,544 from the 2025/26 academic year). This goes a long way towards subsidising your rent costs and general living expenses.
Your uni may also be offering a financial support scheme that you’re eligible to receive. The University of East Anglia has scholarship options for academic performance, sporting achievement and musical ability, and Norwich University of the Arts offers a range of subject specific scholarships and donor-funded cash awards for academic performance while studying. Each university also has a range of means-tested bursary schemes to ensure financial security for all students. Check out your university’s fees and funding page to find out more.
As with most places in East Anglia, Norwich has a relative abundance of space. Each uni has a range of housing locations in pleasant open surroundings, and with less competition for space you can either pay less and save some money or have more room to enjoy. With both university halls of residence and private sector rental options available you’ll have every opportunity to find the right living situation for you.
Norwich University of the Arts has five housing locations at a range of scales and styles. There are riverside, parkland and city-centre residences, and prices start between £108 and £171 per week, with shared facility, en-suite, and studio options all conveniently located within easy travel of campus. The University of East Anglia also has an impressive selection of accommodation available. They offer both city and campus options, starting at only £91 per week and including the iconic Grade II Listed Ziggurats, designed by legendary Modernist architect, Denys Lasden.
Those wishing to find private rental options in the city will not be short of opportunities either. A three-bedroom apartment in the city centre costs an average of £1,600 per month, which means that you and your friends can live in the heart of town for around £570 each per month in rent. If you're living in a shared house, you’ll want to budget around £95 per person per month for utilities.
Norwich is a city surrounded by farmland and has the benefit of fresh local produce in addition to the big supermarket chains such as Asda, Tesco and Sainsburys.
Commonly bought grocery items are priced accordingly:
Milk (1L): £1.13
Bread Loaf: £1.83
Rice (1kg): £1.18
Eggs (12): £2.90
Cheese (1kg): £5.00
Chicken fillets (1kg): £9.00
Apples (1kg): £2.44
Potatoes (1kg): £0.61
A top tip: The food vendors at the University of East Anglia work in collaboration with ‘Too Good To Go’, a food and grocery service which offers heavily discounted produce at the end of the day, in an effort to minimise food waste.
Norwich is a relatively small city, with two universities and several other higher education colleges, meaning that the town is well set up to host a student night out. There are numerous places to eat out, and a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant comes in at about £70. While this is on the pricier side, you can grab a meal at an inexpensive restaurant for around £15, and a pint comes to an average of £4.50. All in all, plenty of options to economically fuel a night on the dance floor!
Norwich has a great selection of bars and clubs dotted along the city’s main late-night route, Prince of Wales Road, and many offer student discounts for entry and special drinks deals, as well as evening entertainment such as pub quizzes and themed events at an affordable or even free cover charge.
One of the benefits of living in a smaller city is that whatever the cost of public transport, you won’t need to take it as often! Norwich is a very walkable city, in terms of size but also experience. As an excellently preserved medieval town, it is a pleasure to walk its ancient and atmospheric streets and of course this won’t cost you a penny. For longer distances, there are plenty of cycle lanes and the city has one of the highest rates of public cycling in the country. Daily exercise, and with only the cost of a bike, helmet and lock. What’s not to love?
Otherwise, a monthly travel pass for local bus routes will cost around £65, which works out at about £2 per day, or even less with a student discount.
Norwich has a lot of daytime activities which you may wish to factor into your monthly budget. It could be a gym membership, or attendance at Norwich’s many regular sporting events, which include top-flight football matches where your student discount still applies.
Certain courses may involve additional costs, particularly arts-based degrees. For example, printing, photocopying and materials may not be covered by tuition fees, so ensure that you know what you need, and where to find it inexpensively.
Overall, for students in Norwich, we’d recommend budgeting around £800 a month excluding tuition fees. This can vary a lot depending on your accommodation cost and lifestyle, so make sure you take into account your personal situation when you budget.