Leicester 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.

Leicester lands in 16th place on the list of the UK’s most affordable cities for university students, with a score of 59.79, offering a solid blend of cost-effective living and cultural perks. Rent sits at £672 per month, placing the city somewhere in the middle — not overly expensive, but certainly not a steal either. However, Leicester makes up for it with excellent transport savings: at just £54 a month, it ranks among the top 10 cheapest cities for getting around. Meal costs, too, are on the affordable side, placing within the top 30 cheapest cities for weekly restaurant dining. And if you’re after a relaxing pint, beer costs are just £64 per month, earning Leicester a place in the top 10 for cheapest pints.

Caffeine lovers will be especially pleased — Leicester ranks as the third cheapest city for monthly cappuccino costs, averaging £54.20, which should keep study sessions well-fuelled. While grocery bills fall on the pricier side (within the top 30 most expensive), utility bills are far more manageable, averaging £206 per month, placing Leicester in the top 20 cheapest cities for household basics. Internet and gym memberships are more middle-of-the-road, but where Leicester really shines is in lifestyle perks: with 11 public parks, it ranks in the top 25 for green space, and offers a generous 19 tours under £20, making it one of the top 10 cities for affordable things to do.

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: