Cost of Living in London for International Students 2025
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Living costs in London for Indian and other international students vary between £20,000 - £24,000 on an annual basis. Students can expect to pay £1,450 - £2,100 on a monthly basis, which includes rent, food, and other necessities. Thus, it is expensive to live in London while studying as London is the 8th most expensive city in the world (based on 2024 rankings).
Those planning to study in the UK and choosing London city for their higher education, the cost of living in London for a student can vary based on their choice of accommodation. Take a closer look at the article and check out the components of expenditure under cost of living in London in 2025.
Cost of Living in London Student Highlights
| Cost of Living in London (annual average) |
£20,000 - £24,000 |
| Accommodation Costs (rented) |
£650 - £2000 per month (including on-campus, off-campus, shared and private accommodations) |
| Cost of Grocery (per month) |
£155 |
| Top 10 Most Expensive Places to Live Ranking |
8th |
| Annual Disposable Income |
£2,492.00 |
| One Day Accommodations |
£140 - £160 |
| Paying Guest |
£165 - £700 |
| On-Campus Accommodations |
£650 - £1,909 (per month) |
Cost of Living in London for Indian Students 2025
The city of London ranks #4 for being the most expensive city in the world to live in. The cost of living in London may range from £18,000 to £40,000 annually. Let us check out the cost of living in London for Indian students and how costs are affected below:
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- The cost of living will vary based on the applicant’s choice of accommodation - rented or non-rented accommodations, or even on-campus housing options.
- If choosing a small rented accommodation without sharing, applicants will have to pay between £750 - £1,130 per month.
- Whereas, those going for on-campus housing accommodations can pay up to £848 per month.
- Through part-time jobs in the UK while studying in London, only 2% of the living costs can be covered for a month.
- Finally, those who have relatives or have someone known in London, then they can either not pay any money or pay meagre amounts, which is £20 - £30 a month.
Thus, with high living index scores, it can be said that living costs in London are very high for international students.
Check out the Cost of Living in the UK
Living Expenses in London for International Students
International students studying in London will have to spend the following amounts to cover their living expenses on a monthly basis:
| Living Expenditures in London |
Costs Incurred (Per Month) |
|---|---|
| Monthly Pass for Travel |
£209,70 (Student Oyster Card for Zone 1-6) |
| Meal for two people from outside |
£20 - £80 |
| Basic Utilities - Mobile bills, WiFi, Gasoline, Electricity |
£370 (per month) |
| Clothing |
£36 - £96.53 |
| Sports & Leisure |
£82 |
| Groceries |
£50 - £65 (per month) |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment within the City |
£2,130 |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment outside the City |
£1,540 |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment within the City |
£4,000 |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment outside the City |
£2,540 |
| Entertainment |
£15 |
Since fluctuations in currency can happen at any given point of time, applicants must keep a buffer amount to rely on for their living expenses coverage in London while studying. Check out the Cost of Studying in UK for International Students.
Expenditure Analysis in London for International Students
International students studying in London will have to keep this expenditure breakup in mind before finalising their living expenses. Since living costs are not just about accommodation and food costs, there are other costs that are incurred and covered within this category:
Based on the above-given graph, international students who are going to study at the universities of London will have to incur costs in the above-given areas. The highest expenditures in London are required for monthly rented accommodations, this is followed by market errands where an applicant can spend around 19.4% of his or her set expenses. The lowest expenditures are incurred on clothing and shoes and on sports equipment in London.
The following is a more detailed analysis of the groceries that are included in the market component in the above-given expenditures.
| Grocery Items |
Rates in London |
Rate as per Indian Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Dining in an inexpensive restaurant |
£20 |
INR 2,036 |
| 1 litre of milk |
£1.31 |
INR 133.33 |
| White bread loaf |
£1.53 (per 500 gm) |
INR 153 |
| 1 kg white rice |
£2.23 (per kilo) |
INR 226 |
| A dozen eggs |
£3.51 |
INR 357 |
| 1 kg local cheese |
£7.19 |
INR 732 |
| 1 kg red meat |
£11.69 |
INR 1,190 |
| 1 kg apples |
£2.10 |
INR 214 |
| 1 kg bananas |
£1.22 |
INR 124 |
| 1 kg oranges |
£2.07 |
INR 211 |
| 1 kg tomatoes |
£3.04 |
INR 309.40 |
| 1 kg potatoes |
£1.17 |
INR 119 |
| 1 kg onions |
£1.11 |
INR 113 |
| 1.5-litre water bottle |
£1.16 |
INR 118 |
| Cappuccino |
£3.60 |
INR 366 |
| Coke / Pepsi |
£1.96 |
INR 200 |
Also Read: Top 10 Libraries in London
Thus, these are just some of the basic items that are required by students studying in London and who have chosen accommodation in apartments or off-campus basically. There may be other personal use items which may require the applicant’s expenses more than usual.
