Cost of living in Sheffield is the primary factor to consider before moving to the city. While Sheffield has been voted as one of the cheapest cities in UK and acted as an attractive one with its high-affordable lifestyle, there are still a large number of students who blank on the living expenses in detail or struggle to further lower the budget. We are here to seek from each cost, from student accommodation, transportation, food, utility bills, course-related fees, and more, to some practical managing tips. Let’s work out the living costs issue and shape your better student life in Sheffield from our step now.
Cost of Living in Sheffield: General Breakdown
Sheffield is one of the most affordable cities in the UK, so the living expenses in Sheffield for students are much cheaper than in other student cities, such as Manchester and London. Sheffield’s living cost is 8.7% lower than in Manchester and 27.5% lower than in London, without the rent. The average cost of living in Sheffield, UK, ranges from £1200-£2000 per month for a student, excluding the tuition fees.
The factors in consideration should be accommodation, food, utility, transportation, entertainment and personal care. Check below, and you can get a quick guide of the costs related to students’ living.
| Categories | Average Monthly Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Rent | £750 to £950 (in city centre)/£625 to £800 (beyond city) |
| Food | £150 to £250 |
| Transportation | £55 to £70 |
| Utility | £91.25 to £220 |
| Entertainment | £8 to £11 per time for cinema |
| Personal Care | £10 to £50 per time for a haircut |
| In total | £1,063 to £1,552 |
Costs of Student Accommodation in Sheffield
Accommodation costs for students always stand out as the first. It highly depends on different types. Student accommodation in Sheffield is divided into university-cooperated halls and purpose-built student accommodation. Students commonly consider these two types because of their benefits, such as safety, affordability, all-inclusive bills, student living community, etc. For young professionals or doctors with family considerations, a private house is usually the third choice.
University Halls Costs
Halls usually have a lower unit price, as they mainly comprise shared apartments, which involve 6-10 students within the same flats. You will find it starts from nearly £90 to £120 per week. However, it is mainly open for first-year students, and the number of rooms is not always enough for all applying students.
Purpose-Built-Student-Accommodation Costs
The second but most common choice for students is purpose-built student accommodation in Sheffield. You will find many more different levels of costs. From £75 to £350 weekly ranges, you will find the perfect rooms fitting in each different factor, including location, room type, amenity, facility and other support services, etc.
Housing Costs
Firstly, private housing rent will not include utility bills, and some houses are semi-furnished or even empty without any furnishing. That’s also why it is ranked as the last choice, though it seems to have the lower unit price per month. You can expect the rent of a single bedroom to start from £750 per month. Not like the prime two kinds, private housing may ask for the rent every month. If you live beyond the city, you will receive the price of £600 each month.
Costs of Travel
The second main cost of living in Sheffield is the output for going out. Taking public traffic lines to explore Sheffield city and around is the ideal and budget-friendly way for students. In addition, learning how to use student discounts can help you narrow your budget better. We listed the costs of bus, tram, and train and he tips about all you should know about student discounts.
Bus & Tram Costs:
Sheffield has two main service suppliers: First Bus and Stagecoach, which shows all valid travel tickets on all buses and trams in Sheffield. There are several platforms to buy student tickets and check the routes. First Bus: Offers student tickets, including a single ticket for £1.50, a week-long pass for £13.50, and a 12-month pass for £320. Stagecoach: Offers a single ticket for £1.50 with a Zoom Beyond 18-21 Travel Pass. Buying a set of tickets is always cheaper than a single route.
Train Costs:
If you are under 25 ages, you can buy a 16-25 railcard. With it, you can get 1/3 off most rail fares throughout Great Britain. You can buy a card for 1 year for £30 or for 3 years for £70. Besides, if you are over 25 and reading at the University as a full-time student, you can buy and enjoy the discounts with the 16-25 railcard, but remember to take your student ID to take the train. You need to show your certification at the station.
Travel Tickets with Student Discounts:
As a full-time uni student, you can buy an International Student Identity Card (ISIC). ISIC cards are internationally recognized student identity cards. With it, you can get student discounts on everything from flight tickets to digital downloads in the UK and in over 100 countries worldwide. Travel South Yorkshire offers a FirstWeek Student Sheffield ticket for £13.50, which is valid for a week and requires a valid Uos, SHU, TOTUM, or ISIC ID card. When you apply for the cards, remember to prepare your certifications for your student’s ID.
Costs of Groceries & Night-out Foods in Sheffield
With a population of 551,800, Sheffield offers advanced facilities for citizen’s living. Students can find plenty of supermarkets, such as Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons. Students who have their own preferred supermarkets can consider buying a loyalty card for the daily shops, which can enjoy theme price-off activities and special prices.
