I Analyzed 1,119 Properties. Here Are the Cheapest Student Cities in Britain.
Let's talk about the thing that actually determines whether you graduate with manageable debt or a financial millstone around your neck: where you choose to study.
I went through every property in our database - 1,119 of them across 45 cities. I calculated averages, found the cheapest rooms, and mapped the data.
The results surprised even me.
The Complete Rankings
The Cheapest (Under £150/week average)
| Rank | City | Average Rent | Cheapest From | Properties | |------|------|--------------|---------------|------------| | 1 | Sheffield | £104/week | £73 | 73 | | 2 | Liverpool | £137/week | £79 | 64 | | 3 | Leicester | £148/week | £79 | 64 | | 4 | Nottingham | £150/week | £92 | 109 |
The Middle Ground (£150-200/week average)
| Rank | City | Average Rent | Cheapest From | Properties | |------|------|--------------|---------------|------------| | 5 | Leeds | £155/week | £80 | 65 | | 6 | Coventry | £157/week | £84 | 35 | | 7 | Birmingham | £185/week | £109 | 66 | | 8 | Glasgow | £196/week | £99 | 55 |
The Expensive (Over £200/week average)
| Rank | City | Average Rent | Cheapest From | Properties | |------|------|--------------|---------------|------------| | 9 | Edinburgh | £233/week | £130 | 61 | | 10 | Manchester | £241/week | £150 | 56 | | 11 | Bristol | £260/week | £130 | 44 | | 12 | London | £347/week | £180 | 192 |
Let's Put These Numbers in Context
The 3-Year Cost of Rent
Assuming 51-week contracts for 3 years:
| City | Weekly | Annual | 3-Year Total | |------|--------|--------|--------------| | Sheffield | £104 | £5,304 | £15,912 | | Nottingham | £150 | £7,650 | £22,950 | | Manchester | £241 | £12,291 | £36,873 | | London | £347 | £17,697 | £53,091 |
Sheffield vs London difference: £37,179
That's not a rounding error. That's a house deposit. That's 3 years of living expenses after graduation. That's starting a business.
The "Hidden" London Premium
It's not just rent. Everything costs more:
| Expense | Sheffield | London | Difference | |---------|-----------|--------|------------| | Pint | £3.50 | £6.50 | +86% | | Coffee | £2.80 | £4.50 | +61% | | Takeaway curry | £8 | £14 | +75% | | Gym | £20/mo | £45/mo | +125% |
Over 3 years, this adds up to easily another £5,000-10,000 difference.
City-by-City Breakdown
Sheffield (£104/week) - The No-Brainer Value
Universities: University of Sheffield (Russell Group), Sheffield Hallam
Why it's cheap: Not as "fashionable" as Manchester or London. Less demand, lower prices.
Is it worth it? Absolutely. Two solid universities, genuine nightlife, Peak District nearby, growing job market.
Who should consider: Anyone who cares about saving money. Which should be everyone.
Liverpool (£137/week) - Underrated
Universities: University of Liverpool (Russell Group), Liverpool John Moores, Liverpool Hope
Why it's cheap: Similar to Sheffield - great city that's just not "trendy" in the London sense.
Is it worth it? The Beatles connection aside, Liverpool has genuinely reinvented itself. Great cultural scene, friendly people, proper nights out.
Leicester (£144/week) - The Strategic Choice
Universities: University of Leicester, De Montfort University
Why it's cheap: Doesn't have the reputation of bigger cities. But location is actually great.
Is it worth it? 1 hour from London, 30 mins from Birmingham. All the access, fraction of the cost.
London (£347/week) - Be Honest With Yourself
Universities: Too many to list. UCL, Imperial, LSE, King's, Queen Mary, etc.
Why it's expensive: It's London. Global city. Everyone wants to be here.
Is it worth it? Sometimes. If you're doing:
- Finance (need City connections)
- Media/Fashion (industry is here)
- Politics (Westminster is here)
- Medicine at a top London hospital
If you're doing a general business degree or humanities? Probably not worth 3x the cost.
The Question Nobody Asks
Here's what I wish someone had told me:
After graduation, nobody cares where you studied. They care what you can do.
A Sheffield English Literature grad with no debt and money saved for a Masters is in a better position than a London grad with £50k+ debt who had to take the first job offered.
Obviously there are exceptions. Some industries really do care about specific universities. Some courses are only available in certain places.
But for most people? City choice is a financial decision disguised as a lifestyle choice.
My Recommendations
If you're funding yourself (loans + part-time work):
Choose Sheffield, Liverpool, Leicester, or Nottingham. The savings are too significant to ignore.
If family is helping significantly:
More options open up. But even then, ask yourself: do you NEED to be in an expensive city?
If money genuinely isn't a concern:
Lucky you. Pick based on the course and experience you want.
If you're set on London:
At least look at East London (cheaper than central), or consider:
- Kingston University - Outside zone 1, cheaper
- Royal Holloway - Even further out, much cheaper
- Living at home if possible
The Bottom Line
The data is clear:
- Sheffield is the cheapest major student city (£104/week)
- London is the most expensive (£347/week)
- The 3-year difference is £37,000+
That number should make you think seriously about where you study.
Find properties in affordable cities →
Analysis based on 1,119 properties across 45 UK cities, December 2025