UK Cost of Living for Students: London vs Outside London
The UK cost of living for students, as the Home Office measures it, is £1,529 a month in London and £1,171 a month outside London, rising to £1,570 and £1,203 for Student visa applications made on or after 30 November 2026. Universities’ own 2026-27 estimates are often higher: King’s College London suggests about £1,770 a month and the University of Manchester about £1,510. The visa amount is a minimum you must show in the bank, not a promise of what life will cost.
Last checked: 20 October 2026. Rupee amounts use the NRB selling rate, 17 Oct 2026 (GBP 1 = Rs 202.99).
UK cost of living for students: the visa amounts
GOV.UK’s Student visa money page sets the living-cost amounts you must show, for up to 9 months. “London” means the City of London and the 32 London boroughs. The money must be held for 28 consecutive days, ending within 31 days of your application.
| Where you study | Applications before 30 Nov 2026 | Applications on or after 30 Nov 2026 | 9 months (from 30 Nov), about NPR |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | £1,529 a month (£13,761 for 9 months) | £1,570 a month (£14,130 for 9 months) | Rs 28.68 lakh |
| Outside London | £1,171 a month (£10,539 for 9 months) | £1,203 a month (£10,827 for 9 months) | Rs 21.98 lakh |
The increase comes from Statement of Changes HC 584, which changes the amounts in Appendix Student from £1,529 to £1,570 and from £1,171 to £1,203 from 30 November 2026. Applications made before that date are decided under the rules in force on 29 November 2026. Our maintenance increase explainer covers the visa side in detail; this page is about what living actually costs.
London vs other cities: what universities estimate
Each university publishes its own estimate, using different methods and time periods, so compare them with care. We have kept each figure exactly as the university states it, with the period it covers.
| City (university) | Official estimate | Period / year | About NPR | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London (King’s College London) | £1,770 a month average (range £1,331 to £2,342); accommodation about £1,164 of that | 2026-27 | Rs 3.59 lakh a month | KCL living expenses |
| London (UCL) | UCL undergraduate self-catered halls average £320 a week; shared private housing £650 to £1,300 a month excluding bills; other essentials about £426 a month including a zones 1–2 Travelcard | Current UCL guide | Halls: Rs 64,957 a week | UCL cost of study |
| Manchester (University of Manchester) | £1,510 a month (£18,188 a year); private accommodation with utilities about £836 a month | 2026/27, postgraduate, 52 weeks | Rs 3.07 lakh a month | Manchester living costs |
| Glasgow (University of Glasgow) | £1,100 to £1,700 a month to live and study | Published August 2026 | Rs 2.23 to 3.45 lakh a month | Glasgow cost of living |
| Cardiff (Cardiff University) | Undergraduate: £1,304.80 a month in university en-suite halls, or £1,125.91 a month in a private shared house | 2026/27 (halls over 40 weeks; private over 52 weeks) | Rs 2.65 lakh / Rs 2.29 lakh a month | Cardiff living costs calculator |
| Birmingham (University of Birmingham) | Essential costs £185 to £221 a week (including rent), plus variable costs of £110 a week | 42-week session; year not stated | Rs 59,882 to 67,190 a week in total | Birmingham living costs |
| Leeds (University of Leeds) | £134 to £217+ a week for a single student, rent from £90 a week | Current estimate; year not stated | Rs 27,201 to 44,049+ a week | Leeds budget and costs |
What the numbers tell you
- London’s real average is above the visa minimum. KCL’s 2026-27 average of £1,770 a month is £200 more than the new £1,570 visa figure. Rent drives most of the gap: KCL puts accommodation alone at about £1,164 a month.
- Outside London is cheaper, but not by as much as the visa amounts suggest. Manchester’s £1,510 a month estimate is close to London’s visa figure, though it covers a postgraduate student over 52 weeks.
- Cardiff, Leeds and Glasgow show a lower starting point, but the top of each range overlaps with the bigger cities.
