📍 Scotland

Cost of Living in Glasgow
for International Students

Updated April 2026 · Based on real student spending data · Scotland's biggest city — affordable, vibrant, and increasingly tech-focused

Glasgow is roughly 40% cheaper than London and offers strong career prospects in finance, tech, and healthcare. Most international students in Glasgow spend between £845 and £1,180 per month on rent, food, transport, and basic living costs.

Shared rent

£480–£750

Food / month

£170–£260

Transport

£80

Monthly total

£845–£1,180

Full Monthly Budget Breakdown

ExpenseRangeNote
Rent (shared room)£480–£750Most students share
Rent (studio/own flat)£700–£950Single occupancy
Food & groceries£170–£260Cooking most meals
Public transport£80Monthly pass
Utilities & internet£65Bills share + broadband
Entertainment / social£50–£120Occasional going out
Monthly Total£845–£1,180Shared room

💼 Can Part-Time Work Cover Your Costs?

Part-time earnings

£1,005

20hrs/wk @ £11.6/hr

Min living cost

£845

Survival mode

Monthly gap

+£160

Surplus

Working the legal maximum of 20 hours/week during term time at Glasgow's average wage of £11.6/hr earns approximately £1,005/month gross (before tax). This covers your minimum living costs with £160 to spare.

🎯 Glasgow Student Money Tips

  • 1

    West End (Hillhead, Partick) and Southside are the best value student areas

  • 2

    SPT Subway (the Clockwork Orange) is cheap for getting around the West End

  • 3

    Glasgow's Barras Market and Partick market have cheap fresh food

  • 4

    The city has a growing fintech scene — JP Morgan and many banks are based here

  • 5

    Museums (Kelvingrove, Riverside Museum) are free — great for entertainment on a budget

Free tool

Calculate Your Real Monthly Cost

Enter your course, city, and lifestyle. Get a personalised ROI simulation with worst, realistic, and best-case scenarios.

Your tuition

£15,000/yr

Living in Glasgow

£845–£1,180/mo

Part-time offset

~£1,005/mo

Calculate my real ROI →

Free · No sign-up · Takes 3 minutes

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Glasgow or Edinburgh better for students?+
Glasgow is 15–20% cheaper than Edinburgh for living costs. Glasgow also has more universities and a larger job market. Edinburgh has more prestige and international recognition. Both are excellent choices.
What industries are strong in Glasgow?+
Glasgow has financial services (JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley backoffice), engineering, NHS Scotland, and a growing fintech and digital sector. Strathclyde is particularly strong for engineering and technology.

Related Resources

tool

UK ROI Decision Engine

Calculate if studying in the UK is worth it for your situation

jobs

Part-time jobs in Glasgow

Find part-time work to offset your living costs in Glasgow

cost

Cost of living in Edinburgh

Compare costs: is Edinburgh cheaper than Glasgow?

visa

Can I work 20 hours per week?

Understand your working rights to offset living costs