StudentTenant.com reports on UK’s student living costs

The UK Student Accommodation Index reveals the most expensive and affordable cities for student housing, plus other key data

Julian Owen

The UK Student Accommodation Index analyses weekly rents paid by students in 2017, who booked accommodation in 56 UK university cities via StudentTenant.com.

Unsurprisingly, students studying in London spend the most on their rental accommodation, whilst students in Bradford, Stafford, Pontypridd spend the least. In London, students spend an average of £730 per month on their rent, almost twice the UK average.

The report also revealed that the Midlands offers the majority of affordable accommodation, with five of the top 10 most affordable cities in the UK located in central England. Students studying in these cities spend as much as 61% less on their rent than the UK national average.

Danielle Cullen, Managing Director of StudentTenant.com, said: “It’s not surprising that London comes top in the most expensive places to live for students. The market there has changed a lot in the last 10 years, with a huge rise in purpose built (PBSA) and luxury accommodation, inevitably pushing up prices.

“That’s not to say that there aren’t affordable options available wherever students choose to study. As the market grows, we’ll continue to see a more diversified range of options that cater to different budgets, particularly as more competition starts to erupt between the PBSA providers.

“It’s all about being efficient in your search, starting as early as possible to ensure you do not miss out on any deals, and being prepared to make a few sacrifices – like perhaps living further away from university, or having a smaller single bedroom.”

Top 10 Most Expensive Cities in the UK

Average monthly rental spend on student accommodation