Living costs in Dundee for students

How much does it cost to live in Dundee as a student? We crunch some numbers including the cost of accommodation, utilities, and travel

students in a food store

Your living expenses at uni will depend on a lot of things, including your lifestyle and the funds you have available to you. However, we estimate that your living costs will range from £10,000 to £12,000 per academic year (39 weeks). This includes accommodation, food, and entertainment.

You might find yourself surprised at how much you spend in the first couple of weeks - this is normal as you start to get a sense of what you want your life in Dundee to look like. As you start to get into more of a routine, you'll be able to plan your finances and budget to suit your needs.

Renting costs in Dundee

Average private accommodation rent in Dundee
1 bedroom £617 per month
2 bedrooms £871 per month
3 bedrooms £1,047 per month

Figures from Citylets Rental Report Q4, 2024

There are rules in the UK about how many people can legally share a room/flat so please check these to ensure you budget for the right size of property. You can find more advice about overcrowding on the Shelter Scotland website.

Average monthly costs for students

Our Student Funding team regularly check the average costs for living in Dundee as a student. These are based on a range of government statistics, charity research, and discussions with other Scottish and UK universities.

As of May 2024 we would recommend budgeting around £800-900 a month per person for living expenses (excluding rent). Some expenses include:

Expense Cost
Utilities (gas / electricity) £175 (single person - this will vary if you're in a house share)
Internet £30
Mobile phone £35
Food £250
TV Licence
(for watching live TV or BBC iPlayer catch-up)		 £15 (per house)
Going out and socialising £120
Clothing £90
Toiletries £40
Books/Equipment £85

Other things that can affect your monthly spending

  • If you live with others, you may be able to share some costs such as electricity and internet bills between your flatmates.
  • If you live with dependents (such as a spouse or children) you should budget the above figures per person for any adult/child over 14, and 50% for children under 14.
  • If you live alone, you may find some bills more expensive as they include a fixed daily charge which does not reduce with lower usage.

Other costs

Travel to University: £0-50

  • Due to Dundee's compact city campus, many students live within walking distance of University buildings. If you live further away or have classes at Ninewells Hospital you may wish to take a bus.
  • Bus travel in Scotland is free for residents up to age 22, and student discounts are available on paid tickets.
     

Council tax: £0 (for full-time students)

  • Full-time students are exempt from council tax. Any adult who is not a student is responsible for paying the council tax. Discounts might be available according to your circumstances.
  • If you live with non-students, then the household needs to pay council tax but with a 25% discount.

Water: £0

  • Water bills are included in council tax in Scotland, unlike in England and Wales.
  • If you are living in University accommodation, or some private accommodation designed for students, some of your household bills will be included in the rent.

If you are applying for a Student visa

You will need to show that you have enough money to support yourself - UK Visas and Immigration (Gov.uk guidance) has more information on the amounts required. You must check you have the correct amount for living expenses and tuition fees in your bank account before applying for your visa.

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