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Cost of living in London for students
What it costs to live in London as a student, from official rent figures.
Average private rent in the London area was £2,332 a month in August 2026, 67% above the UK average of £1,400. The average for England was £1,459.
What this means for a student budget
University halls and rooms in shared student houses usually cost less than a whole home, and halls often include bills. Even so, rent is most students' biggest cost. A one-bedroom home at the average rent here would take about 149% of the largest Maintenance Loan for students from England living away from home in London (£14,135 for 2026 to 2027). Most students get less than the largest loan, depending on household income.
For international students, the Student visa asks you to show £1,529 a month for living costs, for up to nine months. That is a minimum set by the Home Office, not an estimate of real costs here.
A home where everyone is a full-time student does not pay council tax. If you share with someone who is not a student, the household may get a bill with a discount.
Universities and colleges in London
| University or college | Student experience (NSS 2026) | Earnings after five years |
|---|---|---|
| BIMM University | 77.8% | £25,3003% below the UK average for its subjects |
| BPP University | 92.9% | £35,5007% above the UK average for its subjects |
| Birkbeck, University of London | 82.3% | £35,9005% above the UK average for its subjects |
| Brunel University London | 83.1% | £37,0004% above the UK average for its subjects |
| Cecos Computing InternationalCollege | 96.2% | Not published |
| Central Film School LondonCollege | 69.5% | Not published |
| City St George's, University of London | 83.9% | £41,00011% above the UK average for its subjects |
| Doreen Bird College of Performing ArtsCollege | 76.5% | Not published |
| Drama Studio LondonCollege | 83.4% | Not published |
| Elizabeth School of LondonCollege | 78.9% | Not published |
| Fairfield School of BusinessCollege | 95.2% | Not published |
| Global Banking SchoolCollege | 91.8% | Not published |
| Goldsmiths, University of London | 81.6% | £31,500In line with the UK average for its subjects |
| Greenwich International College LimtedCollege | 90.7% | Not published |
| ICMP ManagementCollege | 76.7% | £24,2005% below the UK average for its subjects |
| Imperial College London | 86.8% | £57,10026% above the UK average for its subjects |
| Istituto MarangoniCollege | 89.6% | Not published |
| King's College London | 83.6% | £45,80016% above the UK average for its subjects |
| Kingston University | 84.6% | £34,0002% below the UK average for its subjects |
| LCA EducationCollege | 86.5% | Not published |
| LCA LondonCollege | 87.3% | Not published |
| LamdaCollege | 87.4% | Not published |
| London College of Contemporary ArtsCollege | 87.4% | Not published |
| London Contemporary Dance (The Place)College | 84.0% | Not published |
| London Metropolitan University | 86.8% | £29,3009% below the UK average for its subjects |
| London School of Commerce & ITCollege | 89.0% | Not published |
| London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) | 87.0% | £59,70050% above the UK average for its subjects |
| London School of Management EducationCollege | 97.9% | Not published |
| London School of Science & TechnologyCollege | 93.0% | £18,70048% below the UK average for its subjects |
| London South Bank University | 84.9% | £35,9003% above the UK average for its subjects |
| Met FilmCollege | 68.0% | Not published |
| Middlesex University | 85.5% | £31,1004% below the UK average for its subjects |
| QA Higher Education (QAHE)College | 81.0% | Not published |
| QAHE (NU)College | 80.9% | Not published |
| Queen Mary University of London | 84.5% | £43,20010% above the UK average for its subjects |
| RTC EducationCollege | 87.4% | Not published |
| Ravensbourne University London | 83.6% | £30,7007% above the UK average for its subjects |
| Regent's University London | 83.4% | Not published |
| SOAS University of London | 77.8% | £35,1006% below the UK average for its subjects |
| St Mary’s University, Twickenham | 86.9% | £33,7008% above the UK average for its subjects |
| The London Interdisciplinary SchoolCollege | 79.6% | Not published |
| UCL (University College London) | 83.7% | £50,10023% above the UK average for its subjects |
| UK College of Business and ComputingCollege | 90.5% | £14,90059% below the UK average for its subjects |
| UK Curriculum and Accreditation Body (UKCAB)College | 96.5% | Not published |
| University of East London | 90.0% | £28,50010% below the UK average for its subjects |
| University of Greenwich | 84.8% | £34,7001% above the UK average for its subjects |
| University of Law | 84.9% | £31,80010% below the UK average for its subjects |
| University of Roehampton | 86.1% | £31,1001% above the UK average for its subjects |
| University of West London | 87.9% | £31,5003% below the UK average for its subjects |
| University of Westminster | 83.5% | £32,6002% below the UK average for its subjects |
| University of the Arts, London | 84.7% | £30,0007% above the UK average for its subjects |
| Walbrook Institute LondonCollege | 76.5% | Not published |
| Waltham International CollegeCollege | 95.7% | Not published |
Sources: National Student Survey 2026, Office for Students (Open Government Licence v3.0), first degree, full-time, by teaching provider; LEO graduate outcomes, tax year 2023-24, Department for Education (Open Government Licence v3.0), median earnings five years after graduating; Discover Uni dataset, 8 September 2026 edition, HESA (CC BY 4.0), continuation and graduate prospects. All sources and licences.
Rents: Price Index of Private Rents, Office for National Statistics (Open Government Licence v3.0). Area: London. Loan and visa figures: GOV.UK, checked 24 September 2026.
Build your budget
Use the budget calculator to add food, travel and other costs, and compare the total with your loan or visa amount.
Open the budget calculatorSources
- Price Index of Private Rents, Office for National Statistics
- National Student Survey 2026, Office for Students
- LEO graduate outcomes, tax year 2023-24, Department for Education
- 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
How much is rent in London?
The ONS average private rent in the London area was £2,332 a month in August 2026, and £1,760 for a one-bedroom home. Student rooms usually cost less than a whole home.
Is London cheaper than the UK average?
Average rent in London was 67% above the UK average of £1,400 a month in August 2026.
Do students pay council tax in London?
No, if everyone living in the home is a full-time student, the home does not pay council tax.