You should know the cost of living in Aberdeen before coming here so you can make reasonable arrangements for your daily life. As the third largest city in Scotland, Aberdeen is home to the famous University of Aberdeen, which attracts students from all over the world to study here. It is also a comfortable place to live, with low prices and easy living compared to the big, bustling cities. The cost of living can vary, with a general range of ￡600-£900/month (based on local Aberdeen information, including daily expenses and accommodation). So what exactly is this sum spent on? Follow us, you’ll find out, and you won’t spend a cent more than you have to.
What is the Cost of Living in Aberdeen
1. Food
2. Clothing
3. Housing
4. Transport
5. Sports and Leisure
Cost of Living in Aberdeen: Food
Speaking of the cost of living in Aberdeen, Scotland, food expenses are inevitable. There are many supermarkets in Aberdeen, such as Tesco, Morrisons, M&S, Lidl, ASDA, etc., and their prices are mostly the same across the UK. You can usually spend around ￡30-￡50 per week at the supermarket, covering your food needs for the week.
Regarding lunch during the school year, you can find a simple package of sandwiches, drinks, and small snacks for a reasonable price of no more than ￡4. The average cost in school canteens and cafes is around ￡5, providing you with affordable options.
Dinners, as well as going to restaurants, will cost slightly more and range more. The average price of a main course in a typical formal restaurant is around ￡15-£20, and the more upmarket the restaurant, the higher the price. In contrast, fast food chains can be quite affordable. For example, a set meal at McDonald’s is usually around ￡6, while a one-meal meal at a takeaway, plus delivery charges, can usually be had for under ￡15.
Below are some prices for items purchased from Morrisons supermarket in Aberdeen, for guidance only:
| Items | Price |
|---|---|
| Beers（in restaurants) | 4-4.36￡ |
| Cappucino | 3.36￡ |
| Coke/Pepsi | 1.53￡ |
| Milk(regular)(1 liter) | 1.63￡ |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread(500g) | 1.21￡ |
| Eggs(12) | 2.80￡ |
| Lettuce(1 head) | 0.83￡ |
| Apples(1kg) | 2.04￡ |
| Chicken Fillets(1kg) | 7.01￡ |
Cost of Living in Aberdeen: Shopping
Speaking of living in Aberdeen, let’s talk about the expenses involved in shopping. Mainstream British brands are moderately priced, with summer clothes around ￡20-£40. Several local shopping centres in Aberdeen make buying brands, such as Hollister, NEXT, Topshop, etc, accessible. Of course, online shopping is also significantly developed nowadays, so you can shop online and buy discounted goods without going out.
If you want to find cost-effective goods, you may want to go to Primark shopping. There, you can choose from a variety of clothing, shoes, accessories, home furnishings, and other goods. The price is also very affordable, such as summer clothing, which is generally around ￡5-£20.
UK sports brands are not expensive and have a wide range of categories. It should be noted that the price of electronic products in the UK is high. If you want to buy electronic products, online shopping may be a more affordable option.
Cost of Living in Aberdeen: Transportation
Living in Aberdeen, Public transport is one of the main ways for students to get around. There are single tickets, day tickets and monthly tickets, and you can download the apps First Bus (short-distance buses covering Aberdeen city) or Stagecoach (long-distance buses covering mainly suburbs) for more information. Whether you buy your ticket online or on the bus, you can see if you can buy a student ticket and remember to bring your student card with you!
If you are under 26, you can apply for a NEC card (National Entitlement Card-Young Person Card), which not only allows you to travel free on basically all buses in Scotland (under 22s only) but also gives you discounts on some of the attractions in Scotland (under 26s only).
Cost of Living in Aberdeen: Education
Tuition fee
The tuition fee is a big part of the cost of living in Aberdeen for students. If you are attending the University of Aberdeen, then the tuition fees will be:
Undergraduate: £19,800 or £22,800, individual specialisms may vary.
Masters: £22,400 or £25,100, individual programmes may vary.
