london expenses

[xSimple-Spiderx]

I was just wondering how expensive accomodation and general life in london actually is.

compared to the other big cities?

At the moment thats the only thing thats really putting me off it.

[ankit.kumar1]

if you live in london, you get a bigger loan

[Renal]

Depends.

Living in a house in Mayfair is going to be more expensive, but living in a flat in Whitechapel.

Going out clubbing in central London is expensive, going for a few beers at the union isn't.

In general London is slightly more expensive, you can work to maximise that difference if you want, or you can work to minimise it.

[JediBookworm]

Can anyone estimate the living costs excluding tuition and accommodation for the first year? Include books, transport, grocery shopping, etc. Thanks.

[Evolution]

you can't estimate the cost for someone else. Unfortuannly you need to do the hard work. Bit of research. What you may spend on books. someone may add to their alcohol fund! and vice versus. The average in a year is usually about £6000 - £7000. Obviously this can defer from person to person, but unis and other website claim this is the amount that the average student outside London will spend on maintenance.

[Spencer Wells]

I spend about £10,000 per year total (well, excluding tuition, but including accommodation). My accommodation accounts for about half of that. Granted I'm located a little more centrally, but I know a couple of people at Barts who don't spend much less.

[kem]

If you live in whitechapel and are prepared to live in a small room, you can end up spending around 80 a week, including expenses, it is also quite possible to find a place that will not require a 12 month contract, so the accomodation expenses dont have to be that bad. The book expenses are up to you, their are quite a few people who have no books at all, and their are others who literally buy a library, you will most likely need one or two books and the rest you can borrow from the library so again it dosent have to be expensive.

[mera]

I've found that I spend less than friends in other cities & thats with me going out at least once a week to a student night in central london. In 1st year I allowed myself a maximum £100 a week spending money but I rarely reached that amount, my average was probs about £70. Things like making your own lunch, walking to places & not going crazy shopping also help!
If you can get parents to contibute towards books its useful, or just use the library. You do get extra maintenance loan & there's loads of student nights in london so I wouldn't worry.

[JediBookworm]

Thanks guys, that really helps. I think I'm going to depend on the library then...a £100 limit/wk sounds alright.

[ankit.kumar1]

i fort genrally wen u go out, u spend about £40 on drinks and entry. either drinks r very cheap or u may not drink as much.

how much does a nite out in central cost compared to a nite at the student union then?