The cost of living for a student in London

Housing is the largest expense. The main options are:

• University dormitory (halls) — the most predictable option: the price is fixed for the semester and often includes utility bills. The cost largely depends on the university and the type of room.
• A room in an apartment shared by several people — usually cheaper than a dormitory, but requires paying for part of the utility services and a deposit separately.
• Student residence provided by a private company — in many ways similar to a dormitory, but not tied to a specific university; often more expensive than university halls.
• Self—renting an apartment or studio is the most expensive and least predictable option, usually requiring a guarantor and a large deposit.

In dormitories and some student residences, utility bills — electricity, water, heating, internet — are usually already included in the cost of accommodation. When renting an apartment or room in the private sector, these expenses are most often paid separately and can significantly increase the monthly budget, so when comparing offers, it is worth clarifying what exactly is included in the price.

Food expenses largely depend on habits. Cooking at home is the most budget‑friendly option, especially if you shop at budget supermarkets and take advantage of student discounts. Ready‑made meals and delivery are noticeably more expensive, and regular visits to cafes and restaurants can increase food expenses several times over compared to cooking at home.

Public transport in London — the tube, buses, and London Overground — operates on a zone‑based system. Students aged 18 and over can get an 18+ Student Oyster photocard: it offers a discount of about 30 % on travel passes compared to the standard fare. According to official data from Transport for London, a monthly pass for zones 1–2 with such a card costs £119.90 in 2026. If the accommodation is located close to the university, some students can do without a pass altogether, opting for walking or cycling instead.

This includes textbooks, printing and copying, specialized software and subscriptions, and for some specialties — equipment or materials (for example, for design, architecture, or engineering fields). Many university libraries provide free access to most literature and databases, which significantly reduces this expense item with active use.

Mobile communication, home internet (if it’s not included in the rent), and subscriptions to services like streaming or cloud storage are a separate category, but usually not the largest budget item. A reasonable way to save money here is to choose SIM‑only plans instead of phone contracts and share subscriptions with roommates, where the service terms allow it.

This category is the most flexible: it can account for a very small portion of the budget or, conversely, become a significant expense — depending on habits and social activity. A gym membership, trips to the movies, cafes and clubs, weekend trips around the country — all of this should be planned separately from the basic expenses for housing and food.

A separate budget item is mandatory payments related to a student visa. The so-called Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) provides access to the public healthcare system (NHS) for the entire duration of study and, as of 2026, amounts to £776 per year for students; the amount is paid in advance for the entire visa period in a single payment. It is essential to check the exact terms and amounts on gov.uk before submitting visa documents, as the rules change periodically — this does not replace a separate visa consultation.

Typically, the largest expense is housing: rent in London is noticeably higher than in most other cities in the UK, and it often accounts for half or more of the monthly budget. In second place is food, if the student often eats out, and transportation, if the accommodation is far from the university.

There is no clear answer – it depends on the specific offers. University dormitory accommodation is usually predictable in terms of price and often includes utility bills, which is convenient for the first year. A room in an apartment may be cheaper, but it adds separate expenses for utilities, a deposit, and administrative hassle – it’s worth comparing the total amount, not just the rental price.

In addition to the regular monthly budget, one‑time expenses are usually added in the first month: a deposit for housing, everyday purchases, setting up communication, and a transport card. It is realistic to allocate one and a half to two times the regular monthly budget for the first month to account for all one‑time expenses and avoid running out of funds at the start.

In some cases, yes, but this depends on the conditions of the specific student visa and the permissible number of working hours, which need to be clarified individually. It is more reasonable to view part‑time work as a supplement to the main financial plan, rather than as the primary source of covering living and study expenses.