Scholarships
Scholarships for International Students: Undergraduate Scholarships of £1000 per year, Taught Masters Scholarships of £3500 per year.
James Henry Scott Scholarship: The MSc Full Award Scholarship in Environmental Science offers a total value of £32,000 including full tuition fee remission and £6,900 towards living expenses.
Cost of Living in Aberdeen: Accommodation
Accommodation is a relatively fixed and large part of the cost of living. Students can choose between university-run student halls of residence, third-party-run student flats, or renting private accommodation.
On-campus Accommodation fee
Taking the University of Aberdeen as an example, the university has three student flat blocks.
King’s Hall：£148/week
Elphinstone Road Flat：￡103/week
Prices at Hillhead Students Village vary from £90 to £148 depending on the accommodation type. （This dormitory is off-campus, but it’s run by the university.）
Off-campus Accommodation fee
Whether run by the university or not, student accommodation is affordable. Typical weekly accommodation fees are around ￡90-£160, or about ￡360-£640 per month (Studio is mostly £700+/month). The electricity and water grids are all-inclusive, so no extra expenses exist. In winter, you don’t have to worry about the heating bill, which can save a lot of money. Off-campus student flats are available in Mealmarket Exchange, Causeway View, Pittodrie Street, Spring Gardens, etc, which are many students’ choices.
The cost of renting a private property will be affected by location, size and decoration. A good room in a shared house in Aberdeen costs around ￡350/month. You’ll usually have to share the cost of water and electricity with your flatmate, which is around ￡50-70/month for both of you (this is a volatile cost from month to month and can be higher in the winter when energy prices go up). Renting a one- or two-bedroom flat can cost around £500/month.
Cost of Living in Aberdeen: Sports and Leisure
After school, you will have a lot of free time. You can exercise or go out. Some flats offer indoor gyms, such as Justice Mill Studios, St Peters Studios, and Powis Place, so you don’t have to go out for exercise, or you can choose your favourite gym; membership costs around £40 per month.
If you go out once a week, to a restaurant, have a drink, or go to the cinema, the total cost is around £50. Buying tickets to see a show is a bit more expensive, and a ticket can cost a few tens of pounds. Looking for more fun things to do in Aberdeen? You can use this blog as a guide.
Live in Aberdeen, if you like travelling and want to get away to a neighbouring city occasionally, a short trip will cost around £100-200 (including return train tickets and catering). If you’re going to stay away, the average price of a UK hotel is around ￡100 per night. You can also opt for an Airbnb, which is a more cost-effective way to stay than a hotel.
Conclusion
Cost of living in Aberdeen, UK is quite reasonable generally, so you can live a comfortable life without spending much money. The above summary is based on official data and personal experience, specific expenses may vary depending on individual spending habits and choices, but it is important to maintain reasonable spending habits. Finally, we hope you can fully experience the multiculturalism, enjoy the unique and beautiful moments in your study life, and have a wonderful time in Aberdeen.
FAQ
1. Develop the habit of keeping accounts. Bookkeeping helps you to keep track of your finances so that you can control and manage them.
2. Cook on your own. Cooking your own food can save you a lot of money, and it’s healthier and tastier.
3. Study hard and get a scholarship
4. Remember to use your student status and get student discounts on many services, such as on bus/train tickets and when shopping
The city offers a range of student accommodations at various price points, catering to different budget needs. Additionally, Aberdeen has a vibrant student community with numerous discounts and deals available for students, making essentials more affordable. While Aberdeen offers a high quality of life and various amenities, it is important to budget and plan accordingly to manage living expenses in this vibrant city.
- Compared to London: the cost of Living in Aberdeen is 19.8% lower than in London (without rent), and it is 42.2% lower when including rent.
- Compared to Edinburgh, the cost of Living in Aberdeen is 7.4% lower than in Edinburgh (without rent) and 20.1% lower when including rent.
- Compared to Manchester: the cost of Living in Aberdeen is 3.2% lower (without rent) and 14.2% lower (including rent).
