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Living Costs Pre
High inflation in the UK caused a steep increase in living costs over the last couple of years. This means that estimates even from a year ago are likely to be significantly lower than today.
The good news is that Inflation is expected to fall quickly in the coming months. The same is true of utility bills. Food prices should also fall.
Why we don’t give a single average
We have diverse students with varied lifestyles and requirements, which in turn affects their costs and options. Our survey took this into account.
For example, it would be unhelpful to provide an average that made no distinction between the rental costs of (a) students living in a shared room in a large house and (b) a student renting a house for a family of four. Similarly, food costs for students in catered accommodation will be lower than in self-catered accommodation. They are also likely to be lower if you cook most of your meals.
- Rent
- Utilities
Electricity and Gas
Electricity and Gas were combined in the survey. Data from … survey respondents. Excludes respondents for whom these costs were combined with their rent, e.g. in halls of residence.
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Water
Data from … survey respondents. Excludes respondents for whom these costs were combined with their rent, e.g. in halls of residence.
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Internet Connection
Data from … survey respondents. Excludes respondents for whom these costs were combined with their rent, e.g. in halls of residence.
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- Food and Drink
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- Entertainment
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- Mobile
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- Clothing, toiletries, and other costs
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- Survey Data Visualisations
Tableau here (?) if accordion doesnt't continue being unreliable.
Source: UCL Survey of Current Students' Living Costs, MMMM 2023. Anonymous. n respondents.
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Accordion content or table limit?
UCL Halls of Residence: Average Prices by Room Type
UCL accommodation has fixed prices that vary by room type and hall of residence. We have more of some room types than others (units).
Averages based on room types can be found below. A full list of prices is also available.
Prices for intercollegiate halls of residence can be found here.
| Catered | En-Suite | Units | Monthly Average | Weekly Average |
| Single Room | Yes | No | 725 | £1,018 | £237 |
| Single Room | No | No | 1221 | £945 | £220 |
| Single Room | No | Yes | 3764 | £1,260 | £294 |
| Single Room, Duplex | No | Yes | 6 | £1,449 | £338 |
| Single Room, Large | Yes | No | 62 | £1,119 | £261 |
| Single Room, Large | No | No | 214 | £1,059 | £247 |
| Single Room, Large | No | Yes | 96 | £1,351 | £315 |
| Single Room, Large, Duplex | No | Yes | 6 | £1,487 | £347 |
| Single Room, Small | No | No | 256 | £857 | £200 |
| Twin Room (Shared) | Yes | No | 14 | £896 | £209 |
| Twin Room (Shared) | No | No | 174 | £679 | £158 |
| Double Room (Couple) | No | Yes | 5 | £1,458 | £340 |
| Studio | Yes | Yes | 2 | £1,361 | £317 |
| Studio, Accessible | No | Yes | 84 | £1,590 | £371 |
| Studio, Large | No | Yes | 53 | £1,428 | £333 |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment | No | Yes | 45 | £1,388 | £324 |
| 2 Bedroom Apartment | No | Yes | 2 | £1,289 | £301 |
| 2 Bedroom Bungalow | No | Yes | 2 | £1,888 | £440 |
UCL Current Student Survey Data: By Accommodation Type
Based on n responses from current UCL students.
TABLE
UCL Current Student Survey Data: By Area
Based on n responses from current UCL students. This data is not the average cost for the area in general, but only for the respondents.
TABLE
UCL Current Student Survey Data: By Number of Flatmates
Based on n responses from current UCL students.
SpareRoom: Averages by Postcode Area
Average rent prices compiled by SpareRoom for rooms advertised on their website.
Source: SpareRoom Rental Index
Data period: Q1, 2023
Type
Monthly
Weekly
E
Room
£ 926
£ 216
E1 (Shoreditch / Whitechapel)
Room
£ 1,004
£ 234
E14 (Canary Wharf / Docklands)
Room
£ 1,034
£ 241
E15 (Stratford / West Ham)
Room
£ 880
£ 205
E16 (Canning Town / North Woolwich / Docks)
Room
£ 970
£ 226
E2 (Bethnal Green)
Room
£ 969
£ 226
E3 (Bow)
Room
£ 934
£ 218
EC
Room
£ 1,199
£ 280
N
Room
£ 897
£ 209
N1 (Angel / Islington / Canonbury)
Room
£ 1,115
£ 260
N7 (Holloway)
Room
£ 1,012
£ 236
NW
Room
£ 965
£ 225
NW1 (Camden)
Room
£ 1,224
£ 286
NW10 (Willesden)
Room
£ 875
£ 204
NW2 (Cricklewood / Dollis Hill)
Room
£ 868
£ 203
SE
Room
£ 896
£ 209
SE1 (London Bridge / Borough / Waterloo)
Room
£ 1,097
£ 256
SE16 (Bermondsey / Rotherhithe)
Room
£ 974
£ 227
SW
Room
£ 998
£ 233
SW11 (Battersea)
Room
£ 1,127
£ 263
SW15 (Putney)
Room
£ 885
£ 207
SW16 (Streatham)
Room
£ 838
£ 196
SW6 (Fulham)
Room
£ 1,086
£ 253
W
Room
£ 1,014
£ 237
W12 (Shepherds Bush)
Room
£ 942
£ 220
W3 (Acton)
Room
£ 894
£ 209
W5 (Ealing)
Room
£ 925
£ 216
WC
Room
£ 1,250
£ 292
London Rents Map: Averages by Area
Derived from London Rents Map, which is based o average rent prices for apartments and houses by area. The data is compiled by the Greater London Authority using data from the Office for National Statistics. It also includes averages for rooms, but there are significant gaps in the data.
