Living costs
Cardiff has been named the most affordable of all the UK's university cities.
Cardiff came first in the 2022 NatWest Student Living Index which accounts for factors such as how much students spend on going out to income through part-time work.
See how far your money goes by using our simple living costs calculator. The living costs shown are estimates for 2022/23.
| Item | Per month (calculated over 9 months) | Per year (39 weeks) |
|---|---|---|
| Halls of residence fees, including bills | 584.46 | 5,260.11 |
| Food, toiletries and laundry | 216.67 | 1,950 |
| Study costs (books and copying) | 43.33 | 390 |
| Socialising and leisure | 216.67 | 1,950 |
| Clothes | 25 | 225 |
| Travel | 33.67 | 303 |
| Mobile phone and TV licence (assuming a TV license is bought for each bedroom) | 38.25 | 344.25 |
| Total | 1,158.04 | 10,442.36 |
| Item | Per month | Per year (52 weeks) |
|---|---|---|
| Rent in private sector (assuming room in 4 bed house) See below footnote | 375 | 4,500 |
| Utility bills (gas, electricity, water and broadband) (based on 4 people sharing a house) | 67.09 | 805.26 |
| Food, toiletries and laundry | 216.67 | 2,600 |
| Study costs (books and copying) | 32.50 | 390 |
| Socialising and leisure | 216.67 | 2,600 |
| Clothes | 25 | 300 |
| Travel | 25.25 | 303 |
| Telephone/mobile and TV licence (assuming one TV licence for the house) | 28.31 | 339.75 |
| Total | 986.49 | 11,838.01 |
| Item | Per month (calculated over 9 months) | Per year (39 weeks) |
|---|---|---|
| Halls of residence fees, including bills | 584.46 | 5,260.11 |
| Food, toiletries and laundry | 216.67 | 1,950 |
| Study costs (books and copying) | 43.33 | 390 |
| Socialising and leisure | 216.67 | 1,950 |
| Clothes | 25 | 225 |
| Travel | 200.33 | 1,803 |
| Mobile phone and TV licence (assuming a TV license is bought for each bedroom) | 38.25 | 344.25 |
| Total | 1,324.71 | 11,922.36 |
| Item | Per month | Per year (52 weeks) |
|---|---|---|
| Rent in private sector (assuming room in 4 bed house) See below footnote | 375 | 4,500 |
| Utility bills (gas, electricity, water and broadband) (based on 4 people sharing a house) | 67.09 | 805.26 |
| Food, toiletries and laundry | 216.67 | 2,600 |
| Study costs (books and copying) | 32.50 | 390 |
| Socialising and leisure | 216.67 | 2,600 |
| Clothes | 25 | 300 |
| Travel | 150.25 | 1,803 |
| Telephone/mobile and TV licence (assuming one TV licence for the house) | 28.3 | 339.75 |
| Total | 1,111.49 | 13,338.01 |
| Item | Per month | Per year (52 weeks) |
|---|---|---|
| Halls of residence fees, including bills (calculated over 51 weeks) | 589.36 | 7,072.30 |
| Food, toiletries and laundry | 216.67 | 2,600 |
| Study costs (books and copying) | 32.50 | 390 |
| Socialising and leisure | 216.67 | 2,600 |
| Clothes | 25 | 300 |
| Travel | 25.25 | 303 |
| Mobile phone and TV licence (assuming a TV license is bought for each bedroom) | 38.25 | 459 |
| Total | 1,143.69 | 13,724.30 |
| Item | Per month | Per year (52 weeks) |
|---|---|---|
| Rent in private sector (assuming room in 4 bed house) See below footnote | 375 | 4,500 |
| Utility bills (gas, electricity, water and broadband) (based on 4 people sharing a house) | 67.09 | 805.26 |
| Food, toiletries and laundry | 216.67 | 2,600 |
| Study costs (books and copying) | 32.50 | 390 |
| Socialising and leisure | 216.67 | 2,600 |
| Clothes | 25 | 300 |
| Travel | 25.25 | 303 |
| Telephone/mobile and TV license (assuming one TV license for the house) | 28.31 | 339.75 |
| Total | 986.49 | 11,838.01 |
| Item | Per month | Per year (52 weeks) |
|---|---|---|
| Halls of residence fees, including bills (calculated over 51 weeks) | 589.36 | 7,072.30 |
| Food, toiletries and laundry | 216.67 | 2,600 |
| Study costs (books and copying) | 32.50 | 390 |
| Socialising and leisure | 216.67 | 2,600 |
| Clothes | 25 | 300 |
| Travel | 150.25 | 1,803 |
| Mobile phone and TV licence (assuming a TV license is bought for each bedroom) | 38.25 | 459 |
| Total | 1,268.69 | 15,224.30 |
| Item | Per month | Per year (52 weeks) |
|---|---|---|
| Rent in private sector (assuming room in 4 bed house) See below footnote | 375 | 4,500 |
| Utility bills (gas, electricity, water and broadband) (based on 4 people sharing a house) | 67.09 | 805.26 |
| Food, toiletries and laundry | 216.67 | 2,600 |
| Study costs (books and copying) | 32.50 | 390 |
| Socialising and leisure | 216.67 | 2,600 |
| Clothes | 25 | 300 |
| Travel | 150.27 | 1,803 |
| Telephone/mobile and TV license (assuming one TV license for the house) | 28.31 | 339.75 |
| Total | 1,111.49 | 13,338.01 |
Important legal information
This tool is intended to give you an example of living costs for a student at university. Actual living costs will vary from student to student.
Please note: all living costs quoted are reasonable estimates but should not be relied upon. It is your responsibility to ensure you have sufficient funds to meet living costs while studying at the university.
Please note that these figures represent the average cost of living in Cardiff. Students who are on a budget can live on less if they wish to do so.
International students
The minimum cost of living as recommended by UKVI for studying outside London is £1,023 per month. To pass the maintenance test for your student visa, you will have to show you have money for the cost of your first year tuition fees and living costs of £9,207.
