Spending
Rent remains the highest monthly expense for UK students, followed by groceries, clothing, and eating out. Manchester students spend the most money per month on clothes, shoes and accessories, while Oxford students spend the most on going out and socialising. The rest of UK students' money is spent on alcohol, takeaways, bills, commuting and activities, with a small fraction spent on charity and even cryptocurrency investments.
- Manchester has reclaimed its spot over Birmingham and London as the most fashion-forward city, spending an average of £54.70 a month on clothes, shoes and accessories – 45% above the national average of £34.50.
- This year, Durham, Exeter and Newcastle top the index as the biggest spenders on alcohol, each spending more than £10 above the national average. Durham students spend the most on alcohol with a £40.70 monthly spend. This is almost three times as much as Leicester students, the lowest spenders at an average of £14.40.
- London remains the most expensive city for alcoholic drinks, with students expecting to pay £9.10 for a pint - twice the national average of £4.50. Despite this, London students spend relatively little on alcohol, spending the fifth least out of all students. Durham ranks as the cheapest city for a pint at £3.10, which could explain why they're the biggest spenders.
- Supermarket shopping follows rent as the biggest cost to students' income, with students across the UK paying £81.20 on average monthly. Students at Oxford spend the most on groceries at £109.40, twice the cost for students at Leicester who spend only £52.90 a month.
- Students at York continue to benefit from the lowest cost of household bills, spending £13.90 a month, though this is a sharp increase from last year when they spent only £5.80 a month. Still, this is almost three times less than the cost for students at Exeter who are spending £38.60 monthly – £14.40 above the national average.
- Students now spend more on a single night out at a national average of £26.50 – £5 more than in 2020. Liverpool students spend the most on average, with an expected cost of £34.40 on a night.
- Durham boasts the cheapest take away at £10.30, almost £4 less than the national average. Sheffield students expect to pay almost double at £21.20, 42% above the national average, followed by Birmingham at £18.30.
*Data excludes those who do not drink