Living Cost in UK for International Students in 2025
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Living Cost in UK for International Students in 2025

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Priya
Priya Garg
Study Abroad Expert
Updated on Oct 5, 2025 10:09 IST

The living cost in the UK for Indian students is more than the cost of living in any Indian city. Indian students planning to get their higher education in the UK must match their budget and the total estimated cost of living and studying before making the move.

Cost of Living for International Students in UK

The cost of living in the UK differ greatly depending on your lifestyle, spending habits, the city where you are studying and living and the course that you are pursuing. The cost per programme may also vary; for example, humanities and social science courses cost the least to students while courses including laboratory work and medical practices cost the most. You can estimate the required budget to live in the UK based on the data given in this article, along with your period of stay in the UK

The average cost of living in the UK for Indian students in 2025 may range from £14,000 to £22,000 (i.e. INR 16.8 L to INR 26 L approximately, as per the exchange rate on 18 Sep 2025). This amount includes the cost of your accommodation in the UK, groceries, bills and other expenses during your studies.

The average cost of student accommodation in the UK ranges from £690 to £955 for a month (depending on the city they are living in). For example, the cost of living in London for Indian students is higher than in the rest of the UK. However, there are some affordable accommodations in London that may not put much of a load on students' pockets. Let us now understand the cost of living in the UK in detail.

Check: Top 10 Reasons to Study in the UK

Table of content
  • How much is the Estimated Cost of Living in the UK for 2025?
  • Cost of Studies in UK in 2025
  • How Much Money is Required to Study and Live in the UK: Officially Recommended Amount for 2025
  • Cost of Living in UK FAQs

How much is the Estimated Cost of Living in the UK for 2025?

Check the detailed account of the cost of living in the UK from the table given below. 

Cost of Living in UK 2025

Particulars

Average Monthly Costs

Accommodation

£690 - £955

Food

£200 - £350

Bills (Gas, electricity, broadband, TV license and water)

  • London: £200
  • Rest of UK: £120

Groceries

  • London: £175
  • Rest of UK: £136

Mobile phone

£18 (SIM-only plan) 

Laundry

£25 (approx.)

Stationery and textbooks

£35 - £55

Travel (buses, trams, and trains)

  • £110 (in London)
  • £70 (in rest of the UK)

Movie ticket

£9 (approx.)

Dinner at restaurant

£15-16

Source: British Council and University of Oxford

Cost of Studies in UK in 2025

For international students to study in the UK, the undergraduate tuition fee ranges from £12,000 to £35,000 per year for full-time courses. Note that the higher range is for medical degrees at the best colleges. For masters in the UK for Indian students, the average tuition fees of full-time programs range from £12,000 - £45,000 per year. For laboratory and research-based programs, average annual fees stand at £14,000 - £30,000. For medical degrees, the average figure is £22,200, and it can go up to £52,000.

Also Read: Top 10 Libraries in London

How Much Money is Required to Study and Live in the UK: Officially Recommended Amount for 2025

UK Visa and Immigration require you to have a budget of £1,483 per month for a period of 9 months (or £13,347) to study in London on a UK student visa. This amount includes the tuition fees as well. Remember that this is the minimum amount you need to show to get a visa to study in London.

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For other places in the UK, the amount will be less. If you study at colleges outside London, you will need to show a minimum amount of £1,136 per month for a period of 9 months (or £10,224) as requested by UK Visa and Immigration. However, if the student is going to stay at a residential independent school, then they will be required to pay the boarding fees, mentioned on their CAS Letter.

Note:- Students must have these amounts in their bank account for 28 consecutive days within 31 days of applying for the student visa. 

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If you wish to study abroad, then you can get assistance from Shiksha Counselling Services for free. You can also drop your queries in the comments section below.







Cost of Living in UK FAQs

Q:   What is the passing criteria for UK 12th board exam?
A:

Students should secure a minimum ‘D’ grade to be declared pass in the UK 12th board exam. As per the rules of the UK Board 12th exams, those who obtain an 'E' grade in a subject will not be declared as pass in that subject. Those who could not clear the UK 12th exam can appear for the UK 12th supplementary exam. The UK 12th supplementary exam will be held in July. Through proper preparation and planning, students can easily clear the UK Board 12th exam.

Q:   Which is the cheapest city for Indian students in the UK?
A:

University of Leicester and Cardiff University are considered to be the cheapest cities in UK for international students. The average monthly costs of living in these cities are £ 350 to £ 850 respectively.

Q:   How many years is MDS in the UK?
A:

The Masters in dentistry in UK is a 12-month to 24-month Masters program offered by over 10 universities in the UK. There are around 10 destinations where students can study MDS program in the UK. The cost of studying Masters in the UK varies from INR 15 L to INR 62 L. MDS graduates can get an average salary for a master's in dentistry in UK £50,864 or INR 53 L (£ 1 = INR 103.99).

About the Author
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Written by
Priya Garg
Study Abroad Expert
Priya Garg is an experienced content writer and editor. With her rich experience in content writing, teaching and research & analysis, Priya believes in providing only the correct information which is also up-to-dat Read Full Bio
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Reviewed by
Neha
UK Expertise
Neha Nain Kuntal, a highly qualified professional, holds an MBA in International Business and Marketing, a Master’s in Commerce, a PG Diploma in International Business Operations, and a Bachelor’s in Education. With Read Full Bio
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Comments

(48)

A

Ahz Associates

a year ago

In 2024, the cost of living in the UK for international students varies by city but typically ranges from £10,000 to £15,000 per year, covering accommodation, food, transportation, and personal expenses. London is more expensive, with costs up to £18,000 annually, while cities like Manchester, Birmi

...Read more

Reply to Ahz Associates

Good deep research on this cost of living in the UK. I can understand that a single person needs at least 1000 Euro per month to lead a decent life in the UK. Accommodation occupies major cost in the UK. From Classiblogger.

Reply to Athirawebservices

H

Hari joshi

3 years ago

I want to pursue undergraduate (hotel management) course in uk .can i pay 2nd year fee by myself? I am now 19 years old?

Reply to Hari joshi

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Aprant Agarwal

3 years ago

Hello. It is advisable that you arrange funds for complete course as with part-time work won't you might not be able to pay his complete tuition fee.

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Shaveta Vasudev

3 years ago

What is the average cost per month for living in London in a shared accommodation (2 people living in small flat).

Reply to Shaveta Vasudev

P

Piyush Kohli

3 years ago

Hi Shaveta, international student needs to have a budget of at least £1,265 per month for staying in London, so, you need approx. £200 to £300 per week to live in or around London.

S

Sagar A M

3 years ago

Hi, am interested in studying about gems and goldsmith courses, which university is best please suggest me Thank you

Reply to Sagar A M