Cost Of Living In Glasgow As A Student

Whoever said that money couldn't buy you happiness has clearly never been to Disneyland. As much as we would like to appreciate the smaller joys of life, deep down, we all know that a little extra cash would just make life so much easier. Moving to a new city always comes with an adjustment period, and in all the chaos, your wallet takes a big hit. To save you the trouble, we've broken down the cost of living in Glasgow so you can get a head start planning your life in the city. 

About Glasgow

Glasgow began as a small rural settlement on the River Clyde and has grown to become Scotland's largest seaport and city. It is now one of Britain's leading transatlantic trade hubs with North America and the West Indies. It is no surprise that the city is fourth on the list of the most visited cities in the UK, with museums, galleries, and unique attractions like the Clydeside Distillery. With an average total cost of living in Glasgow for students amounting to approximately £766 monthly without accommodation rent included, it is a rather convenient city to live in.

What is the average cost of living in Glasgow?

Being one of the major cities in Ireland, the cost of living in Glasgow is surely higher than in other cities but is not as high compared to Dublin and Cork. When calculating the average cost of living in Glasgow, you have to take various factors and variables into consideration, like rent, utility bills, grocery prices, transportation rates, and many other things. From your daily expenses to monthly bills, everything affects your living expenses in Glasgow. You can consider the average cost of living in Glasgow as a student to be approximately £766 monthly without accommodation rent included.

Common expenses and how to save on them

Now let's get down to the proper breakdown of the cost of living in Glasgow for students. We are going to list down the common expenses that you will have every month while living in this lovely city and give you a proper price range that you can expect to spend depending on your needs and even provide you with some tips on how to save some money on them!

Grocery expenses

The cost of food and groceries will likely vary significantly from person to person and is an important component of your cost of living in Glasgow. The amount you spend on food per week will also depend upon whether you eat out or cook at home. Depending upon how much time you get off school and how quickly you consume your food, you'll need to shop for groceries at least 3-4 times a month. You can expect to spend around £250 - £350 per month on your groceries.

How to save money on groceries?

One way you can save some money is to use your student ID to get student discounts at certain grocery stores. Some affordable supermarkets in Glasgow are Lidl, Roots, Fruits and Flowers, Babylon, Supermarket, OAKA Supercity, Polish Taste, and Solly's African Village. 

Travel expenses

Glasgow is a well-connected city which makes travel within and around the city very convenient. The city has some of the best public transport networks in Scotland, and their systems are very well organized and easy to use. People between the ages of 16 and 18 are eligible for various bus discounts and concessions to help them budget their living expenses in Glasgow while helping them travel around the city at affordable rates. Your average ticket would cost somewhere around £2 - £3 per ride.

1. Bus: First Bus Glasgow operates over 80 routes across the city and has a variety of tickets to choose from, including day tickets allowing unlimited travel in your selected area all day or a weekly ticket if you're staying longer, which would cost you £15 - £20. You get a monthly student pass which costs around £50 - £60.

2. Train: The subway is one of the easiest ways to get around the city centre, west end and south side of Glasgow and is the best way for students to avoid on-road traffic. Like the bus pass, you can also get a weekly train pass that costs somewhere between £20-£30, or you could choose to get an annual train pass that would cost you £150-£200.

How to save money on travel?

Finding accommodation close to your campus or wherever you need to commute regularly can help reduce your cost of living in Glasgow. As mentioned above, students are often offered various discounts on travel passes. To get these passes, check with your university or at a local bus or train station to help reduce your daily travel expenses and help cut down on your living expenses in Glasgow.  

Accommodation expenses

Student accommodation will be a significant factor when considering your cost of living in Glasgow. As a student, you have several housing options, like on-campus or off-campus accommodation and private rentals or PBSAs. PBSAs are fully furnished student accommodations close to universities to increase convenience for students.

To cut down on your cost of living in Glasgow, you can choose a range of reasonably priced accommodation options in Glasgow. The cost of student accommodation in Glasgow will depend upon the housing location. For example, student accommodation near the city centre will likely be more expensive than accommodation near the suburbs. The cost of living in Glasgow will also vary according to your room type. There are three main room types for you to choose from which are:

1. Studios: This accommodation is a multipurpose living space that can be dual or single occupancy, costing around £109 - £150/week.

