Edinburgh is the best destination for young people to go to university, according to a survey compiled by student accommodation provider Liberty Living.
The project analysed the number of charity shops and budget supermarkets near to each university as well as the cost of an annual university gym membership, the cost of a burger and a pint at a student pub and the cost of two cinema tickets, to get an overall standardised score and ranking.
Edinburgh had the most charity shops with 20 near to the university, and the joint highest budget supermarkets with 13 in the vicinity – as well as a reasonable £7.75 for a burger and a pint and annual gym membership for just £120.
The top ten budget cities for students are:
- Edinburgh
- Coventry
- Manchester
- Glasgow
- Sheffield
- Liverpool
- Leeds
- Newcastle
- Birmingham
- Wolverhampton
Coventry, in 2nd place, is the furthest city south in the ranking, one of three cities in the Midlands, with all the other seven in the North of England or Scotland. Its neighbour Wolverhampton boasts the cheapest burger and pint deal at just £5.50. While Oxford doesn’t make the top 10, it is the cheapest place to get a gym membership – at just £67.
The study also found that:
- The average price of a university gym membership is £183
- The average price of a burger and pint in a student pub is £7.78
- The average price of two cinema tickets is £19
Alison Callender, Head of Sales, from Liberty Living commented on the results: “Balancing the books is a vital part of student living, so we thought it was important to look at which city was offering the best value for a budget student lifestyle. With a mixture of ranking factors looking at everything from household essentials to entertainment, we think our ranking will give students a good idea on where they’ll have the most luck finding a bargain.
“We know from our Edinburgh residents what a great city it is to live and learn in, but people may be surprised at just how many options there are for budget living in the city. As well as the stunning architecture, rich history and thriving culture, you can really get a good deal on the essentials!”
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