Find out what it costs to make a new life for yourself at university, including accommodation, food and everyday essentials – as well as having some fun.
By Ryan Lunn (Content executive, The Uni Guide) | 04 April 2025 | 6 minutes read
Starting a new life away from home at university is very exciting. There’s a lot to think about – making friends, discovering new cities, studying for your degree. But how much will it all cost?
Getting on top of budgeting and learning how to fend for yourself are big parts of the university experience – managing your finances is all about understanding which costs you should expect, and which you might be able to avoid.
It’s good to have a rough idea how much various essentials might cost so that you can start to plan a budget. It will also help you know how much you might have left over to have a little fun.
Paying for somewhere to live will be your biggest expense. It’s difficult to say exactly how much your accommodation will cost as it varies from city to city, but there are generally two options when it comes to choosing your new home: university halls or private halls.
Rent varies from area to area (eg from £300 to £1000 a month). This would ideally include your broadband, water bills, electricity and gas too – but they're not always included.MindMax2000 | (from The Student Room)
You’ll typically pay your rent up front at the start of each term, which takes a big chunk out of your budget. But it’s also one less weekly cost to worry about. Halls also usually cover all your utility bills, such as heating, electricity and often internet.
The other option is private accommodation in the form of a student house or flat. This is normally more suited to second- or third-year students who already have friends to share with. The cost of private rentals varies around the UK, with London prices far outstripping other cities.
Finally, you could also weigh up the pros and cons staying at home and commuting to university to save money.
Now you’ve got your accommodation sorted, travel is another big expense. Travel budgets will depend on how far away your campus is, your location, and other things like visits home, day trips and whether you own a car.
I rarely spend on transport, unless I’m exploring areas around Birmingham – for this I’ll buy an all-day bus ticket allowing unlimited travel for £4.50.BCU Student Rep | (from The Student Room)
If you do take a car to university, then you'll need to factor in insurance and maintenance as well as petrol and parking costs.
In smaller cities or campus universities, walking or cycling can help you to save on travel expenses. Buying monthly bus passes can also help to keep costs down. For longer journeys, try and book in advance as you can often get better deals.
Look up the local bus or rail network for your uni and find out the cost of a monthly student pass. If planning on taking a car, look on the university or local council website to find out the parking situation.
Food
Food is an essential weekly spend. Try to avoid the smaller ‘express’ supermarkets as they tend to be more expensive and do fewer but bigger weekly shops - frequent visits to pick up a few bits can quickly add up.
My weekly food shop is usually about £33-£45, depending on if I've run out of stuff like rice and pasta.I often buy other food throughout the week if I get hungry, don't have enough or something goes off.civicpride2506 | (from The Student Room)
Avoid brand names – choose own-brand alternatives – and look for special offers and store cards. Set a weekly budget, try and plan meals ahead and cut down on the takeaways.
My weekly food budget can vary from £30 to £40. I freeze leftovers and have bags of frozen veg, which will last longer than fresh veg.I also like to plan my meals and make a shopping list to help keep costs down – and to avoid buying food that doesn’t go together to make a meal.BCU Student Rep | (from The Student Room)
Shopping around also pays off, with budget supermarkets often having great deals on products like toiletries and essential veg.
Go down to your local supermarket and do a trial run of a weekly shop for everything you think you might need, adding it up as you go. This will give you some idea of costs and where savings can be made.
Living in halls, bills will probably be included in the rent. In private accommodation it’s different. And as tenants you’ll be expected to organise and pay bills for utilities like water, electric and gas.
You’ll also need to pay for any extras, such as internet, movie and TV subscriptions, as well as your phone bill. Fixed contract bills such as phone and internet can be found quickly online, but keep an eye out for bundle deals where you can get phone, internet and TV packages at great rates.
Going out
Socialising is a big part of the university experience. So, you’ll need to set aside some money for going out. Whether it's a day trip to a historical monument or a night out clubbing, it all costs money.
Try and set a reasonable budget that lets you have some fun but won’t leave you short in other areas.
I spend £100 a month on going out. I go out only once or twice a week and mostly just to the pub, buying a couple of drinks.You can get student discount in a lot of places and on tickets for events.Kingston Reps | (from The Student Room)
You probably already have an idea of what socialising costs, but you can always make use of student discounts and special promotions.
Hobbies and memberships
University may be a life changing experience but not everything has to be different. Try and keep up some of your old hobbies and exercise regimes. It’s worth thinking about trying a few new ones too.
Gyms and sports clubs do great student offers, and cinemas, theatres and venues usually offer discounts.
I spend £65 a month on extra-curriculars. I do cheerleading which is definitely one of the more expensive sports.I didn’t have to pay for this every month but there were fees every now and again for things like uniforms and competitions. And my gym membership is £14.99 a month. I got a discounted price for six months, so make sure to look out for deals when joining.Kingston Reps | (from The Student Room)
Go online at your chosen university’s student union to get more information about the costs of various clubs and memberships.
Other costs
There are plenty of other costs that you might not think about but that will all take little chunks out of your bank balance. Haircuts, a new pair of shoes, bank charges – these are just a few of the little extra spends you’ll need to manage. Build these into your budget with a monthly contingency to avoid going short.
Going to university is not just about studying your chosen subject, it’s also about learning life skills. Coping with a limited budget, learning to economise and making your money go further are all a big part of the experience.
More information from The Uni Guide on student finance:
