Cost of studying in United Kingdom

The official living-⁠cost benchmark per month, in your currency, with a breakdown, price levels, housing rents and the last five years, all on one pa⁠g⁠e⁠.

COST OF LIVING

What living in United Kingdom costs

The official figure in your currency, how prices compare, and five years of change.

about US$1,550 a month

That is about US$18,610 a year

Prices vs United States

a little lower

Prices vs United States

a little lower

London　about US$2,030 a month

Currency

One month, item by item

Shown per month so short stays are easy to compare. The official amount and the sum of the items are two different things.

City

Official amount

Official living-cost benchmark (per month)

about US$2,030

Source: gov.uk

Living costs to show for a student v⁠i⁠s⁠a (per month). It is separate from the total of the items.

Sum of items

Amount by item

Rent (median): —
Food: —
Transport: about US$230
Phone and internet: —
Insurance: about US$90

Total of the 2 items with a source

about US$320

Items marked “—” are left out, so this is lower than what you will actually spend.

“—” means we do not yet have a sourced amount for that item. Tuition and return travel are not included in either amount.

Per month, side by side

Official living-cost figure: US$1,550 a month

Price level (US = 1.0)

United Kingdom vs United States: slightly cheaper

Mid-range among the 14 countries (No. 10 from the cheapest)

ColombiaUnited KingdomUnited StatesAustralia

CheaperPricier

Tap a dot to see the country and its value.

The last 5 years

In US Dollar, the amount you need to show has risen about 11% in 5 years.

per month: US$1,410 → US$1,560

October 2021October 2026

October 2026：about US$1,560 a month

Sources and revision history

Outside London　Official figure: GBP 1,171 a month・Living costs to show for a student visa

London　Official figure: GBP 1,529 a month・Living costs to show for a student visa

For applications from November 30, 2026, this changes to London GBP 1,570 a month・Outside London GBP 1,203 a month.

Rate: 1 GBP = USD 1.32 (October 15, 2026, Frankfurter)

Tuition and return travel are not included. This is the amount the authorities ask you to show, not necessarily what you will spend.

World Bank price level (US = 1.0). The same yardstick as the city diagnosis.

Amounts in US Dollar are the official figure in force that month, multiplied by that month’s exchange rate.

History of the official figure (original currency)

Before January 2, 2025：£1,023 a month・assets.publishing.service.gov.uk・checked October 15, 2026
Applications from January 2, 2025：£1,136 a month・assets.publishing.service.gov.uk・checked October 15, 2026
Applications from November 11, 2025：£1,171 a month・assets.publishing.service.gov.uk・checked October 15, 2026

The official sources do not say when the oldest figure began, so the line starts at the left edge.

Exchange rates are European Central Bank reference rates (Frankfurter), taken on the first business day of each month; the last point is October 16, 2026.

Price levels are World Bank statistics (retrieved October 15, 2026). 2017 and 2021 are measured by the International Comparison Program (ICP); the years between are the World Bank’s linking series. The 2017 figures are the World Bank’s revised series, aligned with the 2021 round. data.worldbank.org

Source: UK Government: Student visa (⁠v⁠i⁠s⁠a⁠ ⁠f⁠e⁠e⁠)UK Government: Student visa, money you need

checked October 9, 2026

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much money do I need to show for a Student vi⁠s⁠a⁠?

It is GBP 1,529 a month for courses in London and GBP 1,171 a month for courses outside London, both for up to 9 months. You must have this money for at least 28 days in a row. The visa fee is GBP 5⁠5⁠8⁠.