Salford named UK’s fourth cheapest city 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.

Salford takes fourth place with a solid score of 69.93, offering a compelling mix of affordability and location, especially for students who want to be near the buzz of Manchester without paying Manchester prices. Rent averages £505, ranking 13th cheapest in the study, and it boasts the second lowest transportation costs overall at just £34 per month, a massive perk for those regularly commuting into the city centre. Food costs are also manageable, with meals out averaging £60 a month, putting it comfortably within the top 30 cheapest cities, and Salford ties with Burnley for the cheapest McMeal deal in the country at just £24 per month. Domestic beer lovers are also in luck. With a monthly average of £54.40, Salford ranks ninth cheapest for weekend drinks, and groceries clock in at £37.12, placing it in the top 15 for food shop savings.

The real standout, though, is broadband. Salford takes the crown for the cheapest internet in the entire study, with monthly costs averaging just £21. But it’s not all smooth sailing: Salford is weighed down by eye-watering utility bills, averaging £294.20 per month, making it the second most expensive in the UK for basic services like electricity and heating. And while its urban location offers plenty of convenience, it lacks any formal parks, a downside for students craving outdoor space. However, it does have five coworking spaces under £20, the highest number among the top 10, offering students plenty of alternative study spots.

Southend-on-Sea leads the pack as the UK’s most affordable city for university students, offering excellent value across multiple categories. While rent isn’t rock-bottom (£529 – 16th cheapest), the city makes up for it with ultra-low transport costs (£35), cheap utility bills (£127.50 – 3rd cheapest), affordable groceries (£35.65 – 8th cheapest), and a broadband deal that ranks in the top 10 cheapest. Students can catch a film on a budget too. Southend offers the second cheapest cinema ticket prices in the study, and beer costs are easy on the wallet at £52. Blackburn, in second place, stands out for its low rent (£478 – 9th cheapest) and cheapest dining out costs among the top 10 (£50). It also boasts cheap internet (£25.33 – 4th cheapest) and domestic beer at £56, though students will need to brace for steeper utility bills (£260). Burnley, in third, is a dream for budget-conscious students with rent at just £431 (2nd cheapest), utilities at £149.90, the cheapest McMeal and cinema tickets, and beer at just £40 a month — the most affordable in the entire study.

In fifth place is Darlington, where students benefit from low rent (£438) and a decent number of parks, but face the highest transport costs in the top 10 (£63.50). Hull, in sixth, balances affordable rent (£449) and reasonable transport, though meal costs at £64 are the highest among the top cities. Telford follows, notable for its abundance of tours under £20, but higher rent (£535) and steep transport costs (£99.48) weigh it down. Scunthorpe, in eighth, struggles with the second highest rent in the top 10 at £642 and otherwise average costs. Worcester, in ninth, offers few standouts but delivers a balanced, mid-range option. Meanwhile, Weston-super-Mare rounds off the list with the highest rent (£750) and hefty transport costs (£93.50), a picturesque seaside town, yes, but not exactly friendly to a student budget.

On the other hand, London, Oxford, Basingstoke, Edinburgh, Cambridge, Sunderland, Bedford, Sutton Coldfield, Bath, and Manchester ranked as the most expensive cities for university students.

Top 10 cheapest cities for university students: