Every year a large number of Chinese students go toStudy in the UKIn addition to tuition fees, the cost of living is a major concern for parents and students. Is the UK expensive or not? What is the difference between London and non-London living? Are there any tips to save money? Today's "dry bill" takes you through the three core expenditures of accommodation, food and transportation, so that you can live a decent life in the UK and save real money at the same time.
I. Accommodation: how to live the most cost-effective?
1. Student Accommodation
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prices: £150-£350/week (most expensive in London)
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vantage: Package Water Grid + Safety + Easy Dating
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suitability: Freshman, Save the Date Party
2. Shared House / Flat
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London average: £700-£1,000/month
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Other cities: £350-£600/month
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vantage: Cost-effective and free
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Money Saving Tips: Housing sites Zoopla, Rightmove, SpareRoom look ahead, the closer you get to the city center the more expensive it gets!
3. Host family (Homestay)
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cost: £120-£180/week meal package
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dominance: for language students to practice speaking quickly
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take note of: Habits need to be communicated in advance
Eat and Drink: How to eat without going bankrupt for international students in the UK?
DIY cooking on weekdays saves the most
| Ingredients/supplies | Average unit price | Recommended place of purchase |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken breast 1kg | £6-7 | Tesco, ASDA |
| Vegetables/fruits | £1-3 | Lidl, Aldi |
| dried food and seasonings | £3-6 | Chinese supermarket |
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Cook your own food for £30-£40 a week for three healthy and cheap meals!
Dining out reference price
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School canteen: £5-£8/meal
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Fast food KFC, McDonald's: £6-£10
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Chinese restaurant meals: £15-£25
Money Saving Advice: Download the TooGoodToGo App and pick up bread/sushi for as low as £3 a day!
Third, the transportation chapter: subway train really expensive?
Intra-city travel
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London, capital of United KingdomRecommended to buy Oyster card + student monthly pass (Zones 1-2 about £140/month)
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Other cities: Monthly bus passes £45-£65
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Money Saving Tips: Avoid rush hour Swipe Pay-as-you-go for less!
intercity travel
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Train booking in advance to save 50% or more: use Trainline, National Rail to check
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Buses Megabus, National Express often £5-£15/trip
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99p god ticket not a dream with Ryanair, EasyJet for short trips to Europe
IV. Real monthly living budget reference (non-London vs. London)
| sports event | Non-London/North of England | London/South of England |
|---|---|---|
| accommodation costs | £400-£600 | £800-£1,200 |
| gastronomy | £120-£200 | £200-£300 |
| transportation | £40-£60 | £140-£200 |
| Entertainment & Shopping | £100 | £150-£200 |
| monthly total | £700-£950 | £1,200-£1,800 |
V. Money-saving tips
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Open a student bank account and use a supermarket loyalty card (Nectar/Tesco Clubcard)
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Multi-use student discounts: UNiDAYS, Student Beans
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Buy air and train tickets 3-6 weeks in advance
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Concentrate on clothing and appliance purchases during the discount season (Black Friday, Boxing Day)
VI. Conclusion
Although the cost of living in the UK is higher than at home, it is possible to choose accommodation wisely, learn to cook, and make use of student discounts to make life "high-quality and inexpensive". Master the right way to spend money, London can also spend thousands of pounds a month, the northern city is more cost-effective full. Advance planning, reasonable spending, you can make your trip to study in the United Kingdom without anxiety, not overspending, have the courage to study, have the spare capacity to enjoy life!
