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Estimated monthly student costs • 2026 dataAll university cities ranked by monthly student cost
Based on shared student accommodation + essentials. Loan column shows max 2026/27 maintenance loan (outside London). Source: NatWest Student Living Index 2025, Save the Student Survey 2025/26, ONS.
Student money — your questions answered
How much is the maintenance loan in 2026/27?
For students in England living away from home outside London, the maximum maintenance loan is £10,544 per year (about £878/month). Students studying in London can get up to £13,762/year (£1,147/month) due to higher living costs. Students living at home get up to £8,877/year. The amount you actually receive depends on household income — the maximum is for households earning £25,000 or less. Loans increase by roughly 3–4% each year in line with forecast inflation.
How far does the maintenance loan actually go?
Not very far on its own. According to Save the Student's 2025/26 survey, the average student spends £1,142/month on living costs but receives an average of just £640/month from their maintenance loan — a gap of over £500 a month. Most students make up the shortfall through parental support (52%), part-time work (58%), and savings. Choosing a more affordable university city can significantly close this gap.
What's cheapest for student accommodation?
According to the NatWest Student Living Index 2025, the cheapest average student rents are in Milton Keynes (£491/month), Newcastle (£492/month) and Sheffield (£493/month). Northern cities are consistently cheaper than southern ones. London is the most expensive by a large margin, with student halls costing £800–£1,000/month and private shared rooms £700–£800/month.
How much does a pint cost in different university cities?
Significantly less in the north than the south. Based on 2026 research by Finder.com, the UK average pint price is £5.50. London is the most expensive at £6.75. Oxford costs £6.36, Brighton £6.25, Bath and Bristol around £6.00. Northern cities are much cheaper — Bradford and Doncaster average £3.25, Hull £3.36 and Sunderland £3.50. For students on a tight budget, where you drink matters almost as much as how much you drink.
Which university city offers the best value overall?
For budget-conscious students, Sheffield, Newcastle, Hull, Lincoln and Bolton consistently rank as the best value in England. These cities combine low rent, cheap pints, affordable food and good transport links. Sheffield in particular is frequently cited as the best balance of quality and affordability, with low rent, a thriving social scene, and a well-regarded university.
Where does this data come from?
Student accommodation costs are sourced from the NatWest Student Living Index 2025 (survey of 5,001 UK undergraduates), Rightmove student rental data, and university accommodation guides. Pint prices are from Finder.com's 2026 UK beer price research. Grocery and transport costs are from Numbeo UK city data and ONS regional figures. Maintenance loan figures are official 2026/27 amounts from Student Finance England via gov.uk.