Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
The cost of living in Leeds as an international student
If you’re new to the UK or thinking about coming to study in Leeds, today I’m spilling all the tea on how to survive (and thrive) financially as an international student. I’m Vietnamese, and let me tell you - the currency exchange rate used to make my brain ache every time I went grocery shopping. But after living here for nine months, I’ve picked up some killer tips that could save you £30+ a month for fun stuff instead of bills. Let’s dive in!
Housing in Leeds: From Budget to Bougie
Leeds is incredibly student-friendly, and you’ve got loads of housing options. Here are the main types, listed from cheapest to priciest:
|
Types of housing |
Rent |
Utilities |
Wi-fi |
Notes |
|
Shared house: basically living in a normal house with different rooms of different people, shared bathrooms, kitchens, free laundry. Mostly around LS2, LS7, LS3, and LS6 postcodes |
£300-500 per month per person - depending on the postcode and distance to the city centre and universities, types of room (ensuite or not), number of people sharing the same house, etc. |
Can be either self-registered or fully covered by your landlord in the rent. Self-registered bills can be shared among people living in the same house, and it mostly varies in the range of £50-100 depending on the season (winter would need to use more heater which will rack up the bill) |
Mostly already provided by the landlord, however, there is some case of self-registered Wi-Fi, it costs around £30/month and can be shared among people living in the same house |
In total, the cost of living in a shared house to attend university only ranges from £400 to £600 maximum per month |
|
Studio/Apartment: shared apartment with smaller number of people, more luxurious and modern interior, better security (with access keycard), free laundry, free Wi-Fi Most of the time will be 20-minute walk from the city centre. If registered early, there would be discount for the stay or even three weeks stay for free with some places. |
£900-1400 per month per unit This type is more suitable to couples or friends that want to share an apartment together, a bit more luxurious than the first option with private bathroom, living room, and kitchen only shared between two or three people instead of 5-6 |
Same as the first option, however, there would be more flexibility regarding electricity bills or water bills that is covered by the renter |
Mostly automatically included |
It is indeed more aesthetically pleasing and more comfortable living in a shared apartment with your friends :D but it is a bit more expensive |
|
Student accommodation – Private/ University With university accommodation, you need to register via the university portal and they often fill up very fast, so keep an eye out if you want to stay within the accommodation provided by the university. With private accommodation, there is more flexibility in terms of signing up for a space. Mostly within the city centre and near universities. Very high security level with keycard and reception. |
£165-250 per week (can be paid in full or paid in three instalments) You will need to pay around £100 in deposit. You can choose between different options of flats, how many people you want to share the flat, or even the option to rent a studio of your own. |
Fully covered. Provided with study spaces, quiet rooms, morning breakfast, coffee machines, vending machines, reception package storage, gyms, common green space, etc. |
Provided with high security |
It is the most common option for students in Leeds so most of them sell out pretty quickly. It is very convenient, however you have to spend £6 for laundry every week, which can be annoying at times. But entertainment is provided with pool tables, board games, common spaces and outdoor terraces. If registered early, there would be cashback for each student. |
Where to Shop for Food Without Crying Over the Bill
Leeds has lots of budget-friendly options to buy all the necessary groceries you need:
|
Heron Foods |
Really cheap and has a lot of deals – located in the Merrion Centre in the city |
|
Morrisons |
One of the biggest supermarkets, with halal meat options – download Morrisons More to collect points and get free stuff from Morrisons - £5 meal deal |
|
Sainsbury’s |
Good quality food and vegetables with varieties – download Nectar to save money with Sainsbury's members’ prices – good price meal deal (£3.50 basic and £5 premium) |
|
Tesco |
Convenient, open almost 24/7, contains different varieties of food and snacks – good price meal deal (£3.50 basic and £5 premium) – download Tesco Club card to save money with Tesco products |
|
Co-op |
More on the outside of the city centre, also have a variety of food and vegetables – Co-op Member card costs £1 to subscribe to enjoy better prices |
|
Lidl, Aldi |
Supermarkets on the outside of the city centre, needs bus or car to reach, food and vegetables are often the cheapest here |
|
Hang Sing Hong |
Asian – Chinese market, there are three four stores in Leeds that offers a variety of Asian ingredients, meats, spices, snacks, and even serve boba |
|
Sing Kee |
Asian – Chinese market, famous for their aesthetically pleasing organisation of products, offer 10% off for students |
|
Abu Bakar |
Halal food with different Middle Eastern and Asian goods |
Ideas for days/nights out in Leeds
For students there are millions of options when it comes to socialising.
For those who prefer a chill, quiet day, most museums in Leeds are free for students: Leeds City Museums, Royal Armouries, or a stroll to one of the many green parks in Leeds are incredible options. The Global Village hosts different activities throughout the months, with different trips where students can sign up and explore Leeds and its surrounding areas for cheap!
Other than that, there are different options for nights out. Every Saturday, you can find students on the famous Otley Run, dressing up as characters to go to different pubs to have a great night. It is almost a rite of passage here in Leeds! Remember to bring your ID if you want to enter bars and clubs.
Shop ‘til you drop
Leeds Trinity and Victoria Gate are the two of the best places to spend money, with a mixture of luxury and budget shops. Remember to search for deals at any store on Student Beans and Unidays to see if you can earn any cashback or discounts for students.
Transportation – getting around the city
Transportation in Leeds is quite easy since it’s a small city. Most of the time people walk to different places but if you download the First Bus app you can easily buy bus tickets for cheap, and even get monthly deals and surprise deals if you sign up to their mailing list.
Final money-saving tips
There are a few tips that I must share with you guys to save and enjoy the most out of student life:
- Food and drink on campus is very affordable. The university offers a daily £2 lunch deal with amazing hot food, and sometimes you might strike gold with their sale sandwiches.
- Always ask for student discounts wherever you go, you will never know how much you can get discounted so take advantage of your student status.
- Download the Too Good to Go app for cheap food deals. This is a way for restaurants and cafes save food waste and for you to get a meal for a steal (especially when you travel to different cities, for example, London where they have amazing surprise leftover bags)
- Save on your cups of coffee: Major cafes like Greggs, Costa, Pret A Manger, and Caffe Nero have a loyalty system where you can have a free cup of coffee or hot drink after 10 drinks purchased. Black Sheep Coffee in the city centre has a £2.00 hot drink Monday and always 20% off for students.
- Most boba and bubble tea places always have Buy 1, Get 1 Free deal on the Fantuan app so download them to get those deals
- Be on the watch for your bank's Everyday Deal, where you get cashback from purchasing groceries!
That’s all for today! Happy hunting!
Minh Khue
Hi lovelies! I'm Minh Khue an international student from Vietnam doing my master's in Psychology at LBU. I love travelling, experiencing different cultures and cuisines, sharing new experiences, making new friends, and collecting memoirs. Additionally, I love going to museums, concerts, and exploring book stores and cafes.
