The Most Affordable UK Cities for Students

Studying in the UK is an amazing opportunity, but it can also be an expensive one. Between tuition, accommodation, travel, and visas, most students will be on a budget while studying. While studying in the UK, your biggest expense will likely be tuition, but the cost of living can greatly differ depending on where you study – not just between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, but individual cities as well! We’ve put together a list of the most affordable cities in the UK for students, to help you narrow down where you would like to study!

*All recommendations accurate as of April 2026
 

English Cities

When most students think of an English city, they think of London – this is totally fair, it is the capital, but it is also the most expensive place to live in the UK. Why not check out some of these other cities and towns, which are more affordable, and save London for some day trips!

Leicester

Already wildly popular with Canadians for their Law programme at University of Leicester, Leicester has one of the lowest costs of living in the UK. Save some money on living expenses, and check out this town, which even has a Tim Horton’s! Leicester houses two universities, University of Leicester and De Montfort University, so plenty of options for programs!
 

Sheffield

Located in Northern England, Sheffield has one of the lowest costs of living in England, and also has the benefit of being a city! Not only do they have lower cost of living in general, they also have plenty of free student activities, or discounted entry; saving money where you can as a student is important! The University of Sheffield is part of the prestigious Russell Group, so you can attend a university with a global reputation for excellence while also saving some money!
 

Scottish Cities

Scotland is well known for their beautiful cities and scenery, whisky and gin, and unique culture. While some Scottish cities can be quite expensive (like Edinburgh), you can get the same charm in these Scottish cities, while saving some money for day trips to Edinburgh Castle!

Aberdeen

Located in the beautiful Scottish Highlands, Aberdeen is a small city with a lot of charm. Known as the granite city, the whole city sparkles when the sunshine hits – and don’t let the rumours fool you, they do get sunshine! The city houses two universities: University of Aberdeen, founded in 1495 and one of the oldest cities in the world, and Robert Gordon University, which is very popular with Canadians wanting to go into professional health programmes! If you love nature, you’ll love Aberdeen – plenty of walks, castles, and hikes are a short drive away!
 

Dundee

Located on the River Tay, Dundee is a small, picturesque city with lots to offer. Known as the sunniest city in Scotland, Dundee has a great balance of city attractions and nature, with views of the river and Scottish Lowlands from all around. Previously part of St. Andrew’s University, University of Dundee has a long history, and is well known for some very niche courses – ask your advisor for more information!
 

Welsh Cities

Wales is constantly heralded as a beautiful place, something our advisors can attest to. Why not get away from the hustle and bustle of a big city, and study in nature, surrounded by a unique culture, while also saving some money!
 

Aberystwyth

One of the least expensive places to live in the UK, Aberystwyth is also beautifully located right on the coast. Not only that, but Aberystwyth University has an accommodation scholarship, to help students save even more money while living in the UK! Why follow in the footsteps of the royal family: King Charles III famously studied in Aberystwyth in 1969.
 
Cardiff

Also in Wales, Cardiff has many options for students! Located right on the border with England, you can easily travel to other cities, or out into the natural beauty of the Welsh countryside. If you’re looking for a bigger city than Aberystwyth, but don’t want to pay London prices, Cardiff could be the perfect fit! Cardiff has campuses for Cardiff University (another Russell Group member) and University of South Wales, so you’re sure to find the perfect course while saving some money on living!
 

Northern Irish Cities

In general, Northern Ireland is one of the cheapest places to live in the UK. With beautiful scenery and easy travel to the EU, there’s lots to see and love about Northern Ireland!

Belfast

Belfast has one of the cheapest costs of living in the entire UK, making it a great place for students to study! They have two universities in the city: Queen’s University Belfast, a member of the Russell Group, and Ulster University. Why not study in a place full of history and surrounded by nature, and save some money while doing so?

When you’re moving so far from home, where you study is almost as important as what you study. While money is always a concern, you don’t want to be stressing about affording groceries while studying for finals, so choosing a city with a lower cost of living can help alleviate some of that anxiety.