Cost Of Living For a Student in London 2024
Average Monthly Expenditure
Currency: GBP
Average monthly spending for students in London
How much money does a student need in a month to survive in London?
Students in London spend around 1,800 GBP per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 280 GBP or as high as 12,000 GBP. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.
Prices and cost of goods and services in London
Dining, food, and beverages costs
Fast food combo meal
Restaurant meal for one
Fine dining meal for one
Cappuccino or latte
Grocery and market costs
Milk large bottle
12 eggs
Fresh whole chicken
Pack of beef
Medium bag of rice
Bag of tomatos
| 0.67 GBP | 0.90 GBP | 1.7 GBP |
Bag of apples
Commute, travel, and transportation costs
20 minutes taxi ride
Average car full tank
Average car 1-day rental
Average car price
| 8,400 GBP | 17,000 GBP | 22,000 GBP |
Bus ticket one way
| 0.65 GBP | 0.97 GBP | 1.9 GBP |
Car Service
Utility cost (monthly)
Utility Bill - Student
Internet and cable
Mobile phone charges
Leisure and activities costs
Movie ticket
One month gym membership
Cloths and accessories costs
Pair of jeans or pants
Woman dress
Woman shoes
Men's shoes
Men suit
Regular t-shirt
Housing costs / monthly rent
Studio apartment
| 320 GBP | 480 GBP | 1,300 GBP |
1-bedroom apartment
| 480 GBP | 770 GBP | 1,900 GBP |
2-bedroom apartment
| 640 GBP | 970 GBP | 2,600 GBP |
Housing costs / Buying
Studio apartment
| 64,000 GBP | 97,000 GBP | 190,000 GBP |
| $82,000 | $120,000 | $240,000 |
1-bedroom apartment
| 77,000 GBP | 130,000 GBP | 480,000 GBP |
| $98,000 | $160,000 | $610,000 |
2-bedroom apartment
| 130,000 GBP | 390,000 GBP | 770,000 GBP |
| $160,000 | $490,000 | $980,000 |
Furniture Costs
King Size Bed
Double Bed
Single Bed
Living Room
| 370 GBP | 480 GBP | 1,700 GBP |
Dining Table
Sofa or Couch
Electronics and House Appliance Costs
TV Set
Fridge or Freezer
Washing Machine
Stove or Cooker
Mobile Phone
Laptop or Computer
How do students spend their money in London?
We asked thousands of students about their spending habits and expenditure break down.
Housing and accomodation expenditure for students
Accomodation Cost20%
20% of total expenses on average (15% to 26%)
| LOW | $84 66 GBP |
| AVERAGE | $550 430 GBP |
| HIGH | $3,600 2,900 GBP |
| Per Month |
Students in London typically spend from 15% to 26% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 20% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 430 GBP with expenditure ranging from 66 GBP to 2,900 GBP. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.
Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for students
Cost of utilities5%
5% of total expenses on average (3% to 9%)
| LOW | $14 11 GBP |
| AVERAGE | $91 72 GBP |
| HIGH | $610 480 GBP |
| Per Month |
Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in London ranges from 3% to 9% of total expenses with 5% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 72 GBP with 11 GBP and 480 GBP being the upper and lower limits for a student of four.
Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for students
Cost of transport and fuel5%
5% of total expenses on average (5% to 11%)
| LOW | $25 19 GBP |
| AVERAGE | $160 130 GBP |
| HIGH | $1,100 840 GBP |
| Per Month |
Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a student resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a student would expect to spend from 19 GBP to 840 GBP in a month on commuting with 130 GBP being the norm for most students. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 5% of total spending on average but can go as low as 5% or as high as 11%.
Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for students
Food and Groceries Cost22%
22% of total expenses on average (16% to 26%)
| LOW | $70 55 GBP |
| AVERAGE | $450 360 GBP |
| HIGH | $3,000 2,400 GBP |
| Per Month |
The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical student in a month in London is 360 GBP. The cost of groceries can range between 55 GBP to 2,400 GBP. Students spend on average about 22% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 16% and 26% respectively.
Healthcare and medical services expenditure for students
Cost of healthcare8%
8% of total expenses on average (5% to 11%)
| LOW | $21 17 GBP |
| AVERAGE | $140 110 GBP |
| HIGH | $910 720 GBP |
| Per Month |
Students in London allocate 5% to 11% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 8%. The range of medical expenses range from 17 GBP to 720 GBP with 110 GBP being the norm for most students.