Studying and living in London can be an expensive affair for international students, hence, the applicants should ensure that they have proper planning in terms of their expenses and how they wish to spend on each of the items of use in future.
This was all about the cost of living in London for Indian and international students. If you are looking for admissions at universities in London, then sign up for free counselling at Shiksha Abroad Counselling or shoot in your queries in the comments section below.
Residing in London with a monthly budget of $1,000 is a significant challenge that requires careful financial management. The city's steep living costs make it difficult to cover basic necessities like rent, groceries, and transportation on such a tight budget. To cope with the high costs in such a low budget, you may need to embrace a minimalist lifestyle and think about sharing a room in a more budget-friendly area.
The application process at the University of Manchester may vary depending on the course and level of study. However, here is the application process for UG and PG courses:
The Undergraduate Application Process:
Step 1: You can apply through the UCAS common application portal.
Step 2: Go to the website and select the course you are interested in.
Step 3: Ensure you meet the Entry requirements (Academic qualifications, English proficiency, etc.
Step 4: Once you decide on the course, submit documents such as SOP, Transcripts and personal statements.
Check out: tips to improve your SOP.
Step 5: You can track the application's progress through your given credentials by UCAS.
Step 6: Once the applicant submits the application to UCAS, it forwards to the University, and the admission teams carefully analyse the application document.
Step 7: The university will send you an offer letter once selected. Hence keep checking your UCAS portal for your application status.
The Postgraduate application process:
Step 1: Select the postgraduate course you are interested in from the University of Manchester.\
Step 2: Ensure you meet the entry requirements for the chosen program, as they vary depending on the course.
Step 3: Complete the online application by providing your personal information.
Step 4: Upload the required documents, such as Academic transcripts and proof of English language proficiency ( TOEFL/ IELTS). experience in your fields and references (depending on the course). You also may require Two LORs depending on the course.
To make your admission better, check out the following: How Admission Officers Evaluate your application.
Step 5: If your application is successful, you will receive an offer from the University of Manchester.
The English language test score required at the Univerisyt of South Wales are mentioned in the table below for the international applicants whose first language is not English
Exam | Minimum Scores |
|---|---|
IELTS | 6.0 with at least 5.5 in each band |
TOEFL | 72 overall and a minimum of 18 in reading, 17 in listening, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing |
PTE | a score of 59 overall and 59 in each component. |
The minimum IELTS score required for studying in the UK ranges from 6.0 to 6.5. Most undergraduate programs require a minimum score of 6.0, while postgraduate courses often require at least 6.5. However, there are some 5.5 IELTS band score accepting universities in UK for foundation or pre-master's courses.
After applying to Hertfordshire University UK, the applicants are going to receive an initial decision about their application within 2-3 working days. After the submission of the application and documents, the applicants are required to pay their tuition deposit. Then, complete the Sponsorship interview and the financial declaration. International students are required to pay a deposit of £5,000 before registration. The balance can be paid in line with the liability dates related to the year and entry of the semester.
The Bournemouth University ranks highly as part of UK-wide rankings given by a number of notable ranking platforms. Shiksha ranks it #59 as part of its the latest popularity rankings. An unofficial source ranks BU, #105 as part of its National University Rankings for 2025, while another major college/university ranking platform ranks it #56 as part of its UK University Rankings 2025.
Some of its streams are also ranked by Shiksha, as given below:
| Stream | Shiksha Popularity Ranking |
|---|---|
| Engineering | #85 |
| Business & Management | #85 |
| Mass Communication | #27 |
| Nursing | #31 |
| Arts | #50 |
| Law | #65 |
| Science | #72 |
| Accounting | #90 |
Essex University is among the top business and management universities in the UK that offer quality education to international students. It ranks at 61 in the UK by the 'Complete University Guide' for Business and Management studies. The university offers an MBA programme at a low cost for international students. Applicants can complete the first year of education of the MBA programme from INR 17 L to INR 27 L. Therefore, yes the university is good for an MBA in the UK.
Check the list of Top Ranked MBA Universities in the UK
Cost of Living in London FAQs
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According to some reports, an annual income of £45,000 to £60,000 is typically adequate for a comfortable lifestyle in London, particularly considering the city's elevated cost of living relative to other areas in the UK. However, personal choices, circumstances and lifestyle choices can affect this amount.