Insider’s Guide to Living in cardiff as a Student: Tips and Tricks

It is a well-established fact that the UK is one of the leading higher education destinations for international students. While a major chunk of these students is smitten by high octane metropolitan cities like London, Birmingham and Edinburgh, lesser-known cities are often left out of the fray, for no fault of their own. One such city that doesn’t get its full share of attention is Cardiff. The Welsh capital is one of the most cheerful places you’ll ever visit. This city has garnered a reputation for being friendly, open and inclusive. Cardiff has over 330 parks and gardens, which means they have more green space per person than any other major core UK city. If you’re an international student, who wishes to study in a place that is brimming with history, culture, adventure and of course, a sterling reputation for academia, then we implore you to give Cardiff a chance. Here’s everything you need to know about living in Cardiff as a student and the best places to live in Cardiff. 

Cost Of Living in Cardiff For Students

The cost of living in any student city is carefully studied by students who wish to study abroad. If you’re a student who wishes to study in Cardiff, then your research must have told you that Cardiff has the second-lowest monthly rent of all the cities in the UK. Natwest Student Living Index of 2020 stated that Cardiff had the second-lowest rent rates in the UK, and twelfth in terms of overall living costs. So, be assured that your Cardiff living costs for students will go a long way.

Here is a rough estimate of the expenses associated with the cost of living in Cardiff for students – 

You are now already aware of the Cardiff living costs for students. We’ve gathered that for living in Cardiff as a student comfortably, you should have a budget of around £875 per month. 

Best Universities in Cardiff

Cardiff is home to three institutions of higher education namely, Cardiff University, Cardiff Metropolitan University and the University of South Wales. Cardiff University is the leading university in Cardiff. Meeting the Cardiff university living costs is worth it because the university offers highly regarded courses and is a member of the prestigious Russell Group of leading research-led universities. The other two universities,  Cardiff Metropolitan University and the University of South Wales, also make a strong case for themselves as they are renowned for their research abilities, variety of courses and diverse student population. 

Cardiff University

Founded in 1883, Cardiff University holds the distinction of being the third oldest university in Wales. This university has an enrollment of over 33,190 students, thus making it one of the ten largest universities in the UK. Cardiff University is divided into three faculties namely Physical Sciences and Engineering, Biomedical and Life Sciences & Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. Cardiff Business School and Cardiff School of Engineering are some of the most well-ranked branches of Cardiff University. Many distinguished world-personalities like Barham Salih (former Prime Minister of Iraqi Kurdistan Region) and Richard Tait (BBC Governor) have walked the corridors of this great university. A lot of students may find it difficult to meet the entire Cardiff university living costs, but scholarships are one way of woing through your finances.

Cardiff Metropolitan University

Cardiff Metropolitan University was founded in 1865 as a public university in Cardiff. It offers globally-recognised degrees in the fields of business, economics, arts, fashion, communications, and law. Students from over 100 countries can be found across the university’s three campuses – the Cyncoed Campus, the Llandaff Campus, and the Plas Gwyn Residential Campus. Out of these three campuses, the Cyncoed Campus offers students excellent sporting facilities. One of the hallmark features of Cardiff Metropolitan University is its scholarships and bursaries programs. This university is renowned for its vast financial aid to students who can’t typically afford the tuition fees of the university. Some of the main scholarships at Cardiff Metropolitan University are the Elite Sport Scholar Award and the Carers Bursary.

University of Wales

The University of Wales is the oldest university in Wales. Apart from being an accredited institution in Wales, the University of Wales offers study schemes at over 130 centres in the UK and across the world. The University of Wales also runs a highly successful research centre called the Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies. 

Best Places To Live In Cardiff

Student life in Cardiff is not limited only to education. Cardiff offers students a number of options when it comes to the best places to live in Cardiff. There are university halls, dormitories, private Cardiff accommodation and our favourite, Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA). All the student accommodations in Cardiff listed on our website are classified as PBSAs. These student houses Cardiff options are superior to other options as they are more affordable, located near top universities, easy to book. Here are some of our favourite student accommodations for living in Cardiff –   

1. Bridge Street Exchange

Bridge Street Exchange is one of the best places in Cardiff to live as a student. Why, you ask? Well, Bridge Street Exchange has around 25 different room configurations that range from Standard En-Suite to Platinum Plus Studio. You can use UniAcco’s Compare feature to compare all the different rooms Bridge Street Exchange has to offer. Don’t worry about making the right decision, as every room comes fully furnished with a WiFi connection, a bed, a wardrobe, storage space and a study desk & chair. Your student life in Cardiff is going to be a joyride if you choose Bridge Street Exchange because it offers the ultimate living in Cardiff experience.

