Other studying and living costs

Information on other studying and living costs to help you calculate your finances.

We estimate that a single student can potentially spend a maximum of £920 to £2,257 per month on living costs, depending on your accommodation.

This estimate covers the costs of: 

  • accommodation 
  • food 
  • utility bills 
  • travel within Edinburgh
  • health and wellbeing costs which includes:
    • basic personal care costs, including hygiene products, clothing and private counselling
    • health and fitness costs, such as gym or club memberships
    • entertainment costs, such as event tickets and entertainment subscriptions

Financial requirements for international students

If you are applying for a student visa, you will need to provide evidence to show you have enough money to cover your living costs while you are studying in the UK.

Breakdown of costs

The table below provides a breakdown of living costs.

These costs are a guide rather than a complete list of everything you need to consider. For example, if you are moving in to accommodation for university, you may also need to factor in costs for things like kitchen utensils or bedding if these are not included in your accommodation costs.

What to know about this breakdown of living costs:

  • all data included in this table was provided in September 2023
  • cost of living rates may change in response to the Consumer Price Index or the Retail Price Index
  • this guide does not include teaching costs such as books, IT equipment and field trip expenses, which will vary depending on your programme

University accommodation

CostsPer monthPer 39-week academic yearPer 52-week year
University accommodation1£370-1,402£3,272-11,986£4,395-11,808
Food2£260£2,535£3,380
Mobile phone£40£390£520
Health and wellbeing£200£1,950£2,400
Travel3£50-57£490-555£650-742
Total£920-1,959£8,637-17,416£11,345-18,850

Private student accommodation

CostsPer monthPer 39-week academic yearPer 52-week year
Private student accommodation4£500-700£5,000-7,000£6,000-8,400
Food£260£2,535£3,380
Utilities: gas5£80£780£1,040
Utilities: electricity5£80£780£1,040
Utilities: WiFi5£40£390£520
Utilities: mobile phone5£40£390£520
Health and wellbeing£200£1,950£2,400
Travel3£50-57£490-555£650-742
Total£1,250-1,457£12,315-14,380£15,550-18,042

1 This range of costs covers both self-catered and catered University of Edinburgh accommodation options.

Self-catered accommodation costs are in the range of £370-1,064 per month.

Catered accommodation costs are in the range of £800-1,402 per month.

2 This cost will apply only if your accommodation is self-catered.

3 Based on Lothian Bus travel with an advance purchase Student Ridacard.

Free transport by bus is available in Scotland to anyone who is under the age of 22 and has lived in Scotland for at least six months. 

4 These figures are a guide to the cost of student accommodation managed by a private company external to the University. Private rental accommodation can cost up to £1,500 per month.

5 Dependent on your rental agreement. University student accommodation options include utilities, such as gas, electricity and WiFi. If you have a private rental agreement, utilities costs are often separate from your monthly accommodation cost.

Help for managing your living costs

On our Students site, we have provided advice and information about managing your living costs while you study with us, including guidance on creating your student budget.

Our Scholarships and Student Funding site provides information about scholarships, funding opportunities and other sources of financial support for students.

Our Careers Service provides guidance on your options for a part-time job during your studies.

This article was published on