Cost of Living in UK: A Complete Guide

What Is Cost of Living in UK?

The cost of living in the UK per month for students is $900 without the rent and for family of four, it is approx. $3,135. However, check the table below to have a detailed classification of the living cost in the nation to have a better understanding.

Expenses	Monthly cost of living in UK in GBP	Yearly cost of living in UK in INR
Accommodation	£500 - £700	₹50,000 - ₹70,000
Food	£100 - £200	₹10,000 - ₹20,000
Electricity	£60	₹6,000
Internet/WiFi	£40	₹4,000
Mobile	£50	₹5,000
Laundry	£25	₹2,500
Stationary	£20 - £40	₹2,000 - ₹4,000
Travelling	£30 - £40	₹3,000 - ₹4,000

These are the monthly costs of living in the UK that will help you to plan your budget and manage your finances effectively in a foreign land. Moving ahead to explore the UK cost of living as per the members of the family. This will ease the planning process even more as you will be aware of the pros or cons of bringing your family along with you.

Cost of Living in UK Based on Members

The living expenses in UK can vary significantly according to the number of members in your family. This is why we have listed the variations that might occur in three situations:

Cost of Living in UK for Family of Four

The average monthly cost of living in UK for a family of four members is between £4,000 to £4,500. This amount includes the rent. However, it significantly depends on the location, lifestyle, and personal preferences. Here's a breakdown of the typical monthly expenses in UK you might expect:

1. House Rent

• London: £2,000 - £3,500
• Other major cities (Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh): £1,200 - £2,000
• Smaller towns/rural areas: £800 - £1,500

2. Utilities

• Electricity, Gas, Water, and Garbage: £150 - £250

3. Internet and Phone

• Internet: £30 - £50
• Mobile Phones (4 plans): £80 - £120

4. Transportation

• Public Transport (4 passes): £200 - £400
• Car (fuel, insurance, maintenance): £150 - £300

Cost of Living in UK for Single Person

The average monthly cost of living in UK for a single person is approx. 810.9£. This amount does not include the house rent in UK per month for a single person.

1. Housing Rent

• London: Starting from £300
• Other major cities (Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh): Starting from £170
• Smaller towns/rural areas: Starting from £15

2. Utilities

• Electricity, Gas, Water, and Garbage: £100 - £150

3. Internet and Phone

• Internet: £25 - £40
• Mobile Phone: £20 - £40

4. Transportation

• Public Transport: £60 - £150
• Car (fuel, insurance, maintenance): £100 - £200 (if applicable)

Cost of Living in UK for Student

The average monthly cost of living in UK for a student is between £1,000 to £1,600. This amount includes the rent. However, it significantly depending on the location, and type of housing, whether it's a private studio, single flat, or shared living space with a roommate.

1. Housing Rent

Usually he fees for 2024/25, based on a 40–42 week letting period, ranges between £113–£127 per week for a single room including WiFi, personal possessions insurance and all service.

2. Utilities

• Electricity, Gas, Water (often included in rent for student accommodations): £40 - £80

3. Internet and Phone

• Internet: £20 - £30
• Mobile Phone: £15 - £30

4. Transportation

• Public Transport (student discounts available): £30 - £60
• Bicycle (initial cost, then maintenance): £10 - £20 (monthly average)
• A monthly travel pass ranges from £60 to £150 in the UK.
• Stationary and Other Expenses

Other costs like household supplies, stationery, and other incidental expenses can add up to £50 to £100 per month on an average.

Also Read: Undergraduate courses in UK

These are the costs of living in the UK according to the members your family have. Moreover, if you need to know other expenses than the constant ones, the upcoming section of the blog will help you to unfold them.

Various Expenses in UK

The living expenses in UK include different things that you need to consider. So, to ease your work and help you plan your finances to study abroad, we have listed the different things that you should consider:

Cost of Utilities

• Basic utilities, including (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Garbage, water, and laundry): £160
• Internet (unlimited-60mbps): £ 0.1

Cost of Education

The students in UK universities must pay around £9,250 annually. However, International students who are graduating must pay the tuition fees varying from £10,000 and going up to £38,000.

House rent

• 1 bedroom apartment in the city(London) center: £750
• 1 bedroom apartment outside the city(London) center: £400-600
• 3-bedroom apartment in the city(London) center: £1,200-1,500
• 3-bedroom apartment outside the city(London): £860 – 1,100

Transport Cost in UK

• Monthly pass (Regular Price): £65
• One-way ticket (local transport): £2.5
• Monthly travel pass for student starts from £60.

Meals Expenses in UK

Food expenses in UK ranges between 150-200 GBP. However, dining at restaurants in the UK can range from £10 to £30 per meal. This depends on the establishment and location of the restaurant.

Fitness Expenses

Gym or fitness memberships generally costs around £20 to £60 per month. This depends on the facility and services provided by it.

Healthcare

The amount cannot be stated as it depends on one’s health and wellness. However, being an international student away from family, buying health insurance in the UK is a wise decision.

These were the most crucial living expenses in UK , you must take into consideration while planning to study there. However, to help you plan more specifically, we have listed the cost of living in UK as per the cities in the upcoming section of the blog.

Cost of Living in UK as a Single Person in Different Cities

The cost of living in UK for single person with rent can vary as per the city you are choosing. This is so because each city has its own worth, development and lifestyle. Thus, you need to consider these factors while finalising the city to live in during your visit there. Moreover, we have listed the monthly and yearly expenses of the top cities in the UK to ease your research task. However, the cost is the approximate amount excluding the rent.

Name of Cities	Monthly Expense	Yearly Expense
London	£859 or INR 85,000	£10,308 or INR 10.30 lakh
Edinburgh	£684 or INR 68,400	£8,208 or INR 8.20 lakh
Cardiff	£662 or INR 66,200	£7,944 or INR 7.94 lakh

Key Takeaways

• The new adventure of life, that is shifting to UK can affect your bank balance. But, if you research well, you can reduce the density of the effect.
• The minimum cost of living in the UK includes basic amenities such as rent, food, groceries, and transportation.
• The average monthly expense can vary up to £650, excluding the rent.
• The rent of the nation can differ depending on the cities you choose to live in.
• Thus, in short, the average living expenses in UK per month depend on the city you choose, your lifestyle, and other things that you need to consider as per your preference.
• As per the news: The inflation in the UK rose by 2% in the year to June 2024, unchanged from May, which was the lowest figure for almost three years. Thus, you can grab this opportunity to reduce your living expenses in the UK and turn your dreams into reality.

Suggested Read:

1. LLM in UK for Indian Students in 2024
2. Education loan in UK

FAQ

1. How Expensive Is It to Live in the UK?

Average monthly rent to live in the UK as a bachelor is around ₹76,572.5 (£754.0). This amount is calculated rent or the living cost, but it includes rest of the things a person needs to survive on daily basis.

2. Is $1500 a Month Enough to Live in the UK?

Usually, living expenses in any country depend on the lifestyle and city you are living in. However, on average, you will be needing £2,000 per month. This amount includes rent, payments, travelling expenses and utility bills.

3. Is the Cost of Living Cheaper in the UK or the US?

Overall, the cost of living can be higher or lower in the UK or the US, depending on the specific location and individual circumstances. However, you can expect that there will be a higher cost of living in the US than in the UK. Generally, smaller cities and rural areas in both countries tend to have a lower cost of living than major metropolitan areas.

4. Is 70,000 a Good Salary in the UK?

YES! Earning 70k is considered a good income that will help you to manage your finances easily in the UK.