Some fresh fruits and vegetables could be bought at a lower price at the closing time. Besides, you can also take care of the student discounts in these shops. Furthermore, if you cook by yourselves, you can keep an eye out for the local market, local fresh vendors and the weekly street markets. It is always the place for the big bargains. Here, you can check general groceries and living expenses in categories:
- 🥛Milk (1 litre): 1.31 £
- 🍞Bread (500g): 1.12 £
- 🥚Eggs: 2.96 £
- 🧀Local Cheese (1kg): 7.70 £
- 🍗Chicken Fillets (1kg): 7.05 £
- 🍎Apples (1kg): 2.46 £
- 🍌Banana (1kg): 0.93 £
- 🍅Tomato (1kg): 2.15 £
- 🥔Potato (1kg): 1.27 £
- 🧅Onion (1kg): 0.95 £
- 🧴Water (1.5 liter bottle): 1.08 £
- 🍺Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle): 1.90 £
Regarding night-out food costs, Sheffield is definitely a live city for students to explore their crazy, fun nights, but affordable. There are numerous nightclubs to enjoy dinner out with your friends and a drink after dark in a musical bar. Enjoy a special meal in local restaurants, and the cost of eating out ranges from £10 to £20. To buy a cup of domestic beer and feel the traditional taste of the Viking history, it is only £4 for a 0.5-litre draught.
Course-related Costs: Tuition Fees & Funding
Sheffield is home to the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University. Students need to be clear that the tuition fees are different and influenced by factors such as degrees, nationalities and majors. Before you clear your tuition fees, you should also clear which funding for you is available. Generally speaking, as a student at the University of Sheffield or Sheffield Hallam University, you may receive funding from a wide range of sources, including government funding, bursaries, scholarships and so on. You can visit your uni’s homepage to calculate yours or visit the university’s finance department for further advice.
| University of Sheffield | Sheffield Hallam University | |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate Degree (Home) | £9,535 per year | £9,535 per year |
| Undergraduate Degree (International) | £12,580 to £19,580 | £17,155 – £19,155 per year |
| Postgraduate Degree (Home) | £16,580 | £15,860 |
| Postgraduate Degree (International) | £18,500 – £28,000 | £17,205-£19,765 |
Cost of Living in Sheffield: Saving Money Tips
After you have learned about your essential living expenses in Sheffield as a student, you will be able to start managing your budget in detail. When you start managing, you have to clear what you have to spend on first, and then you need to put what you would like to spend on in your plan. If you are thinking about how to limit your budget, you can manage these things:
- Find Cheap Student Accommodation Options in Sheffield,
- Shop at the Cheap Mall,
- Cook by Yourself,
- Plan Free Things to Do in Sheffield.
If you still find your cost will be further beyond your budget, you can consider fatting your pocket by finding a part-time job or searching for some help from your student union.
Cheap Student Accommodation in Sheffield
uhomes.com offers a wide range of budget-friendly student accommodation options in Sheffield, with the weekly price starting at £75. However, our cheap student accommodation properties are furnished and include bills, with basic student-friendly facilities and amenities. They are even within walking distance from both the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University campuses. You can take a look at some options with a price lower than £90 per week. Besides booking on the uhomes.com platform, you can enjoy exclusive listings and exclusive offers.
- 🏠: Sheffield 3
- 📍: Hoyle Street, Sheffield, England S3 7LG
- 💰: starts at £76
- 🏠: Leadmill Point
- 📍: Leadmill Rd, Sheffield, England S1 4SD
- 💰: starts at £81
- 🏠: Central Place
- 📍: Edward St, Sheffield, England S3 7BY
- 💰: starts at £78
- 🏠: Central Quay
- 📍: Alma Street, Sheffield, England S3 8RA
- 💰: starts at £84
Conclusion on Cost of Living in Sheffield
In general, clearing the cost of living in Sheffield and learning to budget your living expenses in the city as a student is a prime task for you when you decide to start your new life in Sheffield. The recommended Sheffield living costs as a student range from £1,200 to £2,000, as we mentioned. Though the cost depends on personal practice, managing the budget is always a priority to the cost.
FAQ about Living Expenses in Sheffield
Is Sheffield a nice place to stay?
Sheffield is a nice city for students and citizen to live in. It is one of the top 10 most cost-friendly cities in UK and it is student-friendly and inclusive for foreign people. Sheffield is also the greenest city in Great Britain with plenty of charming parks.
How much is bills in general?
The utility bills, including the cost of water, electricity, gas, heating and internet, cost £91.25 to £220 monthly. uhomes.com offers student accommodation in Sheffield with furnished rooms and have bills included.
Is Sheffield an affordable city for students?
Living in Sheffield is budhet-friendly and student-friendly. It is ranked top 10 as the most affordable city to live in the UK. Students can create a vivid life in Sheffield without empty their pockets.
