Full Guide to Student Living in Brighton

One of the most vibrant and exciting cities to live in the UK, Brighton is a fantastic choice for students. If you are considering living in Brighton in the future, whether at the University of Sussex, the University of Brighton, or other higher education establishments in the area, we’ve put together a guide to inform and help you.

We are always looking to provide the best information for students and potential students, as you can see in other city guides, such as our student guide to costs in Manchester. We hope this Brighton guide gives you all the help you need to make the best decision.

What is the average student rent in Brighton?

We have three sites offering a range of premium student accommodation to suit those seeking to live alone or with other people. All bills and wi-fi costs are included in the rental price. The sites include:

• Hollingbury House starting at £231 per person/per week
• Alumno Falmer starting at £285 per person/per week
• Moulescoomb Place starting at £155 per person/per week

Away from our own student accommodation, the average weekly rent for the following types of student property in Brighton are as follows:

• Studio flat: £232
• 1 bedroom flat: £307
• Shared house: £140 per person

All of the above do not include the price of utility bills.

How much are utility bills in Brighton?

Utility bills are not usually included in the rent when signing a contract for student accommodation in a shared house (our student accommodation includes all utility bills and wi-fi as part of the rental payment).

On average, a 4-bedroom shared student accommodation will have a cost of around £107 per person, per month to pay for energy, water, broadband, and TV licence.

How much do groceries cost in Brighton?

Living in Brighton, you’ll find all the major supermarket chains such as, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, M&S, Waitrose, Lidl and Aldi. There is such a wide variation in price between different supermarkets and depending on your budget you’ll have the chance to find plenty of good food.

On average, students living in Brighton spend around £40-£50 per week on food shopping, but you can save money by shopping for own-brand items and in the less expensive supermarkets.

How much does it cost to go out in Brighton?

Brighton is home to a lively nightlife, covering everything you could ever think of for a night out. It’s a friendly, inclusive city, with plenty of different types of bars, clubs and nights to suit all music tastes, comedy nights, those looking for a good sober night out.

There is something for everyone. Every person is different, so the prices for going out will vary depending on what it is you like to do.

Always remember though, that you’ll find student clubs, student-friendly venues and specific nights that are cheaper than regular club nights, alongside student discounts in some pubs, restaurants, and coffee shops for food and drink. Never be too afraid to ask, the worst that will happen is you’ll be told no.

Brighton is slightly more expensive city to go out in when compared to the rest of the UK, with an average pint of beer costing around £6, entry into clubs costing between £10 and £15, and an average meal in a chain restaurant costing about £15 per person. So be sure to take this into account when you are planning your student budget .

How much does travel cost in Brighton?

Getting around is pretty simple for students living in Brighton. The University of Brighton city campus is only a 15-minute walk from the railway station and other campuses close to local stations. For the University of Sussex campus, this is based on the outskirts near the football stadium, but it is easy to reach via train in just ten minutes.

Buses

For a one-day bus pass in Brighton you will be paying £3.60, but there are also weekly and monthly bus passes that you can purchase that give you an even better deal. Much of Brighton is walkable though, so it might make more financial sense to pick and choose when you use the bus, rather than pay out for a monthly pass for instance.

Trains

All campuses are walking distance from Southern Railway line stations, and with a Unizone ticket, students can take advantage of weekly or monthly tickets with up to a 70% discount! Outside of the city, you can get to London for just £7 on the train, or as far as Birmingham for £35 or Manchester for £50. If you have a Student Railcard this will give you a 1/3 off rail fares.

Walking and cycling

Both walking and cycling are encouraged in a city that is easy to navigate. If you want to walk everywhere there is no cost at all and it is a plus point to your physical and mental health. If you want to purchase a bike or hire a bike there will be some costs associated with this, but overall, it is a big benefit to you.

You can hire pedal bikes, e-bikes and scooters from Beryl Bikes with student discounts in Brighton. There is a pay as you ride option starting at 8p per minute, minute bundles starting at 100 minutes for £6 and passes that start at £16 for a day (all of these rates are pre-student discount).

Are there any other costs for students to consider?

On top of all the costs mentioned above, there are some social and university costs to consider (not including the course fees). For instance, on average, students at the University of Sussex pay around £10 on their laundry, £20 each month on course books, £12 on toiletries, and £30 per month on clothes and accessories.

You must also consider other costs that students may have, such as the price of joining societies and clubs at university that can range from a couple of pounds to £20 for the year.

Student living in Brighton is a lot of fun and it is such a great city that many students choose to stay on to live in the city for many years after completing their studies. That is always a good sign for any student city.

We hope this guide has been helpful in providing you with some accurate information about the costs of living in Brighton for students in 2024, including transport, nights out, university costs, and accommodation. If there’s anything we’ve missed, or you want to know more, give us a shout and we’ll always do out bit to ensure we offer an extensive guide to every city that we have student accommodation in.