Cost of living in Leicester as a Student

How do you know about Leicester? Football? Or the University of Leicester and De Montfort University? Either way, the city has so much more to offer. If you’re planning on visiting the city or are an aspiring student moving to Leicester soon, our guide to the cost of living in Leicester will certainly come in handy for you. Visiting a new city away from home can always seem like a daunting task, and rightfully so. But as students, it is important to learn that every new experience is a learning curve and only ends up making one learn more about themselves and the city they visit. Here is our cost of living guide f, which will help you manage your finances when in a new city. Keep reading to find out more!

About Leicester

Ranked in the top 5 most affordable cities in the UK by Numbeo, Leicester is undoubtedly one of the most student-friendly cities in the UK, with a negligible crime rate. The city of Leicester, founded in 1919, is one of the most well-known areas in the United Kingdom. The city, situated mostly in the county region, is home to numerous historical and natural wonders that draw thousands of tourists each year for its famous places to visit on vacations. According to the most recent statistics, approximately 35 million visitors visited Leicester and Leicestershire in 2019, bringing in more than £600 million for the nation as a whole.

Overview of Costs to Live in Leicester

Leicester is one of the most livable and affordable spaces in the UK. With its reputation as one of the most affordable cities in England, living in Leicester comes with financial benefits. The overview of your costs living in Leicester will be somewhere around £675 to £750. However, these costs may differ depending on your lifestyle and living expenses in Leicester.

Common expenses 

When figuring out the cost of living, basic utilities are a given expense. Utility services are necessary for your home to operate on a basic level. Depending on where you live and how frequently you use them, hot water, electricity, heating, and cooling costs can range from £180 to $200 each month. The average living expenses in Leicester for WiFi is between £25 and £30. During your visit, the cost of living will also need to include a few incidentals. The typical cost of living in Leicester includes spending money on things like furnishings, concerts, shopping for clothes, and sightseeing.

Grocery expenses

The best aspect of living in Leicester is that the groceries here are very reasonable, reducing your cost of living. Naturally, cooking your own meals will be much less expensive than purchasing food daily from a restaurant. For £15, you can buy enough food for a full day.

You can now try your hand at cooking and making the meals you choose. The grocery stores here offer a wide variety of goods from around the globe, and fresh produce, eggs, milk, and pastries are delivered every morning. 

Travel Expense

Since it is a small town that is easy to navigate, student housing in Leicester is a great option. There are numerous ways to travel. Select whatever mode of transportation will meet your public or private needs. It is best to use public transportation, which can carry people from one location to another reasonably quietly and affordably, and decrease your travel from the cost of living in Leicester fund. The city provides public transportation in the form of:

Bus travel in Leicester

These services run between Leicester's city centre and most of the rest of the city, including the university's campus. The biggest bus operators are Arriva and First Leicester, among many others. Every day, the typical bus price is about £3.

Accommodation/Housing

The kind of student accommodation you select will significantly impact your overall cost of living. You have a variety of options for where to live as a student. Housing options include both on-campus and off-campus living. Additionally, you can choose private rentals or specially constructed student accommodation (PBSA). PBSAs are homes created specifically to meet the needs of pupils. Learn more about housing in Leicester as PBSAs come fully furnished with all bills. In Leicester, PBSAs are the best option for convenient and comfortable student accommodation. A variety of PBSAs is available here.
Depending on where you reside and the type of room you choose, your cost of living as a student in Leicester will change.

Personal Care/ Clothing

Clothing and personal care are all taken care of when you opt for student housing in Leicester. 

1. A pair of jeans - £50 - £60
2. A pair of Nike shoes - £60 - £70
3. A pair of men’s leather shoes - £50 - £70
4. Antibiotics (12 tablets) - £5 - £10
5. Short visit to a private doctor - £40 - £60

Entertainment 

Leicester is a lively city, and one can opt for cheaper yet enjoyable options to get their dose of entertainment when they opt for student housing in Leicester. One can head to the Soundhouse or DeMontfort Hall to catch the recent concerts or head on over to the King Power stadium to watch the games the legendary Leicester City play. If loud events aren’t your cup of tea, Leicester has tons of great restaurants you can explore. 

1. Combo meal in a fast-food restaurant - £5 - £10
2. Ticket to the cinema - £10 - £15
3. A drink in the neighbourhood - £3 - £6
4. A full-course Italian meal at a nice restaurant - £20 - £40
5. A month of gym membership in a business area - £35 - £50

University / Tuition Fee

You would be delighted to learn that Leicester is one of the most affordable cities in the UK to live in. According to a survey, Leicester has the fourth-lowest student accommodation expenses in the UK. Don't you feel a little lighter already? Leicester is a fantastic city for students and is home to several universities, including the University of Leicester, De Montfort University, and Loughborough University. Your tuition fees take up a major chunk of your “Cost of Living in Leicester” fund; some of the top universities in Leicester and their tuition fees are: 

1. University of Leicester

The University of Leicester is one of the best universities in the UK, known for Law, marketing and Medicine among students worldwide. Living in Leicester as a student is a great experience for anyone. You can even apply for scholarships at the Univeristy of Leicester. The Mature Student scholarship is open for any student over the age of 21 at the university and offers £1000. Opting for student housing in Leicester and studying, you can also apply to Music and Sports scholarships if you have a good background and command over the skills required in the fields. 
Tuition fee - The tuition fees will take up most of your cost of living, but on average, you may spend 9,250 GBP to 15,290 GBP as a student studying at the University of Leicester.

2. De Montfort University

De Montfort University falls in the list of the top 10 best universities in the UK, providing exceptional education in IT & Systems, Mathematics, Engineering, and Law. you can also enquire about the scholarships available to someone living in Leicester as a student but coming from abroad.
Tuition fee - Living in Leicester as a De Montfort University student will cost you from 9,000 GBP to 18,000 GBP.

How to save up?

Miscellaneous costs might have seemed the most enjoyable, but they are regrettably the least necessary. These are the first things to go if you're looking to reduce your cost of living. The best way to save money might be to replace these costs with less expensive options, which will reduce your living expenses in Leicester. 

1. Split Costs 

Consider splitting the expenses since utilities are charged by the household and are important living expenses in Leicester. Rather than per person, sharing a flat with friends will enable you to reduce these costs.

2. Part-time Jobs 

Part-time jobs are a great way to manage living expenses in Leicester. Student housing in Leicester is quite affordable. Therefore, opting for part-time jobs can provide you with an outlet to make do on your own and learn something new.

3. Opt for secondhand/pre-loved books

As students and former students, we all know how expensive buying firsthand books can be. In this day and age, however, finding pre-loved books is quite popular. Often, most of your sources can be accessed online, so you never have to worry about buying new books for each semester.

4. Get to know the city

Knowing and exploring Leicester will open up many undiscovered gems that you may not find listed on Google. Talk to the locals and ask them for the cheapest restaurants, libraries and places around. They are often the best people to go to for help such as this. This is why student housing in Leicester is beneficial.

5. Bank and money-related concerns

It is not always the best idea to get a credit card as a student, as you may often fall behind on payments. Since credit card companies often charge higher rates of interest, your credit history may take a hit. While you are at it, making separate accounts for direct payments such as rent and utilities and another for your daily expenses can be of great help in tracking your spending.

Therefore it is clear that managing your costs of living in Leicester is evidently manageable. Student housing in Leicester can be attained at affordable rates when you book them through amber and choose your perfect home away from home.