2. En-suites: This type of accommodation is a dual or single occupancy room within a house or flat with a private bathroom. The rent for an en-suite can range anywhere between £155 - £280/week.

3. Non-en-suites: The final type of accommodation that students can find is a non-en-suite which is a dual or single occupancy room within a house or flat. Its rent can be around £125 - £180/week.

How to save money on accommodation?

Living with roommates or sharing a room can help you reduce your expenses in Glasgow. Housing will also be more affordable further away from the main city centre. Finding housing in a suburb will also help you reduce your cost of living in Glasgow. The city also has a range of affordable PBSAs like MyPad Paisley that will help you cut your cost of living in Glasgow. 

Utility expenses

Basic utilities are an unavoidable expense when calculating your cost of living in Glasgow. Utilities are required for the basic functioning of your home. Hot water, electricity and heating and cooling are usually billed together and will depend on where you live and how much you use these utilities. Your utilities should cost you between £100 - £350 per month.

How to save money on utilities?

Since utilities are charged per household rather than per individual, sharing a flat with friends will enable you to save money on these expenses. To reduce the cost of living in Glasgow, you can also choose student housing that includes all of your utilities in the rent. All utilities are included in the rent at Kyle Park House.

Food expenses

Your cost of living in Glasgow will vary depending on the restaurants you frequent. It also depends on the type of restaurant you visit. If you visit a fancy restaurant almost every other weekend, you can expect to burn a hole in your pocket as soon you walk into the restaurant's doors. To help you understand how much eating out will cost you, here is an estimate of different types of meals from famous restaurants in Glasgow. 

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How to save money on food?

We know that Glasgow's top restaurants are hard to resist, but To lower your cost of living in Glasgow, you should make as many meals at home as possible. Eating out may be fun, but it will be very costly very quickly. Cooking with friends can also be a fun way to pass the time and is an important life skill to learn - after, isn't that what college is all about? 

Personal Care/Clothing expenses

As a student in the city, there's no doubt that you'll incur a few additional expenses over and above your "necessities." Tuition isn't where spending on your education ends. You'll need to buy books, stationery, and laptop accessories and depending on your studies, you'll be financing these things yourself, which will likely increase your cost of living in Glasgow. You will also spend some money on your personal care, like going to the gym and even buying new clothes during your stay in Glasgow, which would again increase your cost of living in Glasgow!

How to save money on personal care/clothing?

If you’re looking to cut down on your cost of living in Glasgow, these will be the first expenses to go. If you find that your funds are running low, you may need to cut down on the retail therapy you’ve convinced yourself that you need. Looking for cheaper alternatives like shopping at thrift stores, exercising at home, and renting textbooks can help you reduce your cost of living in Glasgow.

Entertainment expenses

Without entertainment, student life would not be complete. After all, this is the period before beginning a professional career when you can have the most fun. Sports and city tours are just two examples of entertainment, as are going to the movies. Your cost of living in Glasgow will vary considerably depending on the activity you choose to engage in. Here is a small breakdown of what you can expect from your entertainment expenses! 

How to save money in entertainment

One way to save money on entertainment is by making sure that you make plans beforehand and make sure that you don't go out often! You can also add points from ways to save money on personal care! 

Tuition fees

More than 20,000 international students live in the city. Since your cost of living in Glasgow will be heavily affected by your tuition fees, we have provided an estimate of fees from different universities. Keep in mind that your cost of tuition will change based on your course and whether or not you are pursuing a part-time or full-time plan of study. To help reduce your cost of living in Glasgow, you can consider pursuing a part-time or online course to cut down on tuition. 

University of Glasgow 

The University of Glasgow is one of Scotland's four oldest universities and the fourth-oldest English-speaking university in the world. It was established by Papal Bull in 1451. The undergraduate tuition fees cost around £18,200 to £20,100/year. At the same time, postgraduate tuition fees cost around £2,600 to £28,000/year.

University of Strathclyde

Established in 1964, this university is located in the heart of Glasgow and welcomes students from over 100 countries every year. It is the city's second-oldest university. Their undergraduate courses cost around £14,000 to £18,000 /year. At the same time, their postgraduate courses cost around £9,000 to £11,000/year.   

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Planning a budget, managing your finances and allocating your funds are all admittedly boring but important parts of your student life. We've broken down the cost of living in Glasgow so you have an easier time planning out your journey. We hope you've found this blog helpful and wish you all the best with your student journey in Glasgow!