Cost of Living at Aberystwyth University
Aberystwyth is one of the most affordable university towns in the UK. The overall monthly cost of living averages around £1,100 — well below the UK student average, and a fraction of what the same lifestyle would cost in Cardiff, Bristol or any major English city. The town is small enough that travel within it is on foot; there are no daily commuting costs.
Accommodation
University halls: £114 to £174 per week, with utilities, broadband, gym and security all included. No bills on top.
Private shared house: Around £300 per person per month, plus utility bills. Budget £60–80 per month for gas, electricity and broadband on top of rent.
Private one-bedroom flat: Around £700 per month plus bills — a reasonable option for postgraduates or older students who want their own space.
Accommodation is consistently the largest single cost for students. The Aberystwyth figures compare very favourably with other UK university towns: a similar private room in Cardiff or Swansea would typically cost £100–150 per month more.
Food and Groceries
Aberystwyth has a Tesco Extra, a Morrisons and a Lidl, all within walking distance of the main student residential areas. Grocery costs are in line with national supermarket prices. Eating out is cheaper than in any Welsh or English city of note — the concentration of student-facing cafes and restaurants keeps prices competitive.
A reasonable weekly grocery budget for a student cooking for themselves is £30–50. Daily coffee and lunch out is affordable: most cafes charge £3–4 for a flat white and sandwiches are typically £4–6. See the cafe guide and restaurants guide for specific venues.
Nights Out
Aberystwyth is cheap for going out. Pints are typically £4–5, below the UK average and well below city prices. The town is walkable so there are no taxi costs between venues. Nights end around 1–2am so the overall spend per night is bounded. A reasonable going-out budget for one night is £20–30 including drinks and entry — less if you pre-drink, more if you eat beforehand.
The most consistent student pubs are Ty Seidr, Bottle & Barrel, The Glengower and The Ship & Castle. Pier is the main club at the end of the promenade — entry is typically a few pounds. See the pub guide for the full picture.
Getting Home: The Real Cost
This is the cost that catches students out. Aberystwyth is at the end of a branch rail line. Getting home requires a change at Shrewsbury, and from there connections are straightforward but the overall journey time is long.
Approximate return train fares (advance booking):
Aberystwyth to Birmingham: £30–60 return depending on how far in advance you book and which trains you take. Journey time around 3.5 hours each way.
Aberystwyth to Manchester: £40–70 return (change Shrewsbury, then Manchester Piccadilly). Around 4 hours each way.
Aberystwyth to London: £60–100+ return (change Shrewsbury, change Birmingham New Street or direct to London Euston). Around 5–5.5 hours each way.
Students from the south-east of England in particular should budget for travel home seriously — two or three trips per year at £80–100 each adds up. Many students from further afield buy a car by second year specifically to reduce the cost and flexibility of going home. Driving to Birmingham or Manchester is typically 3–4 hours.
Students within range of the Shrewsbury line (the Midlands, north-west England, mid-Wales) find the logistics far more manageable and the rail costs lower.
What You Save
The savings elsewhere partly offset the travel cost. No daily commute within the town (everything is walkable). Cheap rent relative to any comparable UK city. Cheap nights out. No need for a car in first year. No spending on big-city entertainment infrastructure — Aberystwyth does not have West End prices because it does not have a West End.
Students from London or the home counties often find that despite the travel cost, their overall spending is lower at Aberystwyth than it would have been at a London university or even a large English provincial city. The university itself estimates average monthly living costs at around £1,100, which is one of the lowest figures for any UK institution.
Summary Budget
A rough monthly budget for a first-year student in university halls, based on current 2024/25 figures:
Accommodation (halls, mid-range): ~£560/month (bills included)
Food and groceries: ~£200/month
Socialising and going out: ~£150/month
Phone, subscriptions, personal: ~£50/month
Travel (averaged over the year): ~£80/month
Miscellaneous: ~£60/month
Total: approximately £1,100/month — consistent with the university’s own estimate.
Private accommodation in second year at £300/month rent plus £70 bills brings housing costs to £370/month — a saving of around £190/month over halls, which most students put towards going out or travel.
See also: accommodation guide for detailed rental options, and the prospective student overview for the full picture.
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