Choosing where to go to uni is obviously about the course, the campus and whether you can actually picture yourself living there. But there’s another important question: how much is it going to cost you? Because your student loan feels considerably less generous once rent has come out, you’ve done a food shop and someone has convinced you that going out on a random Tuesday is an absolute must.
According to Accommodation for Students' latest rent data, the average student rent across the UK is around £169 per week. Luckily, plenty of university cities come in well below that. So, if affordable accommodation is high on your uni wish list, here are the 10 cheapest UK student cities for rent right now.
10. Canterbury – £126 per week
It might not immediately spring to mind when you think “cheap student city”, but the numbers say otherwise. At more than £40 below the UK average each week, there’s potentially a decent bit of extra money left for coffee, food and the occasional unnecessary purchase you absolutely convinced yourself you needed.
9. Preston – £123 per week
That’s £46 below the national average, which can really add up over an entire uni year.
Basically, cheaper rent = slightly less pain when you check your bank account at the end of the month.
8. Swansea – £119 per week
Uni by the sea and relatively cheap rent? Not a bad combination.
Swansea's average student rent is £119 per week, putting it comfortably inside the cheapest ten. Just try not to spend everything you've saved on going out the second the weather gets warm.
7. Derby – £117 per week
It might not get shouted about as much as some of the UK's huge student cities, but if keeping accommodation costs down is one of your priorities, it's definitely worth having on your radar.
6. Sheffield – £110 per week
This one might be a little surprising. Sheffield is a major university city, but average student rent comes in at just £110 per week according to the AFS data. Considering the UK average is £169, that's quite a difference.
If saving money is something you're already thinking about, we have plenty of budgeting tips for students.
5. Hull – £107 per week
The AFS report also picks Hull out as one of the places combining lower rents with comparatively low student-area crime, so there's a bit more to the numbers than cheap accommodation alone.
4. Stoke – £103 per week
Like Hull, Stoke is highlighted in the report for combining lower rents with comparatively low crime around student accommodation. And at £66 below the UK weekly rent average, your bank account may appreciate the move too.
3. Middlesbrough – £103 per week
That means average student accommodation here costs considerably less than in many of the UK's better-known university destinations. Over a long tenancy, even saving £20 or £30 each week can make a massive difference, never mind more than £60 compared with the national average.
2. Huddersfield – £98 per week
We've officially gone under £100. Average student rent in Huddersfield comes in at just £98 per week, making it the second-cheapest city in the AFS top ten. And yes, being able to say your weekly rent is still double digits in 2026 does feel mega good.
1. Pontypridd – £84 per week
And taking the number one spot by quite a distance is... Pontypridd. Average student rent here is only £84 per week which is exactly half the £169 UK average, give or take a pound.
It also isn't just cheap. The AFS report found Pontypridd had one of the lowest levels of recorded crime around student properties in its data, meaning it stands out particularly strongly when rent and student-area crime are looked at together. Cheap rent and a strong showing for the areas students actually live in? Of course we’ll have a look.
So does cheaper automatically mean better?
Not always. Rent is obviously a massive part of your student budget, but it shouldn't be the only thing you use to choose a university city. Think about your course, transport, nightlife, part-time work, food prices and whether you actually like the place. Saving £30 a week on rent isn't much of a win if you're miserable for three years.
But if you're stuck between a few universities and money is a big factor, checking average rent beforehand is definitely worth doing. And once you've chosen where you're going, have a read of this, for some extra ideas on making that student loan stretch slightly further.
Because ultimately, the less of your money disappearing into rent each month, the more you've got left for the important stuff. You know... food, textbooks and definitely not another night out.
