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LONDON IS VIBRANT BUT PRICEY. HERE'S HOW TO MANAGE.

Budgeting Tips.

Accommodation & Budgeting Tools

Accommodation Costs

Expect to spend £700–£1,200/month depending on location and housing type. Ensure to secure your accommodation early to avoid last minute complications.

University Housing

Expect to spend £700–£1,200/month depending on location and housing type. Ensure to secure your accommodation early to avoid last minute complications.

Budgeting tools

  • Use apps like Monzo or Revolut to track spending.
  • Plan weekly budgets for food, transport, and leisure.

Student Discounts

Sign up for UNiDAYS and Student Beans for deals on food, fashion, tech, and more.

Personal Care

Hair cuts
£15–£30
Nails & Beauty
£20–£50
Toiletries
£10–£20/mo
Tip: DIY grooming kits save money long-term.

Laundry & Cleaning

Laundry (wash/dry)
£2.50–£5
Cleaning Supplies
£5–£10/mo
Tip: Share detergent and tools with flatmates.

Bills & Subscriptions

Utilities
£40–£60/mo

Phone Plan

£10–£20/mo

Amazon Student

£4.49/mo

Spotify Student

£5.99/mo

Netflix

£6.99+/mo
More tips available from LSE’s student blog, UCL’s budgeting guide, and TFL’s website.
NAVIGATING LONDON EFFICIENTLY AND AFFORDABLY.

Transportation.

Oyster Cards & Railcards

Student Oyster Photocard

Offers 30% off Travelcards and Bus & Tram Passes.

Apply via TfL’s official site.

16–25 Railcard

Gives 1/3 off rail fares across the UK. Can be linked to your Oyster card for extra savings.

Contactless vs Oyster

If you have a UK bank card or mobile wallet, you can tap directly. However, Oyster cards offer student-specific discounts that bank cards do not.

Weekly/Monthly Travelcards

Often cheaper than daily pay-as-you-go if commuting regularly.

Bike Rental

Santander Cycles cost £1.65 per 30 minutes or £20/month for unlimited rides.

Tip: Walk or cycle when possible.

Tip: Use apps like Citymapper.
BUDGET VS PREMIUM STORES

Grocery Shopping.

Accommodation & Budgeting Tools

STORETYPENOTES

Aldi, Lidl

Budget

Cheapest options for essentials.

Asda, TescoMid-rangeGood balance of price and variety.
Waitrose, M&SPremiumHigh quality, but expensive.
Local MarketsMixedGreat for fresh produce and ethnic ingredients.

Shop late for reduced-price items.

Use loyalty apps and coupons.

AFRICAN/IVORIAN SHOPS, RESTAURANTS & ALTERNATIVES

Food & Restaurants.

Restaurants

  • Akoko
    Upscale West African dining in Fitzrovia.
  • Papi’s Grill
    Ivorian and Nigerian classics.
  • Zeret Kitchen
    Ethiopian with warm ambiance.
  • Ikoyi
    Michelin-starred West African fusion.

Shops & Markets

Brixton, Peckham, and Dalston have African grocery stores with Ivorian staples like attiéké, plantains, and Maggi cubes.

Look for Afro-Caribbean markets or halal shops for affordable alternatives.

Explore TimeOut’s list of West African restaurants and The Handbook’s top picks. Ask friends as well to find hidden gems!!