The Cost of Living in London as a Student
London is a culturally diverse, lively, and exciting place to live as a student, but the cost of living in London for students is on the higher side, though.
If you're wondering what steps you can take in order to make it affordable for you to stay in the financial capital of the world, this article by https://essaykitchen.net/ is perfect for you.
The Cost of Food in London
The cost of food in London can be expensive if you don't smartly spend your money. All you need to do is sort out ways how you can reduce the costs by making some smart decisions in this regard.
One course of action that you can take is to prepare your food. Yes, it can seem like a tedious task, but it will save you a lot of money, although the alternate choices available in London are quite tempting, not to mention the quality services provided by the restaurants and cafes as well as takeaways.
But if you want to save yourself from ending up in a situation where you are short of money you need to cook more at home and keep the option of eating out at a restaurant as a monthly treat.
Planning your meal and budgeting for the weekly shopping is the way to go, it is by far the easiest method to save money and yet still afford a decent meal.
A well-prepared shopping list with an estimated budget will keep you from spending on things that you might not need but are tempted to buy when you are shopping at the supermarket. You can always pick up some great bargains, but for that, you will need to be familiar with the local supermarkets as this will surely have an impact on reducing your cost of living in London as a student.
The Cost of Accommodation in London
Your living expenses in London can become a headache for you if you don't spend wisely on accommodation. There are a few options for students from which they can choose when it comes to affordable accommodation.
How expensive it is to live in London depends very much on which area you choose to live in, as the cost of living varies in different parts of London. In Central London, the cost of living for students is much higher but living further away from the city centre will save you a fair amount of money.
One of the affordable options available for students is the facility of university halls. If you happen to be a first-year student, you will be provided with the facility of staying in a university hall by most of the universities in London. These halls are normally conveniently located near the university campuses, and on top of that, all the utility bills are included in the affordable rent, providing you with good value for your money.
If you are not a first-year student living in London, you do have the option of benefiting from a similar kind of facility called private halls. Private halls are mostly owned by third parties that may have a partnership with the university to facilitate students. These halls, like studio apartments, ensuite rooms, and cluster flats, are available with shared facilities and offer you an affordable and convenient style of living.
Another cheaper option is renting a room in a shared house owned by a private landlord. Considering one of these options can surely lower your living cost in London as a student.
The Cost of Transportation in London
London is one of the world's most developed cities and it has ample transport facilities available for everyone. From pleasant walking routes to Uber rides, it has every kind of transportation available. Thus, the cost of living in London for students varies tremendously.
Walking is the most economical, healthy, and environment-friendly mode of getting around the city, provided your accommodation is not too far from your university. However, while you walk, you must be vigilantly aware of your surroundings and avoid dark alleys and quiet shortcuts at any cost.
Cycling is yet another cost-effective mode of transportation that curtails the London living cost immensely. To cycle in London, you must be an expert cyclist, knowing all the cycling routes around town. You will be independent as a traveller if you own a bicycle. However, if you don't have one, London's public bicycle scheme is a great option for you. You can rent a bike for about £2 for 24 hours, of which the first 30-minute ride will be free.
You can also get a bus ride for as low as £1.50, and if you are travelling around London by bus, the maximum amount you will spend in a day is capped at around £4.50, which is pretty cheap. The London bus service runs for 24 hours, and the only way you can pay for the fare is through a contactless payment method, either with a debit card or an Oyster card.
The Tube is considered the most efficient mode of transport to travel around London. The other more luxurious and expensive modes of transportation for students include Uber and Minicabs.
The Cost of Household Bills in London
Household bills have a great impact on London's cost of living for students. If you are lucky or live in halls of residence and private halls, some of your utility bills will already be a part of your rent. However, if you live in private lodgings, you will have to pay separately for the utilities and facilities you use.
- A TV license costs around £150.50 per year, however, in this day and age, this can be easily avoided by watching whatever you want on different apps and devices and avoiding apps such as BBC iPlayer or anything else that has anything to do with the BBC.
- Student contents insurance costs start from £15 per month, again if you are travelling light you can weigh up whether this is actually needed.
- Deposits and administrative fees are sure to put the deepest dent in your pocket.
- If your accommodation doesn't offer laundry facilities, add another £2-£3 per wash at a laundrette and £1.50 per tumble dryer facility to your expenses. By hand-washing whatever you can and leaving your clothes out to dry, you can save some money however this isn't always easy with certain living arrangements and weather conditions.
The Cost of Entertainment in London
All work and no play can make one dull. As a student, you must strive to find the right balance between entertainment and studies. You must find some time to spend with your friends. However, nothing comes without cost.
So, if you are wondering how much it costs to live in London, including the cost of entertainment as well as your total expenses...
- A night out in a restaurant can be quite expensive, with the average cost of a drink ranging from anything over £5.
- If you are health conscious, you will find ample gym facilities in London with memberships costing about £15 - £20 per month.
- Dance classes may cost around £6 per student.
- Craft courses such as weaving will cost about £45 for 2 hours, while a trapeze school will charge about £30 for 2 hours just for a beginner's session.
The cost of living in London for students varies according to the nature of utilities and facilities you wish to enjoy in this metropolitan city. In London, you can enjoy either an economic lifestyle or a lavish one, depending upon what you wish for yourself.
0.0527