Cost of Living in the UK

Every year more than 50 thousand students go to the UK for higher studies, and the average expenditure in the UK is one of the most pertinent questions boggling the minds of aspiring students. No doubt the cost of living in the UK can be a bit high for you compared with Indian cities. You must have heard a lot about the high living expenses in the UK, but they are manageable, and you don’t necessarily have to be well-healed for studying in the UK. There are several options to have a balanced monthly expense without undue cuts.
One needs to consider a lot of factors while taking admission to a college since the overall cost of living in the UK puts an impetus on your finances. There must be a thorough analysis of the rent trend, grocery charges, transportation cost, etc., to take hold of the living cost in the UK per month. The UK government prescribes a monthly budget of £1265/ month in order to study in London. The average monthly cost of living in the UK is a bit on the lower end in comparison to London. The UK government advises having a monthly budget of £1015/month for cities other than London. However, there is no blanket rule regarding this, and the monthly living expenses in the UK depend on your lifestyle, needs, etc.
By and large, the monthly expenses revolve around the UK government’s said amount, but specific cuts can be done for sure by altering the lifestyle and doing some part-time jobs. Students do part-time jobs wherein they earn decent money to ease the burden on the living expenses in the UK.

Lincoln is one such place with the most affordable cost of living in the UK, where the rent starts from £118.80/week. Lincoln has several other factors which make it the best place for you to live as it has the lowest average monthly cost of living in the UK. The cost of transportation is also meager, and it starts from a mere low of £30 pass.
Cardiff, the capital of Wales, is known for the UK’s most pocket-friendly cost for Indian students. Many students from India live in Cardiff so that you will get a lot of help from your peers. The monthly rent is around £114.19, which makes it more affordable for students and helps in reducing the average cost of living in the UK. Owing to the affordable transport system, the need to live near the campus isn’t a caveat for the students. The cost of living index is 69.88 on a scale of 100.
Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland and, with an abysmally low rent starting from £113 and a travel pass from £29, it provides the most feasible cost of living in the UK for Indian students. The cost of groceries is also less, and the index is 53.84 when compared to London (with a grocery index of 84.87) or other top cities in the UK. The average monthly cost of living in the UK or, for that matter, any other country can be managed by taking up some part-time job, cutting on extravagant expenses, and having a strict financial discipline.
Lancaster is another destination with a relatively moderate average expenditure in the UK. The place is home to many Indian students, and you will feel at home in social circles and marketplaces. With all the modern amenities and world-class transport system, the monthly rent hovers around £139/week. One of the cheapest places when it comes to living costs in the UK per month with a decent standard of living. The cost of living index is 72.89.
Other places with relatively cheaper living expenses in the UK are Newcastle, Coventry, Stirling, Warwick, etc.

All of us desire a decent living standard, but if you are a student, you should bear the average cost of living in the UK before taking a final call on admission. Several universities are situated in tier-1 cities, but they have a relatively higher average monthly cost of living in the UK.
Londoners have the highest living expenses in the UK, with the cost of living index touching 89.5. The grocery index is at 84.87 on a scale of 100. While the rent touches 74.93, the index makes London a city with the highest cost of living in the UK for you. Like the London School Economics and King College, there are several good institutions, but the cost will always be a factor worth considering if you are not well-healed.
Milton Keynes also has a very high cost of living. The prices are way above the average monthly cost of living in the UK, making it a less likely location for you if you want to live in an affordable city. The cost of living index is at a whopping 86.62, making it a place with exorbitantly high monthly living expenses in the UK.
Cambridge is a name which we all have heard from our childhood. You must have a great impression of the university, and it is indeed true to its name. However, Cambridge has one of the highest cost of living in the UK for Indian students. The cost of living index is relatively high at 82.46, and if you are thinking of rent, it isn’t a cheap shot either. The rent index is at 39.64, although it’s low but not when compared to other cities in the UK.
Other places with a cost of living index above 75 are Edinburgh, Manchester, York, Leeds, Coventry, etc.

