Cost of living in the UK

PTE Author
PTE Author
Image- UK, 800px x 451px
Reading time: 4 minutes

You may have heard that London is one of the most expensive places in the world to live in, but fortunately, London, and by extension, England, does not equate to the whole of the UK. In fact, many UK towns and cities are very liveable when compared to other cities across the globe.  

There is quite a bit to look at when considering the cost of living in the UK. Apart from tuition fees, there’s also the cost of rent, transport, and even entertainment – because if you’re living in the UK, there’s no way you should miss out on everything that this great country has to offer- from the food to the culture.  

Let’s look at some aspects of the UK cost of living, so you can best adjust your budget and prepare yourself for a new life abroad. 

Calculating living costs in The UK 

When looking at the cost of living in the UK, it’s best to use an online currency calculator to convert your currency to the British pound – that will give you a better idea of the true cost of living in relation to your country. 

Here’s a rough guide to the currency conversions we have used in this article, dated March 27th, 2020:

  • AU$1,000 = £500

  • US$1,000 = £805

  • €1000 = £895

Once you have a better understanding of the conversion rate, you can better interpret how much rent, utilities and other everyday costs will affect your budget.  

A weekly UK budget 

There are so many factors that contribute to the UK cost of living that it’s impossible to give you a set cost for each week. But a recommended starting point for a budget for a single student in the UK, per week, averages out to about £300. Let’s see how we got to this number (please note these costs are an average from across UK metropolitan cities, outside of the city center). 

Item Cost
Rent (one-bedroom flat)  £162 
Council Tax  £25
Other Utilities (Electricity, Gas etc.)  £40
Travel Costs (if not living on campus)  £14
Food £60
Total £301 

Students in the UK should always take advantage of student pricing to keep costs down. This can include student rates on monthly transportation passes, university dining halls, Halls of Residence living options (which are around £80 per week), and more. If you can work while studying in the UK, it will bring even further financial relief. 

Taking further costs into account, a single student should budget around £15,000 per annum for living in the UK 

This is of course not a comprehensive list, but it will give you a good starting point when it comes to determining your personal cost of living in the UK. 

Cost of living in different UK cities 

As stated earlier, there’s more to the UK than England and London, and the cost of living can vary greatly between cities and countries. If you’re living within a tight budget, you will be more comfortable in a major regional city or a smaller town. The UK standard of living is largely the same, no matter where you choose to call home.

Here are the variations in the cost of rent in London versus other major UK capitals. Price differences in food and other utilities are also similarly reflected across the UK (e.g. the cost of food in Liverpool can be up to 30% cheaper than the cost of food in London).

City Rent average (monthly)
London £1,665 
Edinburgh  £1545
Manchester  £1212
Birmingham £1082
Cardiff  £1014
Glasgow  £902
Belfast  £842 

How much does education cost in the UK? 

University tuition in the UK is another important factor in the cost of living. The UK has world-class education facilities and caps the amount that can be charged for resident students in the UK and the EU at £9,250 a year. International students will pay more – in London, the annual tuition fee ranges from £16,340 to £32,670 depending on the selected course.

How much is health care in the UK? 

Much like their education system, the UK also has an extensive and first-rate health care system known as the National Health Service (NHS). Citizens of the UK access the NHS for free, as do international students per their visa.  

If you prefer, you can sign up to a private health fund, which can lead to faster access to certain health services. This means that a GP check-up will set you back around £70. 

While expensive, living in the United Kingdom comes with many rewards – from its cultural melting pot to its proximity to Europe for the keen traveler. If you’re planning on making the UK your home in the near future, check out PTE English tests for the UK. 

Related Content

  • UK city
    UK student loans for international students
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 5 minutes

    The United Kingdom is a cornucopia of leading education facilities and employment opportunities – but such world-class education comes at a cost. With university courses quite easily exceeding £20,000 (US$24,830), studying in the UK is known to be costly (and that’s not even taking into account rent and other costs of living!).

    It’s understandable then that many students in the UK require some financial help to see them to the end of their education. Working while studying can be an option – but what about UK education loans for international students? 

    Can international students get loans in the UK? 

    The answer to this question is quite simple, and it lies in your citizenship. It is also set to change once the UK leaves the EU.  

    EU citizens/Student loans UK

    If you’re a student from a European Union country – such as Italy, Germany, France, Spain or Sweden – your education costs will be capped as though you were a UK student. This means that you won’t pay more than £9,250 a year for your university degree. 

    You will also be eligible for a government student loan. This will cover your tuition fees, as well as your living costs if you’re studying an undergraduate course. This UK education loan for international students is not paid directly to you; instead, it will be paid to your university, and you will be required to pay it off in increments once you graduate. 

    A wide number of degree types will allow you to access student financial assistance. These include (according to gov.uk): 

    • A first degree, for example BA, BSc or BEd

    • A Foundation Degree

    • A Certificate of Higher Education

    • A Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE)

    • A Higher National Certificate (HNC)

    • A Higher National Diploma (HND)

    • An Initial Teacher Training course

    • An integrated master’s degree

    • A pre-registration postgraduate healthcare course.

    Interestingly, if you are an EU student and plan to study in Scotland, you might not pay any tuition fees. The costs are covered by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for first degrees and PGDE courses. 

    International student loans UK 

    We wish that there was good news on this front – but unfortunately, UK education loans for international students (excluding students from the EU) are not available. Additionally, the cost of your tuition fees can potentially be far more than home students, with laboratory-based degrees set to cost up to £30,000. 

