Wrexham named Wales’ most affordable place for students in new study
- Carlisle tops the UK’s student affordability rankings with a monthly cost of £812.09, 60% less than the cost of living in London at £2,045.15
- Welsh towns and cities feature strongly in the top 10, with Wrexham ranked second and Carmarthen fifth
- Six Welsh towns and cities appear in the overall ranking.
A new study by QR Code Generator has revealed that Carlisle is the UK’s most affordable city for students, with total monthly costs averaging just £812.09.
The research analysed 67 university towns and cities across the UK, comparing average monthly rent, food costs, internet charges and utilities to calculate the total monthly expenses for students.
Wales findings:
Wrexham ranks as the most affordable Welsh student city with a monthly cost of £814.76, just £2.67 more than Carlisle. The Welsh city’s position is largely driven by its affordable utilities, which at £136.67 per month are among the lowest in the study. Overall, Wrexham is second.
Carmarthen is second in the Welsh rankings with monthly costs of £877.21. Its relatively low rent of £428 helps offset higher utility costs of £260.04, making the West Wales town an attractive choice.
Aberystwyth follows in third across Wales at £885.51 monthly. With rent averaging £480 and utilities at £231.25, it offers students coastal living without the premium prices typically associated with seaside locations such as Swansea.
Bangor is fourth on the Welsh list and ranks 27th overall. The monthly living costs add up to a total of £1,086.76.
Cardiff comes fifth, but ranks 42nd overall. The Welsh capitol’s living costs average at £1,205.36 per month.
Swansea falls behind in the Welsh rankings as the most expensive city for students. Nationally, the coastal city ranks 44th and will cost students an average of £1,221.01 each month.
The cheapest Welsh cities for students
| Rank | City | Monthly Rent (£) | Monthly Shop (£) | Internet (£) | Utilities (£) | Total Cost (£) |
| 1 | Wrexham | 500.00 | 146.76 | 31.33 | 136.67 | 814.76 |
| 2 | Carmarthen | 428.00 | 146.76 | 42.41 | 260.04 | 877.21 |
| 3 | Aberystwyth | 480.00 | 146.76 | 27.50 | 231.25 | 885.51 |
| 4 | Bangor | 520.00 | 146.76 | 36.67 | 383.33 | 1086.76 |
| 5 | Cardiff | 680.00 | 146.76 | 35.74 | 342.86 | 1205.36 |
| 6 | Swansea | 650.00 | 146.76 | 35.86 | 388.39 | 1221.01 |
Marc Porcar, CEO at QR Code Generator said: “The significant cost variations between UK university cities show just how much location impacts student finances. A student in Carlisle spends £1,233 less each month than one in London; that’s nearly £15,000 per academic year.
“With rising living costs affecting households across the country, many students and parents now consider affordability alongside academic reputation when choosing a university. Northern and Welsh cities clearly offer better value, potentially allowing students to graduate with less debt.
“With cost-of-living currently on the rise, it is now more important than ever for students to know how to manage their money effectively. These regional price differences might lead to changing student demographics across universities, with some institutions potentially seeing applications influenced by their location’s affordability as much as by their academic standing.”