The cost of education constitutes a significant financial investment apart from the living expenses in the UK. The tuition fee for a student studying in the UK varies, depending on whether a student is a native or an outsider. There is a considerable difference in the fee structure. You must factor in the difference in order to calculate the overall cost of education. The average monthly cost of living in the UK will be in addition to the tuition fee. The monthly expenses are likely to increase in tier-1 cities, so the university’s choice must be made with due diligence.
For instance, if you have to decide between a college in London and Cambridge, you must consider the fact that London has the highest living expenses in the UK. Cambridge will be a better option both in terms of rent and monthly living expenses in the UK. Studying in a good college should always be a priority, but the cost of living is a real thing, and you will have to face the brunt of it if you are not in the financial position to afford a decent living. However, students do a lot of part-time work and freelancing work to finance their studies, and there is no dearth of such opportunities.
The cost of education is also taken care of by the British Government if you are an outstanding student. There are several governments, and private scholarships for you provided you should have a proven meritocracy. The two most sought scholarships are the Chevening Scholarship and Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowships. The first one is provided by the UK government and the second scholarship by the member governments to citizens of other Commonwealth countries. However, the scholarships are restricted mainly for post-graduate programs, and the number of scholarships for undergraduate students is way too less.

The monthly living expenses in the UK depend on the city where you have planned to take the admission. You must choose a university located in a city with a relatively lower cost of living in the UK. There are many good universities in the towns with somewhat lesser average expenditure in the UK than places like London and Milton Keynes. If you plan to stay outside London, the UK government has a rough estimate that you will be spending £1015/month on monthly living expenses in the UK. For London, the average monthly cost of living in the UK can rise up to £1265/month.
For the cost of living, you must factor in the cost of living index, the rent index, grocery index, transportation costs, etc. The more well-off the people will be in a city, the more you will have to pay for living. This is a universal rule applicable to all places.

The accommodation cost varies significantly from one city to another, and it can be a costly affair for you to live in a city like London. For instance, the University College London estimates the yearly living expenses in the UK at £8073/month. There are several options for off-campus stay in flat sharing and other independent hostels. If you are ready to go far a few miles from the campus, the chances are very likely that you can get an affordable residence at low prices.

Groceries and food costs are the second most considerable part of living in the UK for Indian students. There are other expenses too, but the living expenses in the UK have a major component in terms of food cost, which is around £25/week. But the cost of food is a variable expense, and not possible to put an exact amount of money on it. The indicative cost of food mentioned above can help you calculate your monthly living expenses in the UK. When you are calculating the cost of food, do incorporate those bills when there will be a special occasion at your place. You might want to include the outing in the food cost as it will be a part of your life and certainly take place in your average cost of living in the UK. If you can make small amends in your expenses, the cost of living in the UK will not affect your finances.

Transportation cost is moderate in the UK, and if you are comfortable in public transport, it will not take a toll on your finances. Your use of public transport will cut the average expenditure in the UK, and the money can be used elsewhere in more productive areas. You will find that access to public transport will let you live in far-off locations, which will help save the rent. The transportation cost is also less in most cities, and on average, it costs £30-£45 per month depending on the city where you live.
There are ample transportation options available across the UK, and it helps students in saving a lot in their monthly living expenses in the UK. You can also use a student railcard for train travels, reducing the usual train fare by almost 33% of the original fare amount.

There are a lot of other living expenses in the UK that can’t be expressed in any of the categories mentioned above. But you must factor in these costs since they will be a significant addition to your average cost of living in the UK. It includes internet charges, phone bills, stationery bills, gadget and appliance costs, repair costs, etc. Though it may seem to you like a miscellaneous section, you must be aware of increased monthly expenses in the first couple of months.
You may wish to see a movie that roughly costs around £15 or a dinner, which may cost you anywhere between £15-35£. The internet and phone bills will also be a significant addition to the average monthly cost of living in the UK, wherein the sim package costs around £15 and the TV+WiFi combo costs around £55 per month.

The cost of living in the UK can vary from one city to another, but a balanced lifestyle with a part-time job can ease your financial burden. Use of public transport, less outing, etc., few things a student can do to reduce the expenses.

There are many ways to reduce the cost of food, and the first being less dependent on outside food. The usual grocery bill for a week is around £23, while a single lunch can cost you approximately £20. Thus the best approach is to cook on your own and reserve special lunches for special occasions.

London has a well-connected metro and bus system, and it will help you in getting a place of residence in an affordable neighborhood. The cost of living in the UK for Indian students can be high if they live in the city instead of a suburb. And the vast transportation network lets you stay some distance from central London.

It’s easy, and the best way is to use shared items. Share a wifi network, electronic equipment, reduced spending on clothing are few ways to cut out on your miscellaneous expenses.