Leisure and shopping expenditure for students
Cost of leisure and shopping4%
4% of total expenses on average (2% to 8%)
| LOW | $18 14 GBP |
| AVERAGE | $110 90 GBP |
| HIGH | $760 600 GBP |
| Per Month |
This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 14 GBP to 600 GBP with 90 GBP being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 8% of total expenses with an average of 4% for most students.
Education and schooling expenditure for students
Cost of education and schooling19%
19% of total expenses on average (12% to 24%)
| LOW | $67 53 GBP |
| AVERAGE | $430 340 GBP |
| HIGH | $2,900 2,300 GBP |
| Per Month |
Spending on education can vary drastically between different students. On average, education constitutes 19% of the monthly expenditure of students with 12% and 24% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 340 GBP per month with 53 GBP being the minimum spent amount and 2,300 GBP being the maximum.
Other Expenses17%
17% of total expenses on average (11% to 23%)
| LOW | $53 41 GBP |
| AVERAGE | $340 270 GBP |
| HIGH | $2,300 1,800 GBP |
| Per Month |
A typical and healthy budgeting structure
The 50/30/20 rule
Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle,
location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule,
which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.
50% for needs and financial obligations
This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.
30% for wants and discretionary spending
This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.
20% for savings and emergency fund
This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.
About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting
The 50/30/20 rule is used as a general guideline but may not be the best choice for all people. There are in fact many budgeting plans out there like the 70/20/10 and the 60/20/20 rules, all claiming to be the best. More important than all of this is to establish financial discipline by creating a budget tailored to your specific financial goals and situation. It is very important that your financial outflow be less than your income to maintain a healthy cash flow.
Affordable living in London
Income and cost of living compatibility
We asked students one simple question and recorded their answers.
Is it affordable or economical to live in London?
Around 84% of surveyed students think that living in London is affordable with proper budgeting while 16% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.
Low-cost alternatives in London
People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked students how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:
Plenty of low-cost options68%
Few low-cost options32%
Based on the survey, 68% of the students living in London have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 32% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.
Emergency Funds For Students
An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked students of London whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.
Yes79%
No21%
Based on the survey, 21% of the students living in London said that they don't have an emergency fund while 79% said that they do.
Financial Literacy in United Kingdom
Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.
Financial Leteracy68%
We asked student guardians and parents in London whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 32% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 68% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.
Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning
We wanted to understand whether students of United Kingdom have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 34% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 66% said that they have everything under control.
Struggles with finance34%
Easily manages finances66%
Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in London
Rental costs and house/apartment prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Rent Cost in London
Monthly Rent Prices
Studio apartment monthly rent cost
| 320 GBP | 480 GBP | 1,300 GBP |
1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 480 GBP | 770 GBP | 1,900 GBP |
2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 640 GBP | 970 GBP | 2,600 GBP |
3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 770 GBP | 1,300 GBP | 3,500 GBP |
Furnished apartment monthly rent cost
| 1,500 GBP | 3,900 GBP | 7,700 GBP |
Townhouse monthly rent cost
| 1,300 GBP | 1,900 GBP | 5,500 GBP |
House monthly rent cost
| 1,500 GBP | 3,900 GBP | 7,700 GBP |
Villa monthly rent cost
| 1,900 GBP | 4,800 GBP | 7,700 GBP |
The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in London ranges between 320 GBP and 1,300 GBP, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 480 GBP to 1,900 GBP. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 640 GBP and 2,600 GBP per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 770 GBP to 3,500 GBP. The average rent of a townhouse in London is around 1,900 GBP while house rental costs can be as high as 3,900 GBP per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 1,900 GBP to 7,700 GBP per month.
