UK Cities with Lowest Rent for Students

In this post, we look at cities in the UK where students can expect to pay the lowest rent.

Paying for rent can be the biggest headache that students face at university in Europe or North America. Half of your total available funds after paying for tuition tend to go into housing. For students in the UK, this can get a bit worrisome. They have to shell out between £500 and £1500 a month to get that all-important living space. Unless you’re crazy rich, this is something that is really going to put a strain on your budget. Many students find themselves starving – don’t judge – just so they can live in a house and sleep in a bed.

And accommodation is not something you can choose not to pay for.

With these in mind, it’s easy to see why many parents or students fidget at the thought of students’ living expenses.

However, this doesn’t have to be so challenging. Even in the UK, there are several affordable cities where students can go in the hope of paying the lowest possible housing fees.

So cheer up. We’ve found the least expensive university cities with affordable rent for students, and compiled a list showing what you can expect to pay in shared housing.

Cheapest cities in the UK for students to rent

The good news is that there are excellent universities in these affordable cities to rent a home. That means you do not have to sacrifice the quality you desire simply due to low funds. One point for the middle class – hooray!

Obviously you are not going to find London on this list, but these cities are still pretty great, and you can expect to get the same European standard you have in mind.

The list is dominated by cities to the north of England, where house prices and rental costs are usually lower than in the south.

10 most affordable cities for students to rent in

Hull, East Yorkshire

In first place is the city of Kingston upon Hull, where you may hope to attend the University of Hull. It costs £495 a month to rent the average home in Hull. In some places, the rent can drop to £412 per month. This figure is less than half the UK average of £854 per month.

Sunderland, Tyne and Wear

In Sunderland you can rent a home for £500 a month, sometimes cheaper. According to a 2018 survey, Sunderland is the second most affordable city in the UK.

Rent of £540 per month in Sunderland is considered expensive. Average options cost around £420, and you can get budget housing for £300 – just don’t expect it to be covered in marble.

In the city, you can attend the University of Sunderland, where living comfortably on a budget is much easier than at other universities.

Bradford, West Yorkshire

Bradford is one of the biggest urban areas in the UK. But it is also one of the most affordable places to live in. For students, living costs are comfortably low. You will be able to get the same value as many other cities at a very reduced price.

On average, you can pay less than £350 a month for housing. The University of Bradford is a good choice if you make your mind up to live in this area.

Aberdeen, northeast Scotland

Rent in Aberdeen generally crosses the £500 mark, but at an average rent cost of £573 per month, this is still a very affordable city to live in. Aberdeen is a very important city, and the University of Aberdeen ranks among the top universities in the United Kingdom.

Newcastle, Tyne and Wear

The average cost of homes for students in Newcastle is £620 a month in rent. You may be able to get something for lesser. But generally, students in Newcastle should expect to pay a bit more than those in the above-mentioned cities.

In Newcastle, you can attend Newcastle University, one of the biggest and most popular universities in England.

Dundee, Scotland

Dundee is a city in eastern Scotland. It is Scotland’s fourth-biggest city and is home to two universities – the University of Dundee and the Abertay University.

The average student home in the city generally falls below £500 a month.

Preston, Lancashire

Preston is a city in the northwest of England. It is home to the University of Central Lancashire – the third-largest university in the northwest of England, boasting a student population of 36,000.

The average price for a home in Preston is £600 a month.

Derby, Derbyshire

Derby is a town located in central England, home to the University of Derby. Students at Derby will spend approximately £620 for the average home.

Liverpool, Merseyside

Liverpool is a city on the west coast of England. It is one of the biggest cities in the United Kingdom and home to the University of Liverpool.

Students in Liverpool can expect to pay £633 a month for rent. This is a bargain, considering that you’ll get so many of the advantages of a big city.

Belfast, Northern Island

The last on our list is Belfast, the capital and largest city of Northern Island. Belfast is also the 12th-largest city in the United Kingdom.

Students in Belfast may attend one of its two universities – Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University.

The average home for students costs about £644 but there are a wealth of options to choose from.

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