London requires a larger student budget than many other UK cities.
Outside rent, students at City St George’s can expect to spend around £150 to £220 per week.
The actual amount changes according to campus location, food habits, travel and social plans.
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Expense
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Typical weekly amount
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Groceries and food
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£30–£60
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Transport with eligible student discount
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£31–£37
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Social plans
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£20–£50+
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Casual meal
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£12–£25
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Mobile phone
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£5–£6
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Household bills in PBSA
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Often included
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Course costs
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Depends on programme
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Groceries and Food
A weekly food budget of around £30 to £60 gives students a realistic starting range.
Someone who cooks most meals at home can stay closer to the lower end.
Frequent takeaways, local cafés and convenience-store shopping will push the total higher.
Transport
London travel can quickly become a fixed part of the weekly budget.
Eligible students with an 18+ Student Oyster photocard can receive a 30% discount on adult-rate Travelcards and Bus & Tram Passes.
A weekly transport budget of around £31 to £37 gives a useful estimate for regular travel with the relevant discount.
Students who live within walking distance of Northampton Square or the St George’s Campus may spend less.
Household Bills
Purpose-built student accommodation often includes utilities and internet within the rent.
Private tenants may need to pay these costs separately.
Students should check electricity, gas, water and internet before comparing two properties purely by weekly rent.
Socialising
A casual meal in London usually costs around £12 to £25.
A weekly social budget of £20 to £50 or more gives students a rough starting point.
Location affects this cost.
Clerkenwell and Islington can carry higher central London prices, while Tooting often gives students lower-cost local food and social options.
Mobile Phone
A typical SIM-only mobile plan costs around £5 to £6 per week.
Course Costs
Different courses create different additional expenses.
Business, law and journalism students may need money for materials or career events.
Medicine and healthcare programmes can create costs linked to clinical equipment and placements.
Students should leave space in their monthly budget for these course-specific expenses.
International Student Maintenance Requirement
International students also need to account for the financial requirement attached to a Student visa.
From 11 November 2025, the London maintenance figure is £1,529 per month, approximately £352 per week.
The government uses this figure for visa financial evidence. It does not represent the average weekly spending of every student in London.
Clerkenwell will generally require a larger housing budget than Tooting, so campus location can affect the overall monthly cost considerably