Address –

Bridge St Cardiff CF10 2TJ

Room types – 

• En-suite rooms
  • Standard, Standard Plus, Classic, Deluxe, Deluxe Plus, Superior, Superior Plus, Platinum, Platinum Plus, Platinum Cosy, Sky View, Sky View Plus.
• Studio rooms
  • Standard, Standard Plus, Superior, Superior Plus, Classic, Classic Plus, Deluxe, Deluxe City Plus, Platinum, Platinum Plus, Terrace Studio.

Cardiff accommodation amenities – 

A garden, a karaoke room, parcel receipt service, contents insurance, 24/7 dedicated service, all-inclusive utility bills, an on-site gym, vending machines, bike storage, CCTV security, electronic key fob entry system, specially-abled access, a communal area, a study area, ANUK accreditation, social events, a games room, WiFi, a laundry room and cleaning equipment.

Nearest universities –

• Cardiff University
• Cardiff Metropolitan University
• Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama

Price range –

Cardiff living costs student £132 – £222/week

2. The Neighbourhood

The Neighbourhood is located in one of the best areas to live in Cardiff. This student accommodation in Cardiff is located just 6 minutes away from Cardiff University and 8-minutes away from the University of Wales. Students can conveniently get around the city thanks to nearby public transport stations – Cardiff Queen Street train station and National Museum bus stop. Make your dream of living in Cardiff a reality by booking your student accommodation in Cardiff today.

Address –

35 The Parade, Cardiff CF24 3AD, United Kingdo

Room types – 

• En-suite rooms
  • 4 Bed Classic, 4 Bed Classic Plus, Twin Bed, Twin Bed Plus. 
• Studio rooms
  • Compact Bronze, Bronze, Lower Silver, Silver, Lower Silver Deluxe, Lower Silver Premier, Silver Deluxe, Silver Premium and Gold.
• Penthouse

Cardiff uni accommodation amenities – 

Weekly room cleans, an onsite cinema, a karaoke room, free to use bikes, a laundry room, a gym, study rooms, a private dining room, a terrace, games room, contents insurance, a smoking room, an electronic key fob entry system, a garden, vending machines, CCTV security, all-inclusive utility bills, wooden flooring and a laundry room.

Nearest universities – 

• Cardiff University
• University of Wales
• Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
• Cardiff Business School

Price range –

Cardiff living costs student £114 – £199/week

3. Eclipse

Ever wondered, “where to live in Cardiff?” Our answer – Eclipse. This contemporary student accommodation in Cardiff offers students fully furnished studio rooms, en-suite rooms and even apartments. Apart from having all the latest amenities and facilities, there is a 24/7 on-site staff available at the beck and call of residents. Live your best life as a student in Cardiff by booking your Cardiff accommodation at Eclipse today. 

Address – 

Newport Rd Ln, Cardiff CF24 0SP, United Kingdom

Room types – 

• En-suite rooms
  • Ground Floor 6 Bed, 6 Bed, 3 Bed, Compact 2 Bed and 2 Bed.
• Studio rooms
  • Compact, Linked, Square, Penthouse, Premier, Premier Plus, Ultra and Ultra Plus.
• Apartments
  • Premier Two Bedroom and 1 Bed.

Cardiff accommodation amenities – 

Keep in mind that the Cardiff living cost is inclusive of several other bills and expenses, a few of which are elaborated below. Contents insurance, a theatre, bike storage, a garden, a communal area, a study area, parcel receipt service, an on-site gym, CCTV security, a lounge, an electronic key fob entry system, 24/7 dedicated support, specially-abled access, all-inclusive utility bills, laminated flooring, televisions and cleaning equipment.

Nearest universities – 

• Cardiff University
• University of Wales
• Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
• Kings Monkton School

Price range –

Cardiff living costs for student £142 – £255/week

Transport in Cardiff

Transport constitutes a major part of the Cardiff living cost. Located on the coast of South Wales, Cardiff is easy to reach from many places in the UK and overseas. This city has an excellent network of road, rail and air transport. 

• Train – If you are living in Cardiff, you will definitely take the train to travel. Trains are the most popular mode of transport in Cardiff with over 10 million people using them each year. The largest train stations in Cardiff are Cardiff Central and Cardiff Queen Street. Students can reach London in just under two hours by using Cardiff’s high-speed train service. 

• Bus – Buses are also very popular in Cardiff. Thanks to Cardiff’s comprehensive bus network, a vast majority of places in the city can be serviced by bus. Students between the ages of 16 – 21 can avail a 30% discount on their tickets. 

• Cycle – Students can also rely on their trust bicycles to travel around Cardiff. Around 4.3% of people in Cardiff commute to their university or workplace by bike. There are 3 major off-road cycle routes in Cardiff –

• The Taff Trail
• The Ely Trail
• The Rhymney Trail

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