    If you plan to study in the UK as an international student, it’s also worth remembering that you’ll need to prove that you have £1,015 in your international student bank for each month of study up to nine months in order to be eligible for your visa. This number increases to £1,265 if you’re studying within London. This means that you’ll need to have saved between £9,135 and £11,385 in your bank account (depending on your university’s location) before you can obtain your student visa. 

    So, what can international students do to support themselves while studying in the UK? 

    Working while studying in the UK 

    While it can be difficult to balance work and study – especially if you’re studying in a country that is not your home – it is one of the best ways to ensure a steady income if you cannot apply for an international student loan. Your visa may restrict you to a set number of hours, but that doesn’t mean you can’t work to get a little extra cash into your bank account. 

    An international student visa (Student route visa, formerly known as Tier 4), will allow you to work up to 20 hours per week during the term. A number of casual jobs will grant short shifts that do not exceed this limit, including: 

    • Retail worker

    • Receptionist

    • Waiter/barista/bartender

    • Shelf packer

    • Mystery shopper.

    When UK vacation periods come into effect, however, you are able to work full-time hours. This means you could potentially undertake higher-paying jobs such as: 

    • Private tutor

    • Sales representative

    • Event assistant

    • Call center operator

    • Amusement park staff member.

    Students should check out Indeed, Reed, or Monster to apply for part-time work.

    Apply for an international student loan 

    Depending on your country of origin, you can still apply for a loan to study abroad. The USA and Australia have such loans in place, but these may be restricted to particular countries, courses and universities. This is likely the closest equivalent to an international student loan in the UK. 

    Consider an exchange program 

    Although these may not be as extensive as full-time study in the UK, it can be a chance to test out the experience for up to a year. You will have to check that your university in your home country has an exchange program set up with a university in the UK, but it could be an excellent experience if you can partake in it. 

    Apply for a scholarship 

    This is likely your best chance for getting a foot in the door if you’re an international student looking for a loan to study in the UK. There are many scholarships open to international students, with varying levels of criteria to meet. They also tend to differ depending on the country in which you live. Some examples of these include: 

    If you have your heart set on studying in the UK, it’s best to explore every avenue available to you to ensure you end up studying in the country and university you love.

    Learn more about PTE Academic if you need to undertake an English language proficiency test before you depart.

  • Image- Asian student writing
    How long will I wait for my PTE Academic results?
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 3 minutes

    Most test scores are now returned within just 2 days

    During 2018 students, migrants, and professionals that sat PTE Academic received their scores in even less time than ever before. In fact, during 2018, 85.7% of PTE Academic test takers received their results within just 2 days.

  • A female model watching movie
    Great movies to help you learn English
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 5 minutes

    Learning a language is much easier when you’re enjoying yourself – which is why watching movies can be a great way to immerse yourself in the language.

    What better way is there to pick up new phrases and slang terms that you would not learn in the classroom, all with popcorn in hand?

    It can be hard to know which movie to choose so here are our top ten to help you get started. These films are chosen for their language clarity and cultural insights, offering a fun way to improve English skills for beginners and advanced learners alike.

    If you are not feeling confident, watch with subtitles and you will soon pick things up.

    1. Forrest Gump (1994)

    A fantastic choice for beginners, this film teaches English while taking you through the heart of American history. This movie is one of the best English movies for learners as Forrest speaks so slowly throughout the entire movie. It is also an iconic 90’s movie which will make you laugh and cry in equal measure.

    2. Harry Potter series

    Perfect for all ages, these films are a treasure trove of rich vocabulary set in a magical world. Many things make the Harry Potter series great for your linguistics skills! Aside from the rich vocabulary, due to the sheer number of films in the series you will get to build up your understanding of different characters, their personalities, accents and ways of communicating.

    3. The King's Speech (2010)

    What a great idea for learning English – watching a film where the main character – a historic British figure – is learning to speak! King George VI struggles to communicate due to a speech impediment, which means pronunciation is a very big focus in this movie.

    4. Pride and Prejudice (2005)

    For lovers of classic literature, this film offers a window into historical British English. The movie adaptation of Pride and Prejudice will also expose you to societal norms, colloquial expressions, formal language and phrases as this movie is set in the early 19th century England.

    5. Home Alone (1990)

    This is one of the best English movies to watch, especially for beginners. It is full of day-to-day phrases and a slower pace, so it is easier to follow along. It is also a Christmas classic for all the family.

    6. Love Actually (2010)

    Great for picking up informal turns of phrases, slang and expressions used by British people. It also showcases a variety of British (and Irish) accents, so you can expose yourself to a breadth of British ways of speaking.

    7. Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

    A charming film for mastering conversational American English.

    8. The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

    Immerse in everyday conversational English set in contemporary America.

    9. Brave (2012)

    Animated and perfect for beginners, this film is set in Medieval Scotland so you will get to experience the Scottish accent and culture as well as learning some everyday phrases and idioms.

    10. Inception (2010)

    This movie should be on your list if you are focusing on advanced language learning. The language and the plot are both really complex. You will be exposed to advanced vocabulary and narratives which are really thought-provoking.

    These films offer an immersive, engaging, and often emotionally resonant context for language learning. Whether you're just starting or looking to refine your skills, each movie is a step forward in your language-learning adventure.

    More ways to prep

    Ready to prepare for your English language test? Explore Smart Prep, which combines all our practice materials in one place, so it's easier for you to stay on track with your PTE preparation.

    • Smart Prep is a clear path to test day, guiding you through the official paid and free resources available for your test

    • It can be accessed whether you’ve booked a test or not – just create, or sign in to your myPTE account

    • Preparation materials include guided practice tests, introductory videos, video courses and test tips.