Wigan named among UK’s cheapest cities for university students, according to latest study

A new study by Best Financial Planners has revealed the UK’s most affordable university cities and the results might just surprise you. The study analysed 100 cities across the country, using a data-driven approach to work out where students can truly stretch their student loan the furthest. To ensure a well-rounded picture of affordability, they examined 14 key factors, including average rent, transport, grocery costs, and entertainment expenses, all of which were scaled, weighted, and combined to produce the final rankings.

The methodology gave heavier importance to essentials like rent, utilities, and transport (each weighted at 12%), while still factoring in lifestyle and social expenses such as dining out, fitness, cinema tickets, and even how many coworking spaces or tours under £20 were on offer. The research drew from publicly available data including the Office for National Statistics, Numbeo, Tripadvisor, and Coworker.

Wigan comes in as the 17th cheapest city for university students in the UK, with a score of 59.45, and while it offers brilliant savings in some areas, it also hits back hard in others. One of Wigan’s biggest strengths is the cost of groceries, where it ranks as the cheapest city in the entire study, with a monthly spend averaging just £29.21 — ideal for students who prefer to cook at home and stretch their budget. Rent is also refreshingly affordable, averaging £484 per month, which puts Wigan as the 11th cheapest city for accommodation. The savings continue with coffee and beer, too — cappuccino lovers will find their fix for just £58 a month, and beer fans can enjoy weekend drinks at £66.08, both among the cheapest in the country.

However, Wigan's affordability story isn’t all rosy. Utility bills are particularly steep, at £287.60 per month, placing it in the top 10 most expensive cities for essential household costs. Transport is also a significant strain, with a monthly pass setting students back £86.96, making it the fifth most expensive city for getting around. And if you're planning to eat out regularly, brace yourself: Wigan ties with several cities for the most expensive restaurant costs, averaging £80 per month for just one inexpensive meal a week. Internet costs fall somewhere in the middle, and fitness club memberships are on the pricier side too, ranking just outside the top 10 most expensive.

Southend-on-Sea takes the top spot as the UK’s most affordable city for university students, offering low transport and utility costs, cheap groceries, and some of the most budget-friendly cinema tickets in the country — all with the added bonus of coastal living. Blackburn follows closely in second, praised for its low rent, affordable meals out, and cheap internet, although it’s let down slightly by higher utility bills. Burnley, in third, is a real standout, boasting the second cheapest rent and the lowest costs across beer, cinema tickets, McMeals, and groceries, making it a no-brainer for students watching every penny.

Salford takes fourth place thanks to the UK’s cheapest internet and second-lowest transport costs, though it's weighed down by the second-highest utility bills in the top 10. Darlington, in fifth, combines cheap rent, beer, groceries, and cinema tickets, though students will have to swallow the most expensive transport costs in the group. Hull offers solid value with low rent, groceries, and cinema prices, though eating out is on the pricier side. Telford shines in areas like cheap coffee and budget tours, but is dragged down by steep transport and food costs. Scunthorpe, in eighth, struggles with high rent but excels in areas like groceries and cinema affordability. Worcester, ranked ninth, offers a balanced mix with no extreme highs or lows, while Weston-super-Mare finishes the top 10 with excellent grocery and internet savings — though sky-high rent and transport make it a tricky pick for tight budgets.

At the other end of the scale, the bottom 10 cities are some of the most expensive places in the UK for university life. London unsurprisingly takes the bottom spot, closely followed by Oxford, where rent alone averages over £1,200 per month. Joining them in the “budget-breaking” ranks are Basingstoke, Edinburgh, Cambridge, Sunderland, Bedford, Sutton Coldfield, Bath, and Manchester.

Top 20 cheapest cities for university students: