Cost of Living In Southampton for Students [Updated Prices 2025]

Southampton is a coastal town on England’s south coast. Despite the fact that there doesn’t appear to be much of a coastal waterfront, there’s still enough to do along the shore, not to mention all the massive boats! Living in student accommodation in Southampton city is one of those cities that has something for everyone. Beautiful city centre parks, an energised nightlife economy, and a bustling arts and music scene all combine to provide residents with an experience that is really one-of-a-kind. Even if you’re not into art or museums, Southampton’s art scene has a lot to offer that you should absolutely check out over your three years there. There are also a variety of living expenses in Southampton that you might have to incur as a student. Below you will get an idea of the cost of living in Southampton.

Southampton is a beautiful city with a lot to offer. The city has an impressive student population, thanks to its reputed universities & colleges. The overall living expenditures in Southampton can vary depending on what kind of lifestyle you want to adopt. On average, the cost of living in Southampton for students ranges between £1,087 to £1,1191 per month. Southampton student life costs around £900/month, excluding tuition. This includes accommodation (avg. £400-700), food (£100-150), transportation (£50-80), utilities (£50-60), and other expenses (£180-270). Individual costs may vary depending on lifestyle and spending habits.

Cost Of Living In Southampton For Students: A Breakdown

If you’ve been accepted to a university in Southampton, and you’re eager to learn, meet new people, and take advantage of everything on campus, the student experience has to offer. Here’s a rough list of monthly expenses to assist you to know exactly what to expect while planning for your time as a student. 

Below is a breakdown of the cost of living in the Southampton for Indian Students

Southampton Rent And Universities 

Student residents take home the 5th highest term-time income, at about £1262.50 per month. They pay about £473.90 per month in rent, which leaves plenty of money for the essentials, and even enough to enjoy a healthy social life.

Southampton is home to the University of Southampton as well as the Southampton Solent. The University of Southampton is ranked in the top 1% of institutions in the world, with an 88% student satisfaction rate. It is also one of the top 10 Russell Group universities. Solent University is also a well-regarded institution that ranks among the top 200 best universities in the United Kingdom and excels in creative industries, sports, and maritime courses. 

Transport

Students in Southampton have several affordable transport options. Unilink and Bluestar buses offer student passes for unlimited travel, starting at £99 per semester. The 16-25 Railcard provides discounts on train travel, while cycling and walking are free options. Consider student passes, cycling, planning journeys, and walking are all effective ways for students to save money on transportation costs in Southampton.

Average Time Spent By Students In Southampton 

They study for roughly 85.6 hours per month and work for about 10.8 hours each month. They also set aside approximately 28 hours per month to socialise. How much would all of this set you back?  Local students, on the other hand, invest roughly £16.5 in their studies. The cost of living in Southampton while going out appears to be reasonably priced as well! Local students spend roughly £20.10 per month on entertainment (excluding alcohol), the fifth-lowest amount in the poll.

Southampton Students Love The Gym

Local students appreciate healthy living, spending an average of £11.90 per month. Keeping with the pattern, they spend £24.00 per month on beverages, which is about average but less than half of what their Aberystwyth peers spend. 

Food

In Southampton, students can expect to spend around £30-£40 per month on food. Cooking at home and utilizing student discounts are great ways to save money. Consider planning meals, shopping in bulk, or utilizing food banks for further financial assistance. This detailed information addresses the cost of food for students in Southampton while offering budget-friendly tips.

Southampton offers among the lowest estimated prices for both a meal out and a night out, which will appeal to prospective students. The city boasts the 4th cheapest meal out, with an average projected price of £12.80. The cost of living in Southampton for a night out has the 7th cheapest night out in the poll, with local students expecting to pay £14.80.

Southampton Is A Fairly Stress-Free Place To Study

According to the survey, 18% of Southampton students are concerned about money management, which is nearly half of the percentage reported by Poole locals and much lower than the national average (23%). Students rated their degree as stressful 38% of the time, which is lower than the national average of 45% and nearly half of what Cambridge and Durham’s students reported. 

Along with the cost of living in Southampton, students also have some of the highest levels of satisfaction with their degrees. Southampton students are the third most pleased in the poll, with 47% of respondents putting their degree of happiness on the high end of the scale. Local universities are also helping to look after their students, with 64% of students reporting that local universities provide cheap health and wellness initiatives.

Student Life In Southampton

According to the NatWest Student Living Index, student life and the cost of living in Southampton is quite good. It is inexpensive to live, study, and socialise, and local students have a relatively stress-free lifestyle. Furthermore, the local institutions look after their students, as seen by the fact that 58% of Southampton students chose their university solely based on topic preference, demonstrating that this city is a good place to study.

FAQs

1. Is Southampton, UK, expensive to live in?

Living in Southampton, UK, can be reasonably priced, with typical living expenses and house prices. Housing prices, transportation costs, and daily expenses like food and entertainment are often lower in smaller towns than in major cities of UK. However, that living expenditures might still vary depending on individual circumstances and spending patterns. 

2. Is Southampton, UK, a good place to live?

Southampton is often regarded as a desirable area to live in because of its great quality of life, diversified cultural scene, and closeness to the seaside.

3. Is Southampton expensive for students?

While Southampton may have some increased costs for students, it is generally less expensive than larger locations like London or Oxford.

4. What is a good salary in Southampton?

A respectable income in Southampton is determined by a number of circumstances, however, as per the analysis of salary expert, he average pay for employment in Southampton, is £37,837 (GBP) per year, or £18 (GBP) per hour. 

5. How much are the monthly expenses for students in Southampton?

Monthly expenses in Southampton for students can range from £700 to £1,200, depending on lifestyle and housing preferences.

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