Another day, another study detailing how outrageously expensive it is to live in London. And today’s data delve comes courtesy of the accommodation-aficionados over at Best Student Halls. They recently set out on a mission to uncover the most expensive regions across the UK for recent graduates. And it will come as a surprise to absolutely nobody that London reigned supreme as the most costly corner of the country.
Now, we already knew that moving to the capital city (for university or after it) is neither for the faint of heart or the weak of bank balance. But just how much more expensive is it to live in London compared to other university towns and cities, I hear you ask? Well folks, the answer to that question is pretty darn simple: a lot more.
The recent report analysed the average monthly rental prices of 342 different local authorities across the UK (sourced from the latest Office for National Statistics Price Index of Private Rents) and matched each of them to a nearby university (using the Complete University Guide) to decipher which students might be facing the highest pressure and the highest prices when it comes to finding a place to call home post-graduation.
London was (by far) the most expensive region as a whole, and the capital city also dominated the top 20 most expensive areas. 18 of the 20 spenniest spots were in London, with rental costs in the capital almost triple what they are in other parts of the country.
Kensington and Chelsea topped the charts as the most expensive area of all. Home to the oh-so prestigious Imperial College London; students in the area could be having to fork out on average £2,252 a month to live nearby. Westminster, Camden, Hammersmith and Fulham, and Islington all followed closely behind.
The most expensive regions in the UK for post-graduate renting:
- London (average monthly rent £2,252)
- South East (average monthly rent £1,382)
- East of England (average monthly rent £1,241)
- South West (average monthly rent £1,191)
- West Midlands (average monthly rent £935)
The most expensive areas in London for post-graduate renting:
- Kensington and Chelsea (average monthly rent £3,633)
- Westminster (average monthly rent £3,247)
- Camden (average monthly rent £2,783)
- Hammersmith and Fulham (average monthly rent £2,730)
- Islington (average monthly rent £2,702)
