Cost of Living Liverpool: Living in Liverpool as Students

writer icon

Samir Badawy

calender icon

15 August, 2023

time icon

5 mins read

time icon

Student Finance

Share NOW

fav icon
main topic image

Liverpool is among the most exciting cities in the UK as it bursts with culture, vibrant nightlife, a rich history, an impressive music scene, and a good quality of education, with the University of Liverpool ranking 176th worldwide. If you’re wondering how much the cost of living in Liverpool is, we will give you a breakdown of the main costs you need to know and how to save up on your expenses.

Cost of Living Liverpool

Life in Liverpool

Living in Liverpool is a memorable experience for students as it is a fun and safe student city known for its amazing nightlife. The city’s nightlife is especially seen in the Baltic Triangle, which has various music venues; it also hosts the vibrant Baltic Market, which is full of lovely places to eat. The city is also relatively affordable compared to other UK cities. Another benefit of living in the city is its beautiful libraries, most notably the Central Library and its parks, of which Sefton Park is the most popular.

The estimated cost of living is £1,532.77 per month, which is a big difference compared to the £3,075.14 per month cost of living in London. The UK government, however, recommends you have at least £1,023 per month throughout your studies. It is a must to have that amount for a period of nine months to be considered eligible to stay in Liverpool. The average salary in Liverpool is £32,731 per year.

Liverpool also enjoys a good quality of life, as it was reported that 75% of its residents were happy with their life in the city in 2021. Liverpool was also nominated as the North West’s top city to live in The Sunday’s Times rating of the best places to live in the UK, where Liverpool overtook Manchester in 2023. The areas of Waterloo and Toxteth in Liverpool ranked 13th on the list of best places to live in the UK in 2023.

Cost of Living Liverpool

Cost of Living in Liverpool

As previously mentioned, the cost of living in Liverpool is approximately £1,532.77 per month, including rent. Remember that changes can occur due to personal preferences and lifestyle choices. Listed below are the estimated costs of living in Liverpool based on aggregate data.

Item

 Cost 

Student Housing 

£420 to £956 per month

One-bedroom Apartment (City Centre)

£700.00 to  £1,000 per month

(Approximately £792 average rent)

One-bedroom Apartment (Outside City Centre)

£450.00 to £700

(Approximately £557 average rent)

Utility Bills in Liverpool (Basic, Mobile, and Internet)

 Approx. £296 per month

Groceries

 £400 to £488 on average per month

Public Transportation (Monthly)

  • £134.20  (Merseyrail Railpass - Includes travel on the City line, Adult 19+).



How Much Does Food Cost in Liverpool for Students?

In this section, we’ll list average food costs in Liverpool for some of the essential staples. The following costs were compiled through aggregate costs provided for Liverpool.  

Item

Cost

Milk 1 L

£ 0.89

Loaf of white bread (0.5 Kg)

£ 1.04

Rice (1Kg)

£ 1.57

Eggs (12 pack)

£2.15

Cheese (1 Kg)

£6.8

Chicken Fillets (1Kg)

£5.93

Beef (1Kg)

£9.99

Restaurant Meal (Inexpensive)

£15

How to Save Up in Liverpool?

Even though Liverpool is a relatively affordable city to live in, it is not the most affordable in the UK. Still, what it makes up for in price, it makes up for in quality, as you’ll be experiencing a city of culture which provides gorgeous views, green spaces, history, and world-class education. That said, you can always save on costs during your stay. 

Affordable Casita Liverpool Student Accommodation Options

Cathedral Campus (Most Affordable):

This Liverpool student accommodation is the most affordable option, with its cheapest options being its non-ensuite rooms. Cathedral Campus, the student accommodation in Liverpool, also features studios and two-bed apartments. The city centre is a 23-minute commute from this property.

Moorfield (Affordable and close to the Centre):

This Liverpool student accommodation is slightly more expensive than Cathedral Campus and is a mere six-minute walk from the Liverpool city centre. For this student house in Liverpool, the available options are en-suites.

