What Does Student Accommodation
Actually Cost?
Rent is usually the single
biggest item in a student's budget — often bigger than tuition itself, in terms
of what actually leaves your bank account each month. But “how much is student
accommodation” doesn't have one answer. It depends heavily on what kind of
place you live in and where in the UK you're studying.
It varies a lot by accommodation type
•
University halls of residence tend to be the
simplest to budget for. Rent is usually one weekly figure that already includes
bills — energy, water, often WiFi — and contracts typically run 40–44 weeks, so
you're not paying for the summer months you're not there.
•
Private purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA)
— the newer blocks run by private companies rather than the university — often
comes with extras like gyms or on-site security, and the price reflects that.
Contracts here can run closer to 51 weeks, so you may be paying rent over
summer whether you're living there or not.
•
Private shared houses, rented from a landlord or
letting agent, are usually the cheapest option on paper. You take on more
responsibility — sorting your own bills, dealing with a landlord, splitting
costs with housemates — but many students find it more affordable, especially
from second year on.
It varies a lot by location
London is consistently the most
expensive place to be a student, which is part of why the maintenance loan is
higher there. Cities in the North of England and Northern Ireland tend to sit
at the cheaper end. Scotland is its own case: Scottish-domiciled students
studying in Scotland pay no tuition fees, which can offset higher local rents
in cities like Edinburgh or Glasgow. The gap between the cheapest and priciest
university towns can run to several hundred pounds a month for a broadly
similar room — so it's worth checking your specific city rather than relying on
a UK-wide average.
What else moves the final bill
•
Contract length — the same weekly rent can cost
thousands more over 51 weeks than 38.
•
What's included — bills, WiFi, and contents
insurance may or may not be bundled in.
•
Deposits and admin fees — private lets often ask
for four to six weeks' rent upfront.
Check current costs for your own situation
National averages are a useful
starting point, but rents shift year to year and vary street by street. Before
committing to anything, check current, local costs with:
•
Your university's accommodation or student advice
service
•
Accommodation providers directly, for current
rent, contract length, and what's included
•
Specialist student accommodation organisations,
such as Unipol, which accredits
private student housing and publishes independent accommodation cost research
Doing this legwork before
signing anything is the best way to make sure your budget — and your student
loan — actually stretches to cover where you'll be living.
Sources:
Save the Student National Student Accommodation Survey 2026; NatWest Student
Living Index 2025; Unipol/HEPI Accommodation Costs Survey.
