Cost of Living in London for Indian Students in 2026

Study Abroad Content Specialist | Updated On - Mar 25, 2026

Cost of living in London is higher as compared to the other study-abroad countries. As per Globalization and World Cities Research Network (GaWC), London jointly holds the #1 position with New York City as the best world city. Being the capital of the United Kingdom, London is also one of the most sought-after study-abroad destinations. The average living expenses in London for international students range from 850 to 1,350 GBP per month, excluding tuition fees. The tuition fees in London can vary from 10,000 GBP to 24,000 GBP per year as per your academic level. Rent is the most expensive part of the living expenses in London, averaging around 1,600 GBP per month. The average cost of living in London per month is as follows

Rent can range from 1,613 GBP or 176,446 INR to 4,259 GBP or 465,892 INR depending on your chosen location. The rent is the highest in city center and lowest in the outskirts of the city
Rent of a 3-bedroom apartment outside city center is 2,833 GBP or 309,901 INR
Utilities (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage), mobile plan and internet is 336 GBP or 36,755 INR
Traveling costs are 240 GBP or 26,253 INR including regular monthly pass
The cost of living in London for single person for groceries is 80 GBP approximately per month

Also Read: Top Scholarships in UK For Indian Students

Table of Content

Cost of Living in London
Cost of Food in London
Cost of Transportation in London
Living Cost for Utilities
FAQs

Cost of Living in London for Indian Students

In the QS Best Student Cities Ranking 2024, London secured the top position with an overall score of 100. This clearly shows that London is the best city in the world to live in as an international student. The average cost of living in London for Indian students is 1097 GBP per month. However, it can vary depending on the choice of accommodation and location. Refer to the below sections for a more detailed idea.

Cost of Living London Infograph

On Campus Cost of Living in London

On-campus residence is provided in the form of residential buildings or halls to international students. The major three types of on-campus accommodation are

Halls of residence
Private renting
Private halls of residence

Also Check: Student Accommodation in London

The monthly accommodation cost of living in London for international students on various campuses is provided in the table below:

University	On-Campus Accommodation (GBP/month)
Imperial College London	£1,050
University College London (UCL)	£1,133
King's College London	£1,042
The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)	£1,112
City, University of London	£1,185
University of London	£836
Royal Holloway University of London	£795
Brunel University London	£900
SOAS University of London	£795

Note: £1 = ₹108.99 as of October 29, 2024

Off Campus Cost of Living in London UK

Cost of living in London vs Birmingham indicates, you would need around 3,765.4 GBP or 4,11,880 INR in Birmingham to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with 6,200 GBP or 6,78,218 INR in London.

The off campus living expenses in London UK majorly vary on factors like housing chosen and the meal plans. These are privately owned or rented accommodation in the form of guest houses, hostels or apartments. Some of the popular student hostels in London include

Emily Bowes Court: GBP 214.38 per week
Drapery Place: GBP 355 per week
Stratford One: GBP 260 per week
Pacific Court: GBP 270 per week
Walmsley Studios: GBP 7,676 for a fall season
Arbor House: GBP 250 per week

London living cost per month for the rented apartments are given in the table below

Category	Types	Monthly Cost
Rented	Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre	2,198.08 GBP
	Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre	1,612.58 GBP
	Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre	4,259.21 GBP
	Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre	2,832.50 GBP
Owned	Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment in City Centre	14,113.78 GBP
Owned	Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre	7,623.69 GBP

Note: £1 = ₹108.99 as of October 29, 2024

Cost of Food in London

While London meal prices vary, the average cost of food in London is GBP 30 (~3,280 INR) per day. An average meal in London should cost around GBP 21 (2,296 INR) per person when dining out. Mentioned below are the various necessary food items required for living in London:

