The cost of living in Leeds will vary depending on your lifestyle, the type of accommodation you chose and its location. Prices in the UK can also vary due to exchange rates with your home country and this may lead to an increase in your cost of living.
The minimum you can expect to pay for accommodation, per week is about £60 (not include bills and catering). When applying for a student visa, you need to show that you have at least £5,400 to cover your accommodation and all personal expenses for the first year of your course (9 months). If you decide to stay in Leeds during the summer, you should expect to have additional living costs of approximately £2,000.
Typical costs in Leeds
- Large loaf of bread: from 70p
- Pint of Milk: from 56p
- 2.5kg rice: £1.50
- 2.5kg of potatoes: £1.50
- Shirts, tops and lightweight sweaters: £15, upward
- Jeans, trousers, skirts and jumpers: £20, upward
- Shoes and trainers: around £20, upward
- Hairdryer: around £15
- 15 minute bus journey: £1.90
- Weekly bus pass: £12-£18.50
- Taxi journeys (10 miles): from £15
- A meal at college: around £3
- Doctors prescription: £7.40
- Trip to the cinema: from £4.50
- An evening meal: from £15
- A night out with friends: from £20
Average weekly living costs for a single student
- Accommodation (shared house): £60-£75 per week (excluding bills)
- Accommodation (home stay): £80-£115 per week depending on catering
- Halls of Residence (self catering): £70-£170 per week (including bills)
- Gas and Electricity: from £15
- Telephone costs: from £10
- Food: from £30
- Toiletries: £5-£10
- Entertainment: from £15
- Clothes: from £10
Please note that these figures are minimum estimates and all prices can fluctuate throughout your stay. If you bring family members with you to the UK, you will need to be able to support them financially too.
The British Council website has a lot of useful information about the cost of living in the UK.
Please note that Leeds City College does not have a hardship fund for international students. We advise you to have some money available to you for emergencies. If an emergency does arise, you can get help from the International Student Adviser, Lesley Powell.