- Halls vs private housing changes everything. In Cardiff, the private shared-house estimate is about £179 a month less than en-suite halls.
- Contract length matters. Some figures run over 40 or 42 weeks, others over 51 or 52. Postgraduates usually need a full year of rent.
How to build your own budget, step by step
- Start with your university’s own page. Use the estimate for your exact university and level, and note whether it counts 9 months or 12.
- Price your rent first. Check the halls fee list or local private rents. Our UK student accommodation renting guide covers deposits and contracts.
- Add transport. London is the big one: UCL lists a zones 1–2 Travelcard at about £119.90 a month.
- Add one-off costs. The visa fee and immigration health surcharge are separate. See our UK student visa cost from Nepal.
- Compare with the visa amount. Show at least the GOV.UK figure, but plan to spend what the university says.
- Convert to rupees with the latest NRB rate, and add a buffer for exchange-rate moves.
For Nepali students and families
At today’s rate, the new London visa figure for 9 months (£14,130) is about Rs 28.68 lakh, and the outside-London figure (£10,827) about Rs 21.98 lakh. But KCL’s 9-month average of £15,930 is about Rs 32.34 lakh. Families should plan for the higher number, not the visa minimum.
Part-time work helps, but the hours are capped during term. Read UK student visa work hours 2026 before you count on wages. For the full picture of studying in the UK from Nepal, start with our study in the UK guide.
Common mistakes
- Treating the visa amount as a budget. It is the minimum UKVI wants to see in your account.
- Using the wrong rate for your application date. Applying for a January 2027 start on or after 30 November 2026 means the higher £1,570 / £1,203 amounts.
- Guessing whether your campus counts as London. GOV.UK means the City of London and the 32 London boroughs; check where your campus actually is.
- Comparing a 40-week halls figure with a 52-week private figure as if they were the same.
- Forgetting the months after your course if you plan to stay on, for example on the Graduate route.
What to do next
- Open your university’s cost-of-living page and write down the figure for your level and year.
- Check whether your visa application will fall before or after 30 November 2026.
- Plan your bank funds and the 28-day holding period with your sponsor early.
Frequently asked questions
How much money do I need per month to live in London as a student?
For the visa, £1,529 a month, or £1,570 for applications on or after 30 November 2026. King’s College London estimates an average of about £1,770 a month for 2026-27.
What is the UK student visa maintenance amount outside London?
£1,171 a month for up to 9 months, rising to £1,203 a month for applications made on or after 30 November 2026.
Is it cheaper to study outside London?
Usually yes. Glasgow estimates £1,100 to £1,700 a month and Cardiff about £1,126 to £1,305 a month for undergraduates, compared with KCL’s London average of £1,770. Manchester’s postgraduate estimate is £1,510.
How much is the UK student living cost in Nepali rupees?
At the NRB selling rate on 17 Oct 2026, 9 months at the new London rate is about Rs 28.68 lakh and outside London about Rs 21.98 lakh.
When does the UK student maintenance increase start?
On 30 November 2026, under Statement of Changes HC 584. Applications made before that date use the old amounts.
Related guides
- UK Dependant Visa for PhD and Research Students: 2026 Rules
- UK Student Accommodation Renting Guide for Nepali Students
- UK Foundation Year and Top-Up Degree Guide for Nepali Students
- How to Apply for a UK Student Visa from Nepal (Step by Step)
Sources
- Student visa: money you need – GOV.UK
- Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 584 – GOV.UK
- Explanatory memorandum to HC 584 (30 November 2026 start date) – GOV.UK
- Living expenses 2026-27 – King’s College London
- How much does it cost to study at UCL? – UCL
- Cost of living 2026/27 – University of Manchester
- Cost of living – University of Glasgow
- Living costs calculator 2026/27 – Cardiff University
- Living costs – University of Birmingham
- Budget and costs – University of Leeds
Last checked: 20 October 2026. This is general information, not financial or immigration advice. Rupee amounts change with the exchange rate.
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