Cost of living in Oxford: Your Ultimate Guide

Is Oxford your dream educational destination? But moving there might sound a bit expensive. 

We get it! Before you read further, let’s do a mini activity, keep £1,290 and £1,840 aside as a cost of living in Oxford fund. Are you done with that? Now let’s learn how much it will cost you as a student as the cost of living in Oxford!

About Oxford

One of the most beautiful destinations you can visit in Oxford, England! It is primarily recognised as the location of the second-oldest university in the world, which is renowned for being the hardest university to enter. 

Oxford, also known as the city of "City of Dreaming Spires." is famed for its famous university, founded in the 12th century. Whilst being home to a prestigious university, the city is loved by residents and students worldwide. 

If you are a student looking to move to Oxford for the city's quality of life and education, we have a few pointers to brief you on the cost of living in Oxford. Want to be part of Oxford but don't know how?? Read our blog guide to get into Oxford and take action now.

What is the average cost of living in Oxford?

Being one of the major cities in Ireland, the cost of living in Oxford is surely higher than in other cities but is not as high as compared to London and Manchester. When calculating the average cost of living in Oxford, 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 Oxford. You can consider the average cost of living in Oxford as a student to be approximately £1,290 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 Oxford 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!

Food And Groceries 

When talking about the cost of living in Oxford, we cannot forget food and grocery. These expenses are more difficult to estimate because they undoubtedly differ from individual to person. However, a student will probably spend £50-200 monthly on food. The costs of some of the most typical food and shopping bills for students are listed below:

How can you save on food expenses from your cost of living in Oxford?

You should make as many meals at home as possible to lower the cost of living in Oxford. You'll find that eating out will quickly drain your bank account. At first, it could be difficult to fit cooking into your daily schedule, but after some time, it'll be much simpler, and you might even come to enjoy it!

Travel Costs

If you're travelling in Oxford, you don't need to worry because most of our student housing is accessible to several transportation links that will make your journey quick. Every day, there are buses, vehicles, taxis, and coaches available so that you can travel as needed throughout the day. A freeway link that connects the city to adjacent towns is also available. The prices are minimal compared to other cities in terms of transportation costs. You can create your own rail card, and travel pass to obtain discounted travel rates.

1. Bus - Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach are the bus companies that provide service close to the university. A cash, contactless, or card payment can be used to purchase a ticket. Visit this page for further details on the discounts and routes available to university personnel and students.

2. Train - You may easily obtain a Young Persons Railcard made as a student and save a third on most rail fares throughout Britain. Utilise Oxford Parkway Station and the city's main Oxford Station.

How can you save on travel costs living in Oxford?

Set up a walking routine to get where you need to go to get fit and save money! You might also consider purchasing combination passes or particular term passes if you plan to travel somewhat frequently. University students can receive substantial travel discounts from several public transportation providers. To lower the cost of living in Oxford, check with your university to see if there are any discounts you can take advantage of.

Student Accommodation Costs

Your choice of student accommodation will also significantly impact your overall cost of living in Oxford. There are numerous possibilities for student accommodation from which you can select. You have the option of living either on-campus or off-campus.

Private rentals and purpose-built student accommodations are also options (PBSA). PBSAs are residential complexes designed with the requirements of students in mind. PBSAs include all utilities and are completely furnished. PBSAs are your best choice if you seek practical and comfortable student accommodation in Oxford. Check out a variety of PBSAs right here.

The cost of your accommodation will also vary based on where you live and the kind of space you have. However, the following ranges roughly reflect your cost of living in Oxford.

Utilities

When estimating the cost of living in Oxford, you must account for the cost of basic utilities. Utilities are needed to keep your home running smoothly on a basic level. Depending on where you live and how much you use these commodities. However, by seeking inexpensive solutions, you can reduce these costs. For instance, eSIM UK provides some of the most affordable student eSIM plans.Here are some costs you should consider:-

1. Heating and Cooling -  £120 to £200

2. Wi-Fi- £25 to £40

How can you save on utilities as a student living in Oxford?

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 your cost of living in Oxford, you can choose student accommodation that includes all your utilities in the rent. All utilities are included in the rent at West Way Square, with a starting rate of £152 per week.

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 Oxford. You will also spend some money on your personal care, like going to the gym and even buying new clothes during your stay in Oxford, which would again increase your cost of living in Oxford!

1. Books - £100-£150 per semester

2. Gym membership - £100-£150 per year

How to save money on personal care/clothing?

If you’re looking to cut down on your cost of living in Oxford, 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 Oxford.

Tuition Fees 

More than 20,000 international students live in the city. Since your cost of living in Oxford 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 Oxford, you can consider pursuing a part-time or online course to cut down on tuition. 

1. Oxford University- The city is home to Oxford University, so we can give a brief rundown as to what amount you might have to spend on tuition fees. A UK student's annual course fees are £9,250 while an international student spends around £28,950 and £44,240.

2. Oxford Brookes University - This is a public university in Oxford, which received university status in 1993. International students may have to pay an average of £14,600-£16,500 as fees at Oxford Brookes University, while citizen students can expect a tuition of around £9,250 per year.

How can you save on tuition fees?

The institutions set the tuition rates in advance, but if you want to attend one of these universities, you can apply for various scholarships. Applying for scholarships is a fantastic strategy to lower your overall cost of living in Oxford. If your university offers students any scholarship possibilities, inquire about them. You can also apply for a few scholarships that the government supports. The Chevening Scholarship, which you can read about here, is among the most well-known in the UK.

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 Oxford 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! 

1. Clubbing - £150-200 per month

2. Concerts and events - £50-£150 per event

3. Movie Ticket - £9 - £12

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! 

Miscellaneous Expenses

Your leisure costs will significantly impact your cost of living in Oxford while you are a student. Your budget for things like a gym membership, shopping, outings, visiting museums, and sporting events will be included in this. Depending on your preferences, these prices may vary, but saving aside between £100-150 a month should be sufficient to cover them.

How can you cut down on these expenses?

If you feel like you need to lower your cost of living in Oxford, these should be the first expenses to be reduced since most of them are unnecessary. You can also plan to replace some of these costs with less expensive options. For instance, you could wish to cut back on your gym membership, which costs £30 per month. You can research other reasonably priced gyms in the region or even inquire at your university, which is likely to have its own open exercise centre that you can utilise at a much lesser cost.

It might be difficult to manage your finances, so we've made an effort to break down the cost of living in Oxford to make it simpler for you to plan your visit. We sincerely hope that you may use this information as a guide while creating your budget.

Any student who has the opportunity to study at Oxford would be fortunate.