Navigating cost of living in London for international students

Discover valuable money-saving tips, unlock the best student discounts, and gain insights into planning your student budget in London.

Ivandzhelin

4 minute read

·

Updated on 20 Feb 2024

·

Studying

London’s universities are some of the highest-ranked in the world making the city a top choice for many international students. Yet, with an average monthly cost of living of £1,597, London is one of Europe's more expensive student cities. But worry not, we’ve got all the ways you can save on living expenses and still enjoy being a student in London.

While the cost of living in London can be high for students, you can also maintain a steady budget. You can plan your shopping, use your student card for discounts, get an Oyster card, and secure a student job to help your finances.

Here is a breakdown of the cost of living in London for students:

As a rule of thumb, rent will be the largest portion of your monthly living costs in London. How much you’ll spend on student housing in London depends on where you’ll live, the place you’re looking for, and if you’ll be living with roommates. Overall, you can expect average prices for student accommodation in London, including utilities:

• Student dorm: £908
• Private room: £1,036
• Studio: £1,299
• 1-bedroom apartment: £2,457

The most affordable options are either dorms or private rooms. With dorms, you get to be close to campus, but you might have to share a room with another person. The other student-friendly option is to rent an affordable room for students in London. You can split the costs with your flatmates, but you might not be close to university.

Make sure you check out our London neighbourhood guide where we dive deep into the 6 best areas in the city, a few of which are perfect for students.

Your grocery budget can range between £240 and £330 per month, depending on your eating habits. This amount covers essentials like eggs and potatoes while leaving room for indulgences like a Terry's Chocolate Orange.

Here are some ways you can save money on groceries as an international student in London:

• Plan your meals before shopping
• Choose store-brand items, they’re still excellent quality but at a lower cost
• Shop at discount supermarkets like Lidl, Aldi, Asda, or Tesco.
• Use online discounts and coupons from the supermarket apps.
• Buy your groceries from your local market for better quality food at lower prices.

If you set aside between £150 and £200 monthly, you’ll have enough to enjoy dinner outings with friends, visit museums, and experience the vibrant nightlife of London.

Here are some of the ways you can save money when you’re going out in London:

• Many museums offer free entrance, such as the British Museum, the Natural History Museum, The Victoria and Albert Museum, the National Maritime Museum, The British Library, and the Bank of England Museum.
• Enjoy discounted cinema tickets at Cineworld, Curzon, Every Man, and ODEON.
• Take advantage of student discounts on food at Pizza Express, Domino's, Gourmet Burger Kitchen, McDonald's, Yo! Sushi, Las Iguanas, and Deliveroo.
• Check out your local JD Wetherspoons. The chain's pubs have become popular among students due to their affordable prices on drinks.

You can get to virtually any point of the city with London’s public transport network. While taking the tube or the bus can be expensive, students enjoy a lot of cost-saving deals:

• Get an 18+ Student Oyster Card for 30% discount on Travelcards and Bus & Tram Passes. So your monthly travel costs will be £109.20 instead of the regular price of £156.
• Add a Railcard to your Oyster to save 34% on off-peak fares and daily caps for the some of the public trasport in London. The deal is available to people between 16 to 30 years old.
• Get an annual subscription for Travelcards and Bus & Tram Passes for bigger travel discounts

Tip: Buying or renting a bike will allow you to save even more on public transport as you'll be travelling for cheaper.

International students must contribute £470 per year (around £39 per month) for public health insurance in the UK. This fee called the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), provides students access to the National Health Service (NHS) and ensures coverage for basic medical requirements.

• Explore part-time job opportunities in London. With a UK student visa, you can work up to 20 hours per week during semesters and full-time during vacations.
• Set a daily limit to your debit or credit card. This is a sure way that you'll stick to your budget and avoid ending up overspending.
• Furnish your place with second-hand furniture to save money and promote environmental sustainability.
• Always carry your student card and ask about available discounts at establishments.
• Get an International Student Identity Card (ISIC) for discounts in the UK and worldwide. It offers travel, food, technology, hotels, restaurants, and more deals. Pay a one-off fee of £12 to get your card.
• Use money-saving apps like Unidays, Studentbeans and Totum for discounts on various products and services. Sign up using your student email.
• Download Honey, a browser extension that scans the internet for discounts and coupons applicable to almost every website.
• Take advantage of student discounts at Boots Opticians and Specsavers when buying glasses or contact lenses.
• Register with your student email to get a free Microsoft Office subscription and a 60% discount on Adobe Creative Cloud.

There you have it, all of the ways you can save on your cost of living in London as an international student! Now that you know what you can expect and all of the ways you can save money it's time to search for budget-friendly student rooms in London.

Please reach out to content@housinganywhere.com if you have any suggestions or inquiries about the content on this page.