You’ll typically need about £1,400–£1,700 a month in Nottingham if you rent a one‑bed outside the centre and cover utilities, food, transport and basics. Expect rent around £695–£919 for a one‑bed, groceries £150–£200, utilities and broadband £165–£199, and a monthly transport pass £60–£75. Student or shared options cut costs further with bills included. Keep this overview in mind and you’ll find practical tips and neighborhood trade‑offs if you want more detail.

Monthly Budget Breakdown for Singles and Families

Wondering what it’ll cost you to live in Nottingham? You’ll want a clear monthly budget that separates rent from other essentials. For a single person, expect about £746.90 monthly excluding rent; that covers groceries (£150–£200), utilities, mobile and internet (roughly £165–£199), and transport (a monthly pass is £72.50).

Wondering about living costs in Nottingham? Expect around £746.90 monthly (excluding rent) for essentials.

For a family of four, non-housing expenses average £2,618.90 monthly, reflecting higher grocery and utility use.

Use these figures to build realistic budgets and compare against other cities: Nottingham cost of living (excluding rent) is about 27.9% cheaper than London, while rent comparison shows Nottingham rents run roughly 61.9% lower. That gap means your overall monthly budget can stretch farther here, especially if you choose housing outside the city centre.

Track your actual bills against these benchmarks so you can adjust spending categories precisely and avoid surprises.

Rent and Housing Options in Nottingham

Looking for the right place to live in Nottingham means weighing location against cost: city-centre one-bed flats average about £919/month, while outside the centre you’ll commonly pay around £695 (typically £650–£850), and en-suite rooms in shared houses average roughly £516/month. You’ll choose between private one-bed flats, shared houses with en-suite rooms, and student halls. If you want lower rent, target neighbourhoods outside the core where housing options are cheaper but still well connected. For students, accommodation from about £99/week can cut monthly expenses significantly. Factor in utilities and transport—they’re comparable to other major cities and can affect total monthly outlay. Compare listings by exact location, included bills, and contract length; short-term lets often cost more per month. If you’re moving from a city like Manchester, expect generally lower rent in Nottingham. Prioritise proximity to work or campus versus lower rent to find the best balance for your budget.

Food, Groceries and Eating Out Costs

You’ll find basic groceries in Nottingham are generally affordable: items like milk, tomatoes, apples and bread are priced in the low pounds per unit, meaning a typical monthly shop can fall around £150–£200.

Eating out varies — a mid-range meal for two is roughly £15, a McMeal about £8, and drinks range from a £3.30 cappuccino to a £4.50 pub pint.

Use these benchmarks to compare weekly food-and-housekeeping budgets (often quoted £30–£50) and plan whether you’ll cook more or eat out.

Grocery Prices Overview

How much will your weekly shop set you back in Nottingham? You’ll see Nottingham groceries that keep monthly living costs reasonable if you plan carefully. Expect staples like whole milk (£4.12/l), a 1 kg tomato bag (£2.73), apples (£3.29/kg), and 500 g local cheese (£2.41). A dozen eggs is just £1.00 and a 0.5 kg loaf of white bread £0.83. Prices vary by store and season, so compare for best grocery prices.

• Surprise at low egg and bread costs
• Relief seeing affordable fresh tomatoes and cheese
• Concern over higher milk price
• Frustration if chicken fillets (£7.67/kg) stretch your budget
• Comfort from manageable staple prices overall

Eating Out Expenses

After you’ve compared supermarket staples, it helps to see how occasional meals out and convenience buys will affect your weekly budget.

You’ll find Nottingham eating out can be economical if you plan: an inexpensive restaurant meal averages £14, a mid-range dinner for two about £15 per person, and a cappuccino about £3.30.

Factor in quick convenience items — a 0.5 L domestic beer in-store is £2.66, 2 L Coca‑Cola £2.03 — when you graze between meals.

Use grocery prices (milk £4.12/L, tomatoes £2.73/kg, cheese £2.41/500g, apples £3.29/kg) to decide when to cook.

Students will appreciate that student dining costs remain lower if you combine supermarket staples and occasional restaurant visits.

Utilities, Internet and Mobile Expenses

When budgeting for an 85m² flat in Nottingham, you should expect basic utilities to run about £152.47 per month.

Add roughly £29.44 for a 60 Mbps unlimited broadband connection and about £13.20 for a 10GB mobile plan, and factor in optional monthly services like a £32.88 gym membership or a £60 public transport pass as part of your overall costs.

These figures give you a clear baseline for planning your monthly bills.

Basic Home Utilities

Curious what you’ll be paying each month to keep the lights on and stay connected? You can expect basic utilities for an 85 m2 apartment to run about £152.47, with broadband and mobile adding roughly £42.64 (£29.44 for 60 Mbps unlimited broadband, £13.20 mobile).

That puts combined utilities,broadband,monthly costs around £165–£199 typically in Nottingham, which is affordable compared with larger UK cities. If you budget a little extra, include gym membership (£32.88) when tallying total monthly costs beyond housing utilities.

• Relief: Nottingham’s lower rates ease financial pressure.
• Predictability: flat broadband and mobile fees help planning.
• Caution: bills vary with usage and seasons.
• Simplicity: most packages are straightforward.
• Flexibility: you can trim costs by adjusting usage.

Internet and Broadband

Wondering how much you’ll pay to stay connected in Nottingham? You can expect reliable internet and broadband for about £29.44/month for a 60 Mbps unlimited plan. That’s a straightforward utility cost to factor into your monthly budget alongside basic utilities for an 85m2 flat, which run about £152.47/month. Combined estimates for internet, mobile, and utilities typically fall between £165 and £199/month, so broadband is a modest share of that.

