Milton Keynes named among UK’s cheapest cities for university students, according to latest study

A new study by Best Financial Planners has revealed the UK’s most affordable university cities and the results might just surprise you. The study analysed 100 cities across the country, using a data-driven approach to work out where students can truly stretch their student loan the furthest. To ensure a well-rounded picture of affordability, they examined 14 key factors, including average rent, transport, grocery costs, and entertainment expenses, all of which were scaled, weighted, and combined to produce the final rankings.

The methodology gave heavier importance to essentials like rent, utilities, and transport (each weighted at 12%), while still factoring in lifestyle and social expenses such as dining out, fitness, cinema tickets, and even how many coworking spaces or tours under £20 were on offer. The research drew from publicly available data including the Office for National Statistics, Numbeo, Tripadvisor, and Coworker.

Milton Keynes comes in as the 14th most affordable city for university students, with a score of 61.80, though its affordability depends heavily on what kind of student experience you’re after. Rent is a major drawback, averaging £923 per month, which places it firmly among the top 20 most expensive cities for housing — a tough pill to swallow for students hoping to live solo or centrally. However, that’s offset by some impressive savings in other key areas. Transport costs are refreshingly low, at £54 a month, putting it in the top 11 cheapest cities for getting around — a major plus for those commuting to campus or work.

When it comes to daily essentials and small luxuries, Milton Keynes offers several welcome surprises. Dining out is on the cheaper side, and beer costs, at £64 per month, place it within the top 20 cheapest cities for those occasional weekend drinks. Students fuelled by caffeine are especially in luck — Milton Keynes ranks as the third cheapest city for coffee, with average monthly cappuccino costs of just £54.20. Groceries come in at £38.50, making the city one of the top 25 cheapest for food shopping. Internet and fitness costs are also fairly friendly, both falling within the top 15 cheapest cities. However, utility bills are more expensive than average, and cinema tickets are the second most expensive in the country, meaning students may want to trade in movie nights for streaming at home.

Southend-on-Sea takes the top spot as the UK’s most affordable city for university students, offering low transport and utility costs, cheap groceries, and some of the most budget-friendly cinema tickets in the country — all with the added bonus of coastal living. Blackburn follows closely in second, praised for its low rent, affordable meals out, and cheap internet, although it’s let down slightly by higher utility bills. Burnley, in third, is a real standout, boasting the second cheapest rent and the lowest costs across beer, cinema tickets, McMeals, and groceries, making it a no-brainer for students watching every penny.

Salford takes fourth place thanks to the UK’s cheapest internet and second-lowest transport costs, though it's weighed down by the second-highest utility bills in the top 10. Darlington, in fifth, combines cheap rent, beer, groceries, and cinema tickets, though students will have to swallow the most expensive transport costs in the group. Hull offers solid value with low rent, groceries, and cinema prices, though eating out is on the pricier side. Telford shines in areas like cheap coffee and budget tours, but is dragged down by steep transport and food costs. Scunthorpe, in eighth, struggles with high rent but excels in areas like groceries and cinema affordability. Worcester, ranked ninth, offers a balanced mix with no extreme highs or lows, while Weston-super-Mare finishes the top 10 with excellent grocery and internet savings — though sky-high rent and transport make it a tricky pick for tight budgets.

At the other end of the scale, the bottom 10 cities are some of the most expensive places in the UK for university life. London unsurprisingly takes the bottom spot, closely followed by Oxford, where rent alone averages over £1,200 per month. Joining them in the “budget-breaking” ranks are Basingstoke, Edinburgh, Cambridge, Sunderland, Bedford, Sutton Coldfield, Bath, and Manchester.

Top 15 cheapest cities for university students: