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The United Kingdom is one of the most popular places to go for studies and get the best opportunities. Every year, a huge amount of students from different parts of the world head over to the UK to build their careers. 

So, are you a student planning to move to the UK? Then you must be aware of the living costs and how to cut off a few expenses without hampering your regular life. Follow this guide to learn about living expenses in UK and the related facts.

Alternatively, you can also connect with Western Overseas to learn more about the process of securing your study visa for the UK, related expenses and other details.

What are the Living Expenses in the UK?

Here is a brief discussion of the living expenses in UK:

Study in UK: Average Costs

If you are going to the UK for the first time to study, then you should get a clear picture of the expenses beforehand with the help of a professional study visa consultant in UK from Western Overseas. As per the recent economic trends, students pay almost £9,000 on average for their courses.

However, this cost will vary as per your course and degree. For example, studying social science will cost less compared to other technical subjects. You should also add the tuition fee, which will also vary along with university fees.

While the cost of study is a bit higher in the UK, the tenure of a degree is shorter, and multiple student loans are available. You can opt for such financial assistance to manage your educational expenses.

Accommodation in the UK: Average Costs

Like any part of the world, the accommodation cost in the UK depends on the type of apartment and locality you are residing in. For example, if you are living in London, then the cost of rent may range from £800 to £2600, depending on the area and building you choose. The average rental cost in the UK is £1000 per month. Moreover, as per the ONS, there has been a 6.2% surge in private rentals in the UK in the last 12 months leading up to January 2024.

On the other hand, if you are planning to move to the UK alone for studies, you can also go for on-campus housing. These housings are comparatively affordable, and they may cost between £150 and £200 depending on the type of institution. 

So, the best way to manage this expenditure is to find off-campus shared rental places. They are cheaper, come with basic facilities, and you can get them for £60 per week and sometimes lower.

Transportation in the UK: Average Costs

The living expenses in UK also consist of the transportation cost, which depends on the type of city you are moving to. For example, the average bus fare in the heart of London may cost £1.50 per hour, and a taxi ride in London may cost £3 per mile. The average monthly charge for transportation can be as low as £185.

On the other hand, if you are staying in Bristol, the monthly living expenses can range between £30 and £140. 

Food in the UK: Average Costs

The cost of food is an important factor to calculate the average living expenses in UK. As per the CPIH, the cost of food and beverages (non-alcoholic) has increased up to 10.1% in the last year. Therefore, students must be mindful of their food expenses.

Thanks to the system of popular universities in the UK, where students can get nutritious meals from £5 to £10. On the other hand, going to restaurants may cost £15 to £100 per meal, depending on the nature of the restaurant.

On average, the cost of food in the UK ranges between £300 and £650 for a single person, depending on where you live.

Overview of Predicted Living Expenses in UK

Here is a brief tabular representation of expected expenses for a single student in the UK:

Particulars	Average Monthly Expense (In GBP)	Average Monthly Expense (In INR)
Accommodation	£500 - £700	50,000 - 70,000
Transport	£30 - £40	3000 - 4000
Food	£100 - £200	10,000 - 20,000
Entertainment	£25	2629
Gas and Electricity	£60	6000
Mobile and Internet	£90	9465
Other Utilities	£100 - £140	10517 - 12620

Tips to managing living expenses in UK

Since you are planning to stay in the UK to complete your degree, here are a few tips on handling expenses without any hassle. Here you go:

• Multiple scholarship programs are running to help Indian and international students to study in the UK. You can apply for them to manage your expenses better.
• You can find different student deals and discounts while shopping for utilities or books in the UK, which you should use wisely.
• Part-time jobs are a must to have an extra source of income and pay for the additional requirements.
• The government also offers some interest-free loans for education, which can be handy in this regard. You can look into these schemes.

The Bottom Line

Thus, the average living expenses in UK for one person can be up to £12,000 to £15,500 per month, including every facility. At the same time, there are ways to manage them and save on them without any hassle.

So, for detailed guidance on living costs in the UK and how to navigate through it, reach out to the best study visa consultant in UK, Western Overseas. Our experts will help you understand the matter thoroughly and give you the best tips to manage it.