Mobile Plans and Data

How much will you pay to stay connected on the go in Nottingham? You can expect a 10GB mobile plan for about £13.20 monthly, making mobile plans affordable within Nottingham budgeting. Prepaid calls cost around £0.16 per minute if you prefer pay-as-you-go. Combined with 60 Mbps unlimited internet at £29.44 and basic utilities at £152.47, your connectivity and essentials sit in the £165–£199 monthly range (excluding rent). That predictable range helps you plan around other expenses like cinema tickets (£11.88) or a gym membership (£32.88).

• Relief: affordable mobile plans let you stay social without stress.
• Choice: prepaid or contract fits different habits.
• Predictability: clear monthly data costs aid budgeting.
• Value: decent speed and unlimited broadband.
• Balance: save on housing, spend on connection.

Transportation and Commuting Costs

Need a cheap, reliable way to get around Nottingham? You’ll find Nottingham transport costs reasonable if you match travel style to need. A one-way public transport ticket is about £3.00, while a monthly public transport pass runs £72.50 — choose the pass if you commute daily. Taxis start at £2.00 with roughly £1.12 per kilometre, so a typical 8 km business-day ride costs around £16.00; use taxis for occasional trips or when time’s tight.

If you drive, factor in gasoline at about £1.41 per litre plus parking and maintenance; car commuting quickly adds up compared with transit. Cycling affordability makes bikes the most economical choice: the city supports bike-sharing and good cycling infrastructure, so short trips can be free or very cheap. Remember utilities and internet sit with housing costs and influence your overall monthly commuting budget, especially if you need to work from home and reduce travel frequency.

Student-Specific Expenses and Money-Saving Tips

If you’re a student, transport choices you make—like cycling, buying a monthly bus pass, or sharing taxi trips—can free up cash for other study-related expenses. You’ll probably get a maintenance loan (up to £10,554 for full-time home undergraduates, paid termly) to help cover living costs, but planning matters: factor rent, food, and one-off purchases like a laptop or bike into your budget. Use university offers—Microsoft 365 is free—and hunt student discounts (Totum, Unidays, Student Beans) to reduce start-up and ongoing costs.

• Relief when you spot a good deal on a laptop or bike
• Comfort knowing bills-included halls simplify budgeting
• Satisfaction from saving on daily coffee or lunches
• Confidence using your maintenance loan efficiently
• Pride in stretching funds with student discounts

Keep a simple spreadsheet, prioritise essentials, compare private and university accommodation weekly rents, and track small recurring expenses like lunch and subscriptions.

Health, Personal Care and Everyday Services

Wondering what everyday health and personal-care costs will mean for your monthly budget? You’ll find personal care items are affordable: a box of tampons at £4.99 and deodorant at £1.78, while basic cold medicine for six days runs about £3.16. For routine outings, expect a cinema ticket at £11.88 and a 0.5L domestic beer in a pub at £4.99, which add to your everyday expenses.

Everyday health and personal-care costs stay manageable — tampons £4.99, deodorant £1.78, cold medicine £3.16, cinema £11.88.

If you use private health services, a short 15-minute doctor appointment costs around £55 and private antibiotics about £4.99 per box.

Recurring service costs include mobile at £13.20, internet £29.44, and a fitness club fee of £32.88; basic utilities for an 85m2 flat are roughly £152.47 monthly. Don’t forget a monthly public transport pass at £60 if you commute.

Tally these items against your rent and groceries to get a precise monthly estimate of health, personal care and everyday services costs.

Comparing Nottingham With London and Manchester

After looking at everyday health and personal-care costs, it’s useful to see how Nottingham stacks up against bigger UK cities. You’ll notice a clear Nottingham vs London gap: monthly non-rent costs in Nottingham are about £1,134.48 versus roughly £3,075 in London. That drives a strong rent comparison — city-centre 1-bed rents in Nottingham average £844.17 and outside-centre about £725.00, roughly 61.9% cheaper than London.

Compared with Manchester, you’ll find rents lower or similar, with utilities and transport comparable. That makes Nottingham an attractive choice if you want affordable living without sacrificing city amenities.

• Relief: your paycheck stretches further here.
• Confidence: lower rent eases budgeting pressure.
• Practicality: transport and utilities won’t surprise you.
• Opportunity: savings can fund social life or study.
• Comfort: decent quality at a lower cost.

Use these contrasts to decide whether Nottingham’s balance of price and quality fits your plans.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Does It Cost to Live in Nottingham?

You’ll spend roughly £750 monthly excluding rent; add student housing rent (£725–£850 outside centre) or higher in city centre. Factor in nottingham transport (£60–£72.50) and strict grocery budgeting (~£150–£200).

What Is the Average Cost of Living in the UK per Month With Rent?

Monthly means money matters: you’ll typically pay £1,500–£2,500 monthly with rent, depending on location. You’ll want budgeting trends and housing markets awareness, and you’ll plan practical, precise payments for bills, groceries, transport, and rent.

Is Nottingham an Affordable City?

Yes — you’ll find Nottingham affordability strong: Cost comparison shows Living in Nottingham is cheaper than London, with lower monthly non-rent expenses, affordable rents for students and singles, and reasonable transport and utility costs overall.

How Much Cheaper Is Nottingham Than London?

You’re about £1,940.52 cheaper monthly excluding rent; overall rent averages roughly 61.9% lower in Nottingham. In nottingham vs london cost comparison, you’ll find Nottingham ranks among more affordable cities for practical living choices.

Conclusion

You’ve seen what day-to-day life in Nottingham will cost — from rent and utilities to transport, food and student expenses — so you can plan with confidence. Could you live comfortably here while saving a bit each month? With careful budgeting, choosing the right neighbourhood, and taking advantage of student deals and public transport, you’ll balance quality of life and affordability. Compare options, prioritise needs, and adjust spending as your situation changes.