How much does student accommodation cost?
Key takeaways
The average monthly cost of UK student accommodation is £563
Utility costs can be around £187 a month for a student household, based on energy (£100.20), water (£44.10) and broadband (£42.70)
Full-time students are exempt from paying council tax and mixed households may get a 25% discount
How much is student accommodation?
£614.50 a month (NUS/Unipol, 2021-2022)
The NUS and Unipol release data every three years on the cost of student accommodation. The latest survey from 2021-2022 showed that prices rose by 4.4% annually to £7,374 a year.
This figure varies dramatically across the country and it can soar to £10,857 for those studying in London.
£563 a month (Save the Student, 2025)
The latest National Student Accommodation Survey 2025 suggests students pay an average of £6,756 a year in the UK.
Once again, this average masks the significant regional variations across the UK.
For instance, the average monthly rent in London is the highest at £812 (£9,744 annually), while students in the West Midlands pay the least in the UK at £466 per month (£5,592 annually).
This is closely followed by students in Wales, who pay £473 per mont, on average, (£5,676 per year) and the North West of England (£486 per month or £5,832 per year).
What's the cost of different types of student accommodation?
Cost of university student accommodation
About one-in-three (29%) of students stay in university accommodation, according to the National Student Accommodation Survey 2025.
University accommodation fees depend on lots of different things. The type of accommodation can range from very basic halls of residence with shared bathrooms and kitchens to high-end luxury room with en-suites.
Monthly | Annually | |
|---|---|---|
NUS/Unipol (2021-22) | £549 | £6,593 |
Save the Student (2025) | £615 | £7,380 |
Cost of private sector accommodation
After their first academic year, most students transition to private rentals. These require students to deal with a landlord or estate agent.
Overall, this is the most popular type of accommodation for students, according to the National Student Accommodation Survey 2025, with more than a third (35%) having a private landlord.
Monthly | Annually | |
|---|---|---|
NUS/Unipol (2021-22) | £667 | £8,002 |
Save the Student (2023) | £532 | £6,384 |
Cost of living with parents or guardian
Three-in-twenty (or 15%) of students stay with their parents or a guardian and pay £345, according to the National Student Accommodation Survey 2025
What other costs are involved in student accommodation?
While university halls may bundle some utility bills into the rent, private rentals typically require students to handle additional expenses separately:
Rental deposits and charges
In the private sector, students may be required to pay between four to six weeks' rent as a deposit to secure a tenancy. University-owned options may require less.
Deposits must be protected in a government-approved tenancy deposit scheme within 30 days of receipt.
Although most tenancy fees have been abolished, students should be aware of potential charges for:
Late rent payments
Lost keys
Early contract termination
Utility bills
In shared accommodations, it's common for roommates to split utility costs.
Average costs can be around £187 a month for a household, based on energy (£100.20), water (£44.10) and broadband (£42.70), according to the MoneySuperMarket Household Money Index July 2025.
However, costs vary widely across the country. They also depend on the provider you choose and the type of service provided.
Council tax
Full-time students, including undergraduate students and postgraduate students, are exempt from paying council tax, while mixed households may be eligible for a discount.
Students must apply for this discount through their local council to benefit from the exemption or reduction.
Cost of living
Everything else you need to spend money on, such as:
Textbooks
Groceries (if you are in self-catered accommodation)
Clothes
Transport
Gym membership
Social events
How can I cut the cost of student accommodation?
There are ways to make your accommodation more affordable:
Start looking early
Join local housing groups and speak to students from previous years to find out where the cheapest accommodation is.
Choose basic halls and shared houses
Choosing basic university halls for accommodation in the first year may also be a lot cheaper than the more deluxe options while a shared house will usually cost less than living alone.
Live further from campus
It may be worth considering living further from campus (while taking travel costs into account). There may also the option of living at home.
Get a job
Balancing a part-time job with your studies can help you to afford student life. University websites and local recruiters are good resources for finding part-time work opportunities tailored to students.
International students should note that they are typically allowed to work up to 20 hours per week during term time, subject to the conditions of their visa.
Apply for financial support
Universities offer financial support and can provide information on grants and funds available to students facing financial hardships.
You can find a full guide to student finance on the Government website.
What kind of insurance does a student need?
Students should consider protecting their belongings with student contents insurance, which covers everything from clothing and books to mobile phones and laptops.
Before purchasing a new policy, it’s worth checking what cover you may already have in place. Some student bank accounts offer insurance or the student may be covered on their parents’ contents insurance.
Author
David McDermottroe
Head of Commercial
Reviewer
Sarah Tooze
Car & Van Insurance Expert
Sarah Tooze has been a motoring journalist for more than 15 years, specialising in company cars and vans, and has won a number of awards during her career, including the Newspress ‘Automotive...