Arrad House (Affordable)

This Liverpool student accommodation is affordable and at a 20-minute commute from the property. This Liverpool student accommodation’s classic en-suite is among its cheapest options.

Cheapest Shopping Brands

To save up costs, you must know the cheapest grocery chains available. These brands are the cheapest in the entirety of the UK, not only in Liverpool. The cheapest brand for a basket of 41 items in 2023 was Aldi which had an average cost of £72.54, succeeded by Lidly, which had a cost of £72.79. Other cheap brands include Asda and Sainsbury’s.

Most Affordable Mode of Transport

The most affordable mode of transport in Liverpool is cycling, where you can access various bike hire services or even buy your own bike to save up in the long term. The next cheapest option is bus transportation, with the Merseytravel Solo Ticket bus fare for a day costing you £5.

Cost of Living Liverpool

Liverpool vs London and Manchester

According to Edinburgh News, a 2023-published list of the top 10 most expensive cities to live in the United Kingdom, London ranked first with an average cost of living of £3,075.14 per month, including rent, Manchester ranked fourth on the list with an average cost of living of £1,682.63 per month, including rent, and lastly, Liverpool ranked tenth on the list with an average cost of living of £1,532.77 per month including rent in Liverpool. In the following subsections, we’ll make a more detailed comparison of Liverpool vs London and Liverpool vs Manchester.


Cost of Living in Liverpool vs London

As previously mentioned, when comparing Liverpool vs London, London will overtake Liverpool in cost. In the following table, we will break down the price differences between both cities. Prices may vary depending on personal lifestyle choices and personal preferences. Prices are subject to change.

Item 

Cost in London

Cost in Liverpool

Rent (One bedroom city centre)

£2,069 per month

£791 per month

Rent (One bedroom outside the city centre)

£1,484 per month

£557 per month

Cheapest Student accommodation

Starting from £219 per week (London Nest - Canvas Walthamstow)

Starting from £136 per week

(Cathedral Campus)

Utilities (Basic, Internet, Phone Bills) 85 m2 apartment

£366.89 per month

£296.84 per month

Average Meal at Restaurant

£20

£15

Bus Travel (One day)

£5.25 maximum per day

£5 (Mersey Travel Solo Ticket) 


Cost of Living in Liverpool vs Manchester

Manchester, compared to Liverpool, is slightly more expensive, coming in between London and Liverpool in terms of price. In this section, we’ll break down the average costs between both cities. Please note that costs are subject to change.

Item 

Cost in Manchester

Cost in Liverpool

Rent (One bedroom city centre)

 984 per month

£791 per month

Rent (One bedroom outside the city centre)

 721 per month

£557 per month

Cheapest Student accommodation

 Starting from £180 per week

(Moss Court)

Starting from £136 per week

(Cathedral Campus)

Utilities (Basic, Internet, Phone Bills) 85 m2 apartment

 £269.26 per month

£296.84 per month

Average Meal at Restaurant

£15

£15

Bus Travel (One day)

 £5 (1-day AnyBus travel card)

£5 (Mersey Travel Solo Ticket) 

Cost of Living Liverpool

Liverpool should definitely be on your list if you’re looking for quality education along with an amazing quality of education. However, we recommend that you carefully budget your expenses before travelling. For more information regarding Liverpool student accommodation, it would help if you check out our website or contact our helpful and multilingual team. 

You will also find various useful links that will help you get acquainted with the UK and pro tips and guides such as Cost of Living in Australia vs UK: A Comprehensive Guide. Student Accommodation in the UK vs Student Housing in the US, How to Apply to a UK University as an International Student, UK University Interview Tips and Tricks, among other helpful resources.


close-icon

Subscribe to download

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Liverpool expensive for international students?

down icon

Liverpool is not the most expensive place for students studying in the United Kingdom. However, it is not the cheapest, as it still ranks among the top 10 places. Yet, through careful budgeting, you can have the best that the city has to offer.

What is the average cost of living in Liverpool?

down icon

The average cost of living in Liverpool is £1,532.77 per month, including rent, placing it the tenth most expensive city in the United Kingdom, but still much more affordable than London, which has an average cost of living of £3,075.14 per month.