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Cost of living

The north-east of England is one of the most affordable areas of the UK to live and Sunderland is one of the cheapest cities. Explore all you need to know about the cost of living in Sunderland including our top budgeting tips, part-time jobs support, scholarship information and student discounts.

Three students sitting together in a bar, laughing and chatting
Two students sitting on a wall at City Campus

What is the cost of living in Sunderland?

Sunderland is a fantastic option to consider for university, offering a significantly lower than average cost of living than other parts of the UK:

  • We're the 7th cheapest city for student accommodation (Student Crowd, 2024)
  • The north-east's student living costs are around £954 a month, compared to the national average of £1,078 (Save the Student, 2024)
  • We're the cheapest city in the UK for renters (tied with Hull), (Rightmove, 2025).
More about the cost of living in Sunderland

Videos, vlogs and podcasts

Watch our cost of living videos, vlogs, and podcasts, where you can hear from our students and staff about managing your money while studying.

Cost of living vlog
Part-time jobs and volunteering
Day in the life of a sustainable student
How to budget as a student
Working a part-time job while studying

Blog posts and guides

Read our blog posts and guides which cover a wide range of topics to support you with all things relating to the cost of living in Sunderland.

Two students sitting chatting in Gateway cafe

Student Financial Guidance

For more information on Student Finance and managing the cost of living, please contact our Student Financial Guidance Team on studentfinancialguidance@sunderland.ac.uk or 0191 515 2284.

Contact the team(opens in new tab)