Cambridge Student Accommodation Costs and Monthly Budget
Separate Cambridge college rents from undergraduate and postgraduate budgets, with 2026–27 room charges and clearly labelled 2027–28 estimates.
Label every figure with its year, student category and period.
The Jesus College examples are 2026–27 accommodation charges.
The university living-cost estimates shown are for 2027–28.
Undergraduate and postgraduate estimates apply to different situations.
Check vacation access, storage and any accommodation gap separately.
A Cambridge budget needs three labels beside every number: the academic year, the type of student and the period it covers. College accommodation charges, undergraduate living-cost estimates and postgraduate maintenance figures answer different questions. Mixing them can leave you planning for the wrong year or too few months.
As checked on 3 October 2026, the University of Cambridge’s central living-cost pages show estimates for 2027–28. Individual colleges also publish actual accommodation charges for 2026–27. The examples below keep those years separate; none is a quote for an available private room.
A real college accommodation example for 2026 to 2027
Jesus College lists these undergraduate accommodation licence prices for 2026–27:
Room and licence |
Published period |
Total price range |
|---|---|---|
First year non en suite short licence |
29 weeks |
£4,677 to £4,870 |
First year en suite short licence |
29 weeks |
£6,063 to £6,984 |
Non en suite standard licence |
32 to 33 weeks |
£5,234 to £7,249 |
These are college-specific charges, not a Cambridge market range. The college says its licence fee includes utilities, internet, communal cleaning and laundry facilities. The length and eligibility of the licence matter as much as the room category.
Ask whether you must clear the room during vacations. Jesus College normally requires undergraduates to remove belongings for those periods, with arrangements differing by licence. If travelling home is impractical, find out whether extra nights and storage are possible and what they cost before relying on a short contract.
Do not assume that you can choose any college’s room independently of your university and college arrangements. Obtain the options you are actually eligible for, then compare them.
Undergraduate planning estimates for 2027 to 2028
The university estimates undergraduate living costs at £1,330 a month for 2027–28: £11,970 over nine months or £15,960 over twelve. Its monthly breakdown is:
Planning category |
University estimate |
|---|---|
Accommodation |
£880 |
Food |
£255 |
Personal items |
£75 |
Social activities |
£85 |
Study costs |
£10 |
Miscellaneous |
£25 |
Total |
£1,330 |
These are indicative estimates calculated in May 2026 using inflation forecasts, not promises that your costs will stay within them. The £880 accommodation line is a planning allowance, not a room offer. Do not add a full room rent on top of it without first removing the accommodation allowance you are replacing.
Postgraduate students need a separate comparison
For 2027–28, Cambridge estimates £20,700 for twelve months, or £15,525 for nine months, for a full-time postgraduate without dependants. That corresponds to £1,725 a month. The estimate is separate from course fees and does not cover every arrival cost.
Use the postgraduate guidance and your offer requirements if that is your situation. The undergraduate figure is not a cheaper alternative budget to select simply because it produces a lower total. Students with dependants or a different study pattern need a plan reflecting those circumstances.
Replace estimates with your actual commitments
Start a simple budget with the accommodation offer you can accept. Record its total charge, covered dates, included bills and payment deadlines. Then add food, personal spending, study needs and travel for the months you will actually be there.
Keep a separate line for each uncovered period. If an agreement ends before your project or course finishes, you still need a place to live during that gap. Ask about extensions early, but do not treat an unconfirmed extension as accommodation you already have.
An illustrative example shows the problem: a £5,000 room licence plus nine months of assumed £450 non-rent spending totals £9,050. That arithmetic is correct, but it says nothing about accommodation during any uncovered weeks, travel home or initial purchases. A total can look precise while the plan is incomplete.
For help arranging the money by date, use our rent instalments guide. The annual amount and the amount due before arrival are different planning questions.
Find a suitable room with Studentlife
Use our search to build a shortlist, then confirm the room, dates, eligibility and terms with the accommodation provider.
Search by the place you study
Our accommodation search accepts a city, university or property name.
Why it matters for you
Use your institution and eligible accommodation options as the search starting point.
Compare the facilities you need
Our UK search has filters for room type, bathroom and kitchen arrangements.
Why it matters for you
Compare private and shared facilities separately from college licence categories.
Use listing details to prepare your enquiry
Our UK listings show starting weekly prices and amenities to help you identify options to investigate.
Why it matters for you
Keep current private-room quotes distinct from university maintenance estimates and their academic years.
Frequently asked questions
Use your own institution’s accommodation and living-cost guidance first. The figures above are University of Cambridge and Jesus College examples, not city-wide entitlements or offers.
Compare the full year you need. Vacation accommodation, storage and travel may change the result. Confirm what the licence actually permits before deciding.
Use Studentlife’s UK accommodation search to investigate Cambridge options, then request current prices for your dates and eligibility. Keep those offers separate from the university’s planning estimates.
First remove the accommodation allowance you are replacing. The university estimate already includes an accommodation line, so adding full rent on top would double count it.
Use the guidance for your own circumstances. The postgraduate estimate here is for a full-time student without dependants and is not interchangeable with the undergraduate figure.
Sources
Jesus College Cambridge — Undergraduate rents and what is included. 2026–27 licence charges, eligibility, inclusions and vacation arrangements; checked 3 October 2026.
University of Cambridge — Undergraduate living costs. 2027–28 indicative monthly and annual estimates, calculated in May 2026; checked 3 October 2026.
University of Cambridge — Postgraduate living costs. 2027–28 full-time, no-dependants estimate and exclusions; checked 3 October 2026.