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Durham is a fantastic city in Northeast England. It is well-known for its history, beauty, and academic prestige. The average cost of living in Durham is around £1200 per month, but it can vary based on individual circumstances, average salary, lifestyle choices, and family size.
Durham is home to prestigious universities such as Duke University and North Carolina Central University, and it attracts expats from all over the world. In this blog post, we will show the cost of living in Durham in various aspects, such as education, rent, food, transportation, utilities, healthcare, and many others. So, let’s begin our discussion without any further delay.
This Blog Includes:
Cost of Living in Durham for International Students
Durham is one of the most expensive northern cities, which means the cost of living in Durham is slightly high. Dhuram attracts expats for its UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Cathedral and Castle. It is home to several recognized institutions of higher education.
Here, we have given the general breakdown of the average cost of living in Durham in various categories for the immigrants who wish to move here. They can get an idea of how much they have to keep with them before moving to Durham:
Cost of Rent in Durham:
The average cost of rent in Durham for a single person is around 1,225.00 £. Various accommodation options with affordable costs are available for expats, depending on their budget and lifestyle. Some of the costs of living in Durham concerning apartment rent are as follows:
| Apartment Location | Monthly Rent |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre | 1,225.00 £ |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre | 450.00 £ |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre | 2,825.00 £ |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre | 950.00 £ |
Also Read: Cost of Living in Cambodia: A Guide on Expected Expenses
Cost of Grocery in Durham:
The average cost of groceries in Durham is around £70 per month, including food, water, milk, and other items. Groceries costs can impact the cost of living in Durham because groceries are day-to-day life expenses for all. So here below is the list of few grocery items with their prices available in Durham:
| Grocery Item | Price |
| Milk (regular), (1 liter) | 1.37 £ |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) | 1.17 £ |
| Rice (white), (1kg) | 1.62 £ |
| Eggs (regular) (12) | 2.92 £ |
| Apples (1kg) | 2.34 £ |
| Banana (1kg) | 1.52 £ |
| Oranges (1kg) | 2.55 £ |
| Tomato (1kg) | 3.00 £ |
| Potato (1kg) | 0.88 £ |
| Onion (1kg) | 0.94 £ |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) | 1.43 £ |
| meat, egg, drinks and Other items | 40 £ |
Cost of Utilities in Durham
`The Basic Utility Cost in Durham is around £300 per month for one person, which is 1/3 of the cost of living in Durham. This utility cost includes electricity, heating, gas, a mobile plan, and internet access. For your reference, Here’s a breakdown of the costs for essential Cost of Utilities in Durham for immigrant students in the country:
| Utility Type | Monthly Cost |
| Basic Utility for 85m2 Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | 257.18 £ |
| Monthly Plan of Mobile Phone (with Calls & 10GB+ Data) | 14.23 £ |
| Internet (60+ Mbps, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | 29.00 £ |
Cost of Transportation in Durham
Transportation in Durham is a convenient and sustainable way to explore the county. The Local Transport in Durham is accessible, compact, and clean; it is easy to get around Durham using the bus services. Transportation contributes to around 150£ per month in the overall cost of living in Durham. Here are various modes of transportation costs every month on can be required:
| Mode of Transport | Monthly Cost |
| One-way Ticket(Local Transport) | 5.00 £ |
| Monthly Pass(Regular Price) | 65.00 £ |
| Taxi Start(Normal Tariff) | 2.50 £ |
| Taxi 1km(Normal Tariff) | 1.09 £ |
| Taxi 1 hour Waiting(Normal Tariff) | 14.40 £ |
Also Read: Cost of Living in Scotland: A Guide on Expected Expenses
Average Tuition Fees in Durham
The cost of living in Durham for international students also includes their university average tuition fees. If you decide to move to Durham for your studies, the most important thing for you is the average tuition fees of the Universities. Here, we have given the cost of average tuition fees for various programs assessed by Durham University in the table below:
| International Study Centre programme | Programs | For year 2024/25 |
| International Foundation Year | Business, Economics, Accounting and Finance | £24,900 |
| Science and Engineering | £25,900 | |
| Humanities, Law and Social Science | £23,500 | |
| Pre-Masters | Business, Economics, Accounting and Finance (2 terms) | £21,750 |
| Business, Economics, Accounting and Finance (3 terms) | £26,900 | |
| Law and Social Sciences (3 terms only) | £24,250 | |
| Science and Engineering (2 terms) | £21,250 | |
| Science and Engineering (3 terms) | £25,900 |
Why Live and Study in Durham?
Now that you have understood the various costs of living in Durham, let us explain why you should live and study In Dharam. It is a lively and cosmopolitan city that offers students a high quality of life experience, including beautiful architecture, green spaces, cobbled streets, and lots of history.
Moreover, Durham’s Universities are known worldwide for their high-quality education. You will get a world-class education here. One of the prestigious Universities in Durham is Durham University, which currently holds the 78th position in the QS World University Ranking. Other universities at Durham are New College Durham, Trevelyan College, Cranmer Hall, King James I Academy, and Teikyo University of Japan. Many others make Dharam the best place to study and live.
Things to Consider Before Moving to Durham
Besides finalizing the budget for the cost of living in Durham, here are some other amazing things an expat student should consider before moving to Durham for their higher studies to make the most of the ample opportunities to excel academically with plenty of fun:
Student-Friendly Nightlife
Durham has a lively social scene comprising clubs, pubs, and music venues. While the city is relatively small, the university’s presence means plenty of catering to students. More than 15,000 students are studying at Durham, so a lot is going on to keep all 15,000 students busy. This wonderful thing with the cost of living in Durham makes students happy.
Deals for Students at Durham
Students at Durham can enjoy discounts and offers at many businesses. In many restaurants and high street stores, you’ll find lots of offers, chances for bargaining and many more.
Local parks at Durham
There are various green parks in Durham where people can relax. If you have gotten tired from studying, you can chill out at those parks with your mates. This is the best thing to do in Durham free of cost.
Work opportunities in Durham
Working with study at the University of Durham is easy and feasible because of its recommendations on the maximum number of hours for working and extra-curricular activities available. These things help students manage their cost of living in Durham and study.
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FAQs
Answer: The average monthly cost of living in Durham is around £1200, but the living expenses can vary based on standard of living, individual circumstances, average salary, lifestyle choices, and family size.
Answer: If we compare the cost of living in Durham with the cost of living in London. Then you would need around 6,028.1£ for and 4,100.0£ in Durham to maintain the same standard of life. It means Durham is cheaper than London.
Answer: Durham is a fantastic place to live at an affordable cost of living. It offers the vibrancy of city life and the most picturesque countryside. Students also have a wide range of job prospects.
So, this was all about the cost of living in Durham. Many Indian students dream of pursuing education in foreign nations due to the exposure and career growth they offer. Consider joining a free counselling session with Leverage Edu if you plan to study abroad.
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