Data period: January to December 2022
Type
Monthly
Weekly
Camden
Studio Apartment
£ 1,085
£ 253
Islington
Studio Apartment
£ 1,094
£ 255
Newham
Studio Apartment
£ 1,214
£ 283
Southwark
Studio Apartment
£ 1,150
£ 268
Tower Hamlets
Studio Apartment
£ 1,343
£ 313
Westminster
Studio Apartment
£ 1,304
£ 304
Hackney
Studio Apartment
£ 1,050
£ 245
Haringey
Studio Apartment
£ 925
£ 216
Camden
1 Bedroom Apartment
£ 1,600
£ 373
Islington
1 Bedroom Apartment
£ 1,500
£ 350
Newham
1 Bedroom Apartment
£ 1,300
£ 303
Southwark
1 Bedroom Apartment
£ 1,425
£ 333
Tower Hamlets
1 Bedroom Apartment
£ 1,500
£ 350
Westminster
1 Bedroom Apartment
£ 2,097
£ 489
Hackney
1 Bedroom Apartment
£ 1,483
£ 346
Haringey
1 Bedroom Apartment
£ 1,300
£ 303
UCL Current Student Survey Data: By Accommodation Type
Based on n responses from current UCL students.
TABLE
UCL Current Student Survey Data: By Area
Based on n responses from current UCL students. This data is not the average cost for the area in general, but only for the respondents.
TABLE
UCL Current Student Survey Data: By Number of Flatmates
Based on n responses from current UCL students.
SpareRoom: Averages by Postcode Area
Average rent prices compiled by SpareRoom for rooms advertised on their website.
Source: SpareRoom Rental Index
Data period: Q1, 2023
Type
Monthly
Weekly
E
Room
£ 926
£ 216
E1 (Shoreditch / Whitechapel)
Room
£ 1,004
£ 234
E14 (Canary Wharf / Docklands)
Room
£ 1,034
£ 241
E15 (Stratford / West Ham)
Room
£ 880
£ 205
E16 (Canning Town / North Woolwich / Docks)
Room
£ 970
£ 226
E2 (Bethnal Green)
Room
£ 969
£ 226
E3 (Bow)
Room
£ 934
£ 218
EC
Room
£ 1,199
£ 280
N
Room
£ 897
£ 209
N1 (Angel / Islington / Canonbury)
Room
£ 1,115
£ 260
N7 (Holloway)
Room
£ 1,012
£ 236
NW
Room
£ 965
£ 225
NW1 (Camden)
Room
£ 1,224
£ 286
NW10 (Willesden)
Room
£ 875
£ 204
NW2 (Cricklewood / Dollis Hill)
Room
£ 868
£ 203
SE
Room
£ 896
£ 209
SE1 (London Bridge / Borough / Waterloo)
Room
£ 1,097
£ 256
SE16 (Bermondsey / Rotherhithe)
Room
£ 974
£ 227
SW
Room
£ 998
£ 233
SW11 (Battersea)
Room
£ 1,127
£ 263
SW15 (Putney)
Room
£ 885
£ 207
SW16 (Streatham)
Room
£ 838
£ 196
SW6 (Fulham)
Room
£ 1,086
£ 253
W
Room
£ 1,014
£ 237
W12 (Shepherds Bush)
Room
£ 942
£ 220
W3 (Acton)
Room
£ 894
£ 209
W5 (Ealing)
Room
£ 925
£ 216
WC
Room
£ 1,250
£ 292
London Rents Map: Averages by Area
Derived from London Rents Map, which is based o average rent prices for apartments and houses by area. The data is compiled by the Greater London Authority using data from the Office for National Statistics. It also includes averages for rooms, but there are significant gaps in the data.
Data period: January to December 2022
Type
Monthly
Weekly
Camden
Studio Apartment
£ 1,085
£ 253
Islington
Studio Apartment
£ 1,094
£ 255
Newham
Studio Apartment
£ 1,214
£ 283
Southwark
Studio Apartment
£ 1,150
£ 268
Tower Hamlets
Studio Apartment
£ 1,343
£ 313
Westminster
Studio Apartment
£ 1,304
£ 304
Hackney
Studio Apartment
£ 1,050
£ 245
Haringey
Studio Apartment
£ 925
£ 216
Camden
1 Bedroom Apartment
£ 1,600
£ 373
Islington
1 Bedroom Apartment
£ 1,500
£ 350
Newham
1 Bedroom Apartment
£ 1,300
£ 303
Southwark
1 Bedroom Apartment
£ 1,425
£ 333
Tower Hamlets
1 Bedroom Apartment
£ 1,500
£ 350
Westminster
1 Bedroom Apartment
£ 2,097
£ 489
Hackney
1 Bedroom Apartment
£ 1,483
£ 346
Haringey
1 Bedroom Apartment
£ 1,300
£ 303