Students choosing where to study in 2026 face stark differences in rental costs, with London universities dominating the most expensive locations while northern and regional campuses offer significantly lower rents.
Analysis by Rentround, based on average 2026 asking rents matched to each university’s main campus postcode, shows the cheapest student rental markets are concentrated in the North of England, Wales and smaller regional cities.
Teesside University tops the affordability table, with average rents in TS1 at £561 per month. It is followed by University of Sunderland (£595), University of Huddersfield (£641) and University of Plymouth (£718).
Other relatively affordable locations include Sheffield Hallam University (£747), University of Leicester (£784) and University of Bradford (£816).
MOST EXPENSIVE
At the other end of the spectrum, London dominates the most expensive rankings. Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine sits at the top, with average rents in SW7 reaching £5,694 per month.
University College London averages £3,433, while both King’s College London and London School of Economics & Political Science in WC2 stand at £3,746.
Outside the capital, traditionally high-cost cities also feature prominently, including University of Bristol (£2,214), University of Bath (£2,187), University of Oxford (£1,739) and University of Cambridge (£1,855).
CLEAR DIVIDE
When academic ranking is overlaid with rental data from the Complete University Guide 2026, the divide becomes clearer.
While top-ranked institutions such as Cambridge, Oxford and LSE remain academically dominant, their surrounding rental markets vary widely, with London-based universities consistently commanding the highest rents.
The figures underline how location has become a defining factor in student affordability. In some London postcodes, average rents now rival or exceed annual tuition fees, while universities in northern cities can cost hundreds – and in some cases thousands – of pounds less per year in accommodation alone.
