Did you know? From November 2025 onwards, students going to the UK must show £1,529/month (if studying in London) or £1,171/month (outside London) as proof of funds for living costs.
If you’re an Indian student preparing for UK studies, this matters.
When you land in the UK, tuition is just one part of the picture.
Day-to-day living costs like rent, groceries, transport, and bills add up. And depending on your city, lifestyle, and housing choice, the difference can be huge.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through what “cost of living in the UK for international students” really means (realistically).
We’ll look into
- what UK visa rules require now (2025),
- what typical monthly budgets look like,
- what choices can stretch your rupees (or pounds)?,
- and where many students go wrong.
Let’s get started with how you can plan your budget realistically.
Updated UK visa maintenance fund requirement (2025) (150w)
What The UK Requires You To Show For Visa
From November 2025, the UK has raised the financial proof students need to show for their visa.
- Within London: If your university is in London, you must show £1,529 per month.
- Outside London: If it’s outside London, the requirement is £1,171 per month.
These amounts cover up to nine months of living costs for most degree programmes. This means you’ll need to show roughly £13,700–£14,000 for London or £10,500–£11,000 for other cities.
Now, why is this important?
Many students assume this number reflects their actual monthly spend. It doesn’t always work that way.
The fund requirement is a baseline for visa approval, but your real cost of living in the UK for international students depends on your city, housing choice, and daily lifestyle.
Most students spend slightly above the official requirement, especially during the first few months when setup expenses come in. The study guide for international students by the UK government also mentions something similar:
“As an international student coming to the UK without dependants, you can expect to pay around £1,300–£1,400 per month in London or £900–£1,300 in the rest of the UK … to cover your accommodation, bills, groceries, and a range of other living expenses.”
— British Council’s official Study UK guide
Treat this number as your minimum planning threshold. It tells you what the UK expects you to have and not what you will finally end up spending.
Beyond tuition: What living expenses include
Once you’ve accounted for tuition, the next big piece is understanding what day‑to‑day living really looks like.
Most students start with accommodation and food, but a realistic picture includes a few more things.
Main Costs
- Accommodation: Usually the biggest monthly cost. University halls and shared flats are common choices and generally easier on the budget. Private studios come with more comfort but also tighter finances.
- Food And Groceries: Varies depending on whether you cook often or depend on takeaways. Most Indian students manage well by cooking at home, but groceries plus occasional outside meals still add up.
- Bills And Utilities: Includes heating, electricity, Wi‑Fi and mobile plans, which are regular expenses you can’t avoid. These change with the season, especially heating during winter.
- Transport: This depends heavily on the city. London almost always requires a travel pass, while smaller cities are more walkable and affordable.
In addition to the above are quieter expenses that get overlooked.
Laundry, basic toiletries, printing, course materials, and those small “social life” costs that don’t feel big individually but add up at the end of the month.
And then there are the one‑time hits: deposit for accommodation, kitchen essentials, bedding, warm clothes, or even early‑semester travel.
Adding all these up, your real “cost of living in the UK for international students” becomes much more than just tuition.
At GradRight we know how budgeting before going abroad for education can lead students down a rabbit hole. Our 2024 ShiftEd focused on easily solving this issue with proper financial planning by bringing together over 4,000 students, 24 foreign universities, and trusted financial lenders under the same roof.
If you think you might get affected by the high cost of living in the UK, you can reach out to our GradRight experts. Don’t hesitate to reach out for your personalized guidance.
What should you expect in monthly budget: London vs. non-London cities
As we saw earlier, the living expenses in London for international students are obviously higher than those of outside London.
The reason is London’s lifestyle costs are higher when you factor in your accommodation, food, local transport, bills, study materials, and social expenses. Living close to your campus or in central London pushes this up even further.
In contrast, in cities like Manchester, Glasgow, or Nottingham, the costs drop noticeably. Many Indian students prefer these locations, not just for the savings but for the chance to experience a different pace of life.
To give you a clearer idea, here’s an example of a typical monthly budget (recent 2025 numbers) for both settings:
| Category | London (Avg. £/month) | Outside London (Avg. £/month) |
| Accommodation | £700–£1,000 | £450–£700 |
| Food & Groceries | £200–£300 | £150–£250 |
| Transport | £100–£160 | £40–£90 |
| Bills & Utilities | £60–£100 | £40–£80 |
| Social/Personal | £120–£180 | £80–£120 |
| Total | £1,300–£1,600 | £900–£1,300 |
Source: British Council, Study UK
You’ll notice accommodation is by far the biggest variable in the cost of living in the UK for international students. Many Indian students manage costs by sharing flats, living further from city centers, or choosing university halls with inclusive bills. Students can choose private studios too for more comfort but at a steeper price.
Another reason why accommodation costs are a major share of the total expenses is because of rising rent. A report by GraddingHomes stated that the budget for home rent for students in the UK had increased by 15% in 2025.
“We understand how critical suitable housing is for student success and well-being.”
— Mamta Shekhawat, founder of Graddinghomes, Economic Times, June 2025
Ultimately, the monthly expenses for international students in the UK aren’t just about averages. It’s about making smart choices based on what matters most to you.
Can part-time work & smart budgeting make a difference?
Many international students in the UK are allowed to work a bit while studying.
Under a typical student visa you can work up to 20 hours per week during term time, and full‑time during official vacations.
This income can help offset some of the monthly outgoings like groceries, transport, and maybe part of rent.
Smart budgeting still matters. Things like cooking at home, sharing flats, avoiding frequent nights out, and using student transport passes help you to save. By combining modest part‑time earnings with mindful spending, many students manage to stay within a “balanced budget range.”
However, it’s best to keep in mind that part‑time work should not be seen as a full solution. For many, it’s a supplement and not enough to cover tuition and full living expenses.
Final Thoughts
Every student’s journey comes with its own financial learning curve.
The real value lies in being prepared, asking the right questions, and talking openly about your worries.
If the rising cost of living in the UK is what bothers you, then look up people who have already been there.
If you are planning to take on an education loan like most students do, make sure that it is a high return on investment. We have personal experience of students making the best of study abroad loan deals on GradRight. Take the case of Abhinaya Murthy, who faced several bank rejections and finally made it to the London School of Economics with the help of a INR 3.5 Lakh GradRight Scholarship and a low-interest education loan.
Smart planning today will give you confidence tomorrow. And if you need an extra hand, GradRight’s team is always ready to help you make sense of your numbers and take the stress out of your UK plans.
