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Cost of living in UK university cities
Compare average rents in the cities where UK students study, and see how they sit against the Maintenance Loan and the Student visa living-cost amounts.
Average monthly private rents in UK university cities, from the Office for National Statistics. The UK average is £1,400 a month (August 2026). Student rooms in halls or shared houses usually cost less than renting a whole home, so use these figures to compare places rather than as the price of a room.
| City | Average rent a month | One-bedroom home | Change on a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| AberdeenScotland | £845 | £601 | -0.5% |
| AberystwythWales | £723 | £562 | +4.4% |
| BangorWales | £724 | £559 | +6.9% |
| BathEngland | £1,885 | £1,207 | +7.4% |
| BelfastNorthern Ireland | £1,134 | £836 | +2.9% |
| BirminghamEngland | £1,099 | £830 | +3.0% |
| BoltonEngland | £894 | £654 | +11.1% |
| Bournemouth and PooleEngland | £1,398 | £918 | +2.8% |
| BradfordEngland | £745 | £549 | +2.4% |
| BrightonEngland | £1,808 | £1,189 | -1.2% |
| BristolEngland | £1,883 | £1,225 | +5.9% |
| CambridgeEngland | £1,805 | £1,256 | +1.8% |
| CanterburyEngland | £1,280 | £876 | +5.4% |
| CardiffWales | £1,177 | £908 | +3.5% |
| CarlisleEngland | £681 | £508 | +7.0% |
| CheltenhamEngland | £1,261 | £869 | +4.8% |
| ChesterEngland | £991 | £725 | +6.1% |
| ChichesterEngland | £1,333 | £947 | +2.9% |
| ColchesterEngland | £1,197 | £820 | +2.1% |
| CoventryEngland | £1,020 | £759 | +2.4% |
| DerbyEngland | £860 | £608 | +3.1% |
| DundeeScotland | £825 | £571 | +0.3% |
| DurhamEngland | £650 | £456 | +6.1% |
| EdinburghScotland | £1,415 | £1,035 | +1.6% |
| EghamEngland | £1,586 | £1,084 | -0.7% |
| ExeterEngland | £1,318 | £915 | +0.5% |
| FalmouthEngland | £1,000 | £688 | +1.8% |
| GlasgowScotland | £1,266 | £843 | +1.3% |
| GloucesterEngland | £1,116 | £745 | +7.2% |
| GuildfordEngland | £1,736 | £1,185 | +5.6% |
| HatfieldEngland | £1,512 | £1,063 | +3.5% |
| High WycombeEngland | £1,475 | £1,035 | +4.9% |
| HuddersfieldEngland | £782 | £584 | +12.8% |
| HullEngland | £694 | £500 | +7.4% |
| InvernessScotland | £739 | £537 | +4.3% |
| IpswichEngland | £995 | £744 | +4.3% |
| KeeleEngland | £833 | £580 | +7.8% |
| LancasterEngland | £823 | £602 | +6.3% |
| LeedsEngland | £1,145 | £782 | +4.2% |
| LeicesterEngland | £1,023 | £716 | +1.6% |
| LincolnEngland | £942 | £659 | +4.6% |
| LiverpoolEngland | £913 | £686 | +5.6% |
| LondonEngland | £2,332 | £1,760 | +3.5% |
| LoughboroughEngland | £960 | £679 | +4.2% |
| LutonEngland | £1,222 | £907 | +2.7% |
| ManchesterEngland | £1,373 | £1,003 | +4.2% |
| MiddlesbroughEngland | £698 | £499 | +4.0% |
| Newcastle upon TyneEngland | £1,215 | £814 | +9.3% |
| Newport, ShropshireEngland | £861 | £600 | +6.6% |
| NorthamptonEngland | £1,084 | £752 | +3.3% |
| NorwichEngland | £1,142 | £778 | +0.6% |
| NottinghamEngland | £1,014 | £735 | +1.8% |
| OrmskirkEngland | £805 | £588 | +5.6% |
| OxfordEngland | £1,963 | £1,351 | +3.5% |
| PaisleyScotland | £800 | £511 | -1.5% |
| PlymouthEngland | £1,004 | £705 | +4.7% |
| PontypriddWales | £754 | £528 | +1.7% |
| PortsmouthEngland | £1,368 | £901 | +2.4% |
| PrestonEngland | £790 | £579 | +5.9% |
| ReadingEngland | £1,574 | £1,116 | +1.4% |
| SalfordEngland | £1,170 | £888 | +3.3% |
| SheffieldEngland | £931 | £690 | +4.3% |
| SouthamptonEngland | £1,257 | £881 | +3.4% |
| St AndrewsScotland | £832 | £558 | +1.5% |
| StirlingScotland | £892 | £603 | +2.4% |
| Stoke-on-TrentEngland | £715 | £518 | +5.4% |
| SunderlandEngland | £707 | £523 | +4.6% |
| SwanseaWales | £852 | £688 | +6.2% |
| Warwick and Leamington SpaEngland | £1,241 | £883 | +1.9% |
| WinchesterEngland | £1,508 | £1,017 | +4.1% |
| WolverhamptonEngland | £945 | £674 | +11.1% |
| WorcesterEngland | £977 | £711 | +5.3% |
| WrexhamWales | £770 | £597 | +3.2% |
| YorkEngland | £1,199 | £875 | +6.5% |
Source: Price Index of Private Rents, Office for National Statistics (Open Government Licence v3.0). Official statistics in development. Latest month shown for each area; Northern Ireland figures are two months behind.
Work out your own budget
The app's budget calculator compares your costs with the Maintenance Loan, or with the Student visa living-cost amount for international students.
Open the budget calculatorSources
- Price Index of Private Rents, Office for National Statistics
- GOV.UK: Student finance
- GOV.UK: Student visa, money you need
Data used under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (Office for Students, Department for Education, ONS) and CC BY 4.0 (HESA). All sources and licences.
Quick answers
Which UK university cities have the lowest rents?
On ONS average private rents, the lowest among university cities we cover are Durham (£650 a month), Carlisle (£681 a month), Hull (£694 a month), Middlesbrough (£698 a month), Sunderland (£707 a month).
Do students pay council tax?
In England, Scotland and Wales, a home where everyone is a full-time student does not pay council tax. Northern Ireland has domestic rates instead, which are often included in the rent.