Apartment and house prices in London
Cost of buying a property
Studio apartment price
| 64,000 GBP | 97,000 GBP | 190,000 GBP |
| $82,000 | $120,000 | $240,000 |
1-bedroom apartment price
| 77,000 GBP | 130,000 GBP | 480,000 GBP |
| $98,000 | $160,000 | $610,000 |
2-bedroom apartment price
| 130,000 GBP | 390,000 GBP | 770,000 GBP |
| $160,000 | $490,000 | $980,000 |
3-bedroom apartment price
| 430,000 GBP | 640,000 GBP | 1.9M GBP |
Townhouse price
| 550,000 GBP | 1.3M GBP | 4.8M GBP |
House price
| 640,000 GBP | 3.9M GBP | 5.5M GBP |
Villa price
| 770,000 GBP | 4.3M GBP | 6.4M GBP |
The average price of a studio apartment in London can range from 64,000 GBP to 190,000 GBP depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 77,000 GBP to 480,000 GBP. A villa can cost you 4.3M GBP on average with prices ranging from 770,000 GBP to 6.4M GBP.
If you're leasing or purchasing, housing costs in London will probably constitute your biggest expenditure, yet it's an area where you wield considerable influence. This is due to the substantial variance in housing prices across communities. Keep in mind the location of your workplace and the accessibility of essential amenities to prevent negating the savings from lower rental rates with increased transportation expenses.
House / apartment prices to income ratio
Property price to income ratio
( average property price / average monthly income ) x 100
| 49 | x147 monthly income | 248 |
Property prices in London can be x147 to x248 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x147 multiples of the average monthly salary in London.
Rent to income ratio
Rent to income ratio
( monthly rental / monthly income ) x 100
The average rent-to-income ratio in London is around 38%. This means that people pay 38% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 26% to 49% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.
The housing-to-income ratio is a very important metric to evaluate and measure how affordable living is in a particular area, city, or country since housing comprises the biggest chunk of expenditure. A higher housing to income ratio means that the place is relatively expensive. The figure by itself does tell much. It only starts to make sense when comparing the housing to income ratio across different locations.
Housing affordability index
The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.
Housing Affordability Index
35% Property Taxes
Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.
Home Maintenance Costs
Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.
Urban vs. rural living costs
Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.
Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in London
Utilities expenditure can vary slightly between different areas and locations.
Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in London
Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Student
Internet and cable cost
Mobile phone bill and charges
Because most utility bills club electricity, water, and gas costs in one bill, we can't provide a breakup for each type of utility and will display electricity, gas, and water as single cost.
The average monthly energy and water consumption of students is around 72 GBP. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 17 GBP to 45 GBP with 34 GBP being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 22 GBP but can range between 13 GBP and 67 GBP depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.
Energy / Utility expense to income ratio
( monthly utility expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average utility-to-income ratio in London is around 5.7%. This means that people pay 5.7% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 2.3% to 10% depending on salary and location.
Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in London
Grocery / Food expenditure and prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Prices and cost of goods and services in London
Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.
Fast food combo meal price
The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in London is approximatly 6.7 GBP with meal cost ranging from 3.4 GBP to 11 GBP. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.
Restaurant meal for one price
If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 12 GBP and 36 GBP with 18 GBP being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in London.
Fine dining meal for one price
The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 24 GBP to 140 GBP with the average cost being 36 GBP for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in London.
Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..
The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in London is around 4.5 GBP. Price ranges between 2.8 GBP and 6.7 GBP depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.
Grocery and market costs
Large bottle of milk price
The average price of a large bottle of milk in London is 2.7 GBP. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 3.4 GBP and the minimum being 2.2 GBP depending on the brand of milk and other properties.
12 eggs price
A dozen eggs costs around 2.2 GBP on average with 1.7 GBP and 3.4 GBP being the lower and upper limits respectively.
Fresh whole chicken price
The price range of a fresh whole chicken in London is between 3.8 GBP and 7 GBP depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 4.9 GBP.
Pack of beef price
The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 6.7 GBP. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.
Medium bag of rice price
A bag of rice in London costs around 2.5 GBP on average with prices rangeing between 1.8 GBP and 3.5 GBP depending on the brand and quality.
Bag of tomatos price
| 0.67 GBP | 0.90 GBP | 1.7 GBP |
A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 0.67 GBP to 1.7 GBP. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Bag of apples price
A bag of apples costs 1.6 GBP on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio
( monthly grocery expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average grocery-to-income ratio in London is around 29%. This means that students spend 29% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 20% to 36% depending on salary and location.
Expenditure on food and grocery for students
Students' spending on grocery ranges from 55 GBP to 2,400 GBP with the location, income, and size of the student being the most determinite factors.