Food Item	Average cost (GBP)
Milk (regular) (1 liter)	£1.31
Loaf of White Bread (500g)	£1.52
White Rice (1 kg)	£1.99
Eggs (12)	£3.32
Local Cheese	£7.76
Chicken Fillets (1kg)	£7.53
Beef Round (1kg) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)	£12.58
Apples (1kg)	£2.42
Banana (1kg)	£1.24
Oranges (1kg)	£2.61
Tomato (1kg)	£3.00
Potato (1kg)	£1.26
Onion (1kg)	£1.20
Water (1.5 liter bottle)	£1.25
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)	£9.00

Note: £1 = ₹108.99 as of October 29, 2024

Also Check: Cost of Living in UK

Cost of Transportation in London

Cost of transportation is also included in the cost of living London per month. In London, you can avail transportation services like

Bus
Cycle
Taxi
London Buses
London Underground
Train
Uber
National Rail
Overground
Trams
Private cars

Also Check: Public Transportation in UK

The average monthly expenditure in London for transportation are tabulated below

Type of transportation	Average Costs in GBP
One-way Ticket (Local Transport)	2.80 GBP
Monthly Pass (Regular Price)	200 GBP
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)	4 GBP
Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff)	1.95 GBP
Taxi 1 hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)	30 GBP
Gasoline (1 liter)	1.52 GBP
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)	27,280 GBP
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)	25,860.62 GBP

Note: £1 = ₹108.99 as of October 29, 2024

Also Check:

Average Cost of Living in London for Utilities

Utility bills in London include electricity, gas, water, and internet, amounting to a significant price of living London. All of these would vary depending on your personal usage and how fast you want your internet. However, life expenses in London for utilities are tabulated below

Utilities	Monthly Cost
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment	289.14 GBP
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data	15.39 GBP
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)	31.02 GBP

Note: £1 = ₹108.99 as of October 29, 2024

Money Saving Tips for Living Expenditure in London

London is one of the most expensive cities, which makes the cost of living in London for international students more expensive while pursuing their graduation or post-graduation. Don't be worried, check the money saving hacks below, and save from London monthly expenses.

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Overall, the cost of living in London with rent is higher than in India, Australia, Canada and Germany. However, wide opportunities are available to develop one’s career because of staying in the capital city of England. You can also use cost of living in London calculator to know the exact costs.

FAQs

Ques: What is the average cost of living in London?

Ans: The average cost for students in London is around £1,200–£1,500 per month, including rent, food, transport, and personal expenses. Accommodation costs range from £500–£800 for shared housing, and transport adds another £100–£200. Groceries and utilities cost approximately £250–£350, with the rest for entertainment and other needs.

Ques: What is the cost of living in Central London for someone on an Indian salary (around INR 2.5 lakh per month)?

Ans: With an income of around 2.5 lakhs per month (2,363 GBP), living in Central London will require careful budgeting. Rent in Central London averages £800–£1,500, leaving about £800–£1,000 for other expenses like food (£300), transport (£150), and personal costs (£200). Opting for shared housing and cooking at home can make it more manageable.

Ques: How much does transportation cost in London?

Ans: The cost of transportation in London varies depending on the mode of transportation. A single ticket on the London Underground costs GBP 2.40, while a monthly pass costs GBP 135. Buses and trams have similar costs. Taxis are more expensive, with an average fare of GBP 25 for a 20-minute journey.

Ques: What is the cost of living in London compared to other UK cities?

Ans: According to Numbeo, the cost of living in London is 34.09% higher than the UK average. This means that, on average, it is more expensive to live in London compared to other cities in the UK.

Ques: How much is accommodation in London for international students?

Ans: The average cost of a room in a shared flat or house in London is GBP 700- GBP 800 per month, while a studio or one-bedroom flat can cost GBP 1,000- GBP 1,500 per month. However, prices vary depending on location and quality.

Ques: Are there any additional costs for international students living in London?

Ans: International students may need to budget for additional costs such as visa fees, health insurance, and textbooks. Visa fees can range from GBP 348-GBP 475, while health insurance can cost around GBP 150-GBP 200 per year. Textbooks can cost anywhere from GBP 50-GBP 200 per course.