Cost of Living in the United Kingdom for Students (2026/27)
Build your monthly budget with our interactive calculator, then check real prices, tuition fees, the official visa costs and the money-saving tips that make the biggest difference.
ScholarshipUnion Editorial
3 min read
Updated Oct 6, 2026
Monthly Budget Calculator
Pick a city and a lifestyle to see an estimated monthly total and where the money goes. These are our estimates of typical student spending, not official figures.
City
Lifestyle
Here are all the totals at once, so you can compare without clicking. Totals add rent, food, transport, social life, phone/internet and other spending.
| City | Budget | Moderate | Comfortable | Rent in budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £1,145 | £1,640 | £2,245 | £700–£1,300 |
| Manchester | £805 | £1,120 | £1,575 | £450–£850 |
| Edinburgh | £855 | £1,250 | £1,715 | £500–£950 |
| Birmingham | £750 | £1,070 | £1,470 | £420–£800 |
| Glasgow | £725 | £1,005 | £1,380 | £400–£750 |
| Nottingham | £670 | £935 | £1,300 | £370–£700 |
Estimates by ScholarshipUnion. For comparison, the Home Office asks Student visa applicants to show £1,529 a month for London and £1,171 a month elsewhere.
Real Prices
What everyday things typically cost in the UK (estimates; London sits at the top of each range).
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| ☕ Coffee (cafe) | £2.80–3.50 |
| 🍺 Pint of beer | £4.50–6.50 |
| 🍽 Meal out (budget) | £8–14 |
| 🚌 Monthly bus pass | £50–90 |
| 🛒 Weekly groceries | £35–55 |
| 🏠 Studio rent (per month) | £500–1,300 |
Visa and Health Surcharge Costs
Overview →These one-off costs are set by the UK government and come before your first rent payment:
- Student visa fee: £558 (since 8 April 2026).
- Immigration Health Surcharge: £776 for each year of your visa, paid upfront. It gives you access to the NHS.
- Money to show: £1,529 a month in London or £1,171 a month elsewhere, for up to 9 months, plus unpaid first-year tuition, held for 28 consecutive days.
For a one-year master's outside London, the funds requirement alone is 9 × £1,171 = £10,539 on top of your tuition. Some scholarships, such as Chevening, cover the visa fee and surcharge.
Tuition Fees
International students pay much more than UK (home) students. Typical annual ranges:
| Level | UK / home student | International student |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate / year | Up to £9,790 (England, 2026/27 cap) | £14,000–38,000 |
| Master's / year | £8,000–12,000 | £15,000–45,000 |
| MBA / year | £15,000–30,000 | £25,000–65,000 |
The home undergraduate cap is set by the government (it was £9,535 in 2025/26). All other ranges are our estimates — check your university's fee page for the exact amount.
Money-Saving Tips
Get a 16–25 or 26–30 Railcard
It saves 1/3 on most train fares across the UK, costs £35 a year and pays for itself after two or three trips. It works on some off-peak London Tube fares too.
Shop at Aldi, Lidl or market stalls
You can often save a lot on groceries compared with Tesco or Sainsbury's. Yellow-sticker bargains at closing time save even more, and cooking at home instead of eating out can save around £200 a month (our estimate).
Use student discounts everywhere
Get a TOTUM card (around £15 a year) and use the free UNiDAYS and Student Beans apps. Many restaurants, cinemas and shops offer a 10–20% student discount.
Cycle or walk
Many UK cities are very walkable. A second-hand bike costs £50–80 and saves £60+ a month on transport. In London, Santander Cycles costs from £20 a month or £120 a year for unlimited rides of up to 60 minutes.
Apply for bursaries and hardship funds
Most UK universities have emergency hardship funds that many students never apply for. Check with your university welfare office. Some scholarship programmes also have additional living-cost grants.
More UK Guides
Visa costs, key numbers and where to start
Ten student cities compared
Housing types, scams and rents
Culture, work rules, weather