Cost at a glance
| Country | On-campus | Off-campus / private |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | ~£192/week average | £300-600/week |
| United States | $12,310-14,650/year | $6,000-9,600/year (shared) |
| Australia | AUD 250-650/week | AUD 180-350/week (share house) |
| Singapore | SGD 300-800/month | SGD 800-4,000+/month |
| Germany | €250-400/month (all-in) | €300-800/month + utilities |
United Kingdom
University halls average £192.02 per week across the UK, working out to about £7,681 per year on a standard 40-week contract, and usually include heating, water, and internet. Private student accommodation runs higher, typically £300-600 per week, though private house shares can undercut this. In London specifically, halls run £200-450/week and private options push higher still.
Halls and purpose-built student accommodation typically use 45-51 week fixed contracts that charge even during holidays away, so compare total annual commitment, not just the weekly rate.
United States
On-campus room and board averages $12,310 per year at public universities and up to $14,650 at private ones. Off-campus housing with roommates is usually cheaper: $6,000-9,600 per year is typical when splitting rent three or four ways and self-catering, roughly 20-30% less than dorm costs once meals are factored in. The comparison isn't perfectly clean, though — dorm pricing usually covers the academic year only, while off-campus leases are commonly signed for a full 12 months.
Australia
On-campus accommodation runs AUD 250-650 per week depending on room type and university, and typically bundles in wifi, cleaning, utilities, and 24/7 security. Share-house rooms are usually cheaper on paper, AUD 180-350 per week, but once utilities and internet are added, a AUD 300 room can run closer to AUD 420 per week all-in. Sydney is the most expensive city for either option; Adelaide is among the most affordable.
Singapore & Germany
Singapore's university hostels cost SGD 300-800 per month and are usually the more affordable, more convenient option close to campus. Private rentals cost significantly more, from SGD 800 for a room in a shared HDB flat up to SGD 2,000-4,000+ for a private condo unit. In Germany, Studentenwohnheim dorms run €250-400 per month, generally all-inclusive of utilities and internet, while a WG (shared flat) room runs €300-800 per month plus utilities, with steep city-to-city variation — a WG room in Chemnitz might run €250-300 while the same in Munich runs €600-800.
Key takeaways
- UK: halls average £192/week but run 45-51 week fixed contracts — compare annual totals, not weekly rates.
- US: on-campus averages $12,310-14,650/year; off-campus with roommates runs $6,000-9,600/year.
- Australia: on-campus AUD 250-650/week; share house AUD 180-350/week before utilities.
- Singapore and Germany both show dorms/hostels as the clearly cheaper, more convenient option.
Frequently asked questions
Is on-campus or off-campus housing cheaper in the UK?
University halls average £192.02/week (£7,681/year on a standard 40-week contract), while private student accommodation runs £300-600/week. Halls are generally cheaper, but most run 45-51 week fixed contracts that charge even when students are away, so the true annual cost should be compared, not the weekly rate alone.
Is on-campus or off-campus housing cheaper in the US?
On-campus room and board averages $12,310-14,650/year. Off-campus housing with roommates typically runs $6,000-9,600/year, often 20-30% cheaper once shared rent and self-catering are factored in, though dorm pricing usually covers only the academic year while off-campus leases often run 12 months.
How much does student housing cost in Australia?
On-campus accommodation runs AUD 250-650/week depending on room type and city. Share-house rooms cost AUD 180-350/week, though total costs with utilities can run closer to AUD 420/week in expensive cities like Sydney.
How much does student housing cost in Singapore and Germany?
Singapore university hostels cost SGD 300-800/month versus SGD 800-4,000+/month for private rentals. Germany's Studentenwohnheim dorms cost €250-400/month all-inclusive, while shared WG flats run €300-800/month plus utilities, with significant variation by city.
Get Araya admissions updates
Visa and policy changes, deadlines and new guides for Master’s and MBA applicants. Short emails, no spam.
You are on the list
Thank you. We will email you when something changes that matters for your application.
Weighing housing options for next year?
Book a free strategy call and we'll map realistic housing costs into your full study-abroad budget.
Book your free strategy call →Keep reading
Sources & further reading
- Room types and fees, on-campus accommodation (official university guidance) — University of Newcastle, Australia
- How Much is Uni Accommodation? — Monzo