Leicester named as the cheapest UK city for students
New research from UNiDAYS, the Nottingham-based student affinity network, has revealed that Leicester is the most cost-effective place for university students to live in the UK, based on the new wave of student essentials.
Polling over 3,000 students from its network, UNiDAYS has created a top ten list of items students buy every month and mapped these costs across the country’s biggest university towns and cities – and the results are surprising.
The list of items students spend money on at least monthly:
| Item | Percentage of students purchasing at least monthly |
| Chicken korma and naan | 61% |
| Cheesy chips | 23% |
| 12” margarita pizza | 48% |
| 3-mile Uber journey | 17% |
| Latte | 31% |
| Large glass of house rose | 18% |
| Club entry (Wednesday night) | 27% |
| Spin class | 24% |
| Pint of lager | 23% |
| Spray tan | 21% |
The research has analysed a variety of real living costs students have cited as the new ‘must-have’ purchases; in the list are spin classes, club entry, spray tans, cheesy chips, pints of lager and a large glass of rosé wine.
Not surprisingly, London came out the most expensive place to live, with a total cost of all ten items coming in at £91.90, followed by Bath £80.65 and Oxford £74.93. Leicester was the best value university town, with items in the shopping basket costing a mere £50.11, £41.79 less than the most expensive city. Birmingham and Lancaster also offered a good option for students, with savings of £40.96 and £40.75 versus London respectively.
The full list of the top 10 most cost-effective cities for students in the UK:
| City | Cost of all ten items |
| Leicester | £50.11 |
| Birmingham | £50.94 |
| Lancaster | £51.15 |
| Edinburgh | £54.90 |
| Coventry | £56.84 |
| Hull | £57.20 |
| Plymouth | £58.05 |
| Swansea | £59.59 |
| Belfast | £59.85 |
| Cardiff | £60.35 |
Alex Gallagher, chief marketing officer at UNiDAYS said: “We know that for students, value for money has never been more important and it’s one of the biggest concerns for those studying away from home. Tuition fees and rent is just one part of this equation, and based on what they are actually buying, we can see how the costs can stack up across different parts of the country. At UNiDAYS we know finding savings on these modern-day essentials is important to students, and our mix of partners will help them do that and make their money go further in the upcoming term and throughout their student life.”
Costs across the country
The cheapest town for a portion of cheesy chips is Leeds at just £1.80. Interestingly, this is less than half the price students would pay in Southampton which comes in at an eye-watering £4. Hand in hand with this late-night treat is a glass of rosé wine, where students will be splashing out £5.95 in London, compared to those in Coventry who will enjoy a glass for a mere £3.
For those that prioritise fitness, the spin class is cheapest in Newcastle with students handing over £3 a go, versus £16 in nearby Oxford. For that sun-kissed look, students will be splashing out £25 for a spray tan in Sheffield, whereas Leicester offers this service for a penny less than £10.
And for those who like to feast on a Friday night take away, the price for a popular Indian chicken Korma and naan vary widely across the country. Those living in the halls of residence in Bath will fork out £11.75, versus those in Lancaster where they’ll be spending as little as £5.
For pizza-lovers, a 12-inch margarita will set you back £12 in Cambridge, compared to Newcastle’s £4.80 steal. Socialising is fundamental to the student experience and surprisingly, it’s Edinburgh that is going to cause students to break a note for entry into a nightclub, costing £6 for a mid-week night, whereas Derby you can walk-in free of charge and save all your money for the bar.
