Living in Exeter

As a student city, it's possible to live well in Exeter on a budget. Here’s a breakdown of some daily expenses to help you manage your finances.

Estimated budget (for illustrative purposes only, actual costs may vary)

Sources include Numbeo.com 2024   

Exeter offers a promising future for graduates. It has one of the UK’s fastest-growing economies (Irwin Mitchell ‘UK Powerhouse’ report, May 2022). Key industries like digital technology, environmental science and advanced engineering are expected to grow rapidly. Whatever your field, you’ll find plenty of local job opportunities.

There are lots of food options in Exeter city centre. Restaurants and cafés serve food from around the world – including Thai, Chinese, Indian, and American.

On campus, you can eat at popular places like The Forum Kitchen, The Ram Bar, Pret, Starbucks and more.

In the summer, you can enjoy street food at Exeter Street Food Market or buy fresh local food at farmers’ markets around the city.

The university is a 10-minute bus ride from the city centre, with buses running regularly between the campus and city. As the city centre is compact, you'll find it easy to travel around on foot or by bicycle.

Exeter also has great rail links, with train stations across the city. You can get to London by train in just over 2 hours, or to local beaches, such as Exmouth, in under 30 minutes.

For travel further afield, Exeter Airport is around 25 minutes away by taxi. Fly to Edinburgh, Manchester or countries such as Spain and Greece.

Exeter is full of culture, art and entertainment. It's a great place to explore while you study. You’ll find local talent and global influences all around the city.

• Museums and art – Visit the Royal Albert Memorial Museum and St. Nicholas Priory to see exciting exhibitions and historical displays. On campus, explore The Bill Douglas Cinema Museum and thousands of artworks around the university.

• Theatre – Watch live shows at Exeter Northcott Theatre on campus. Check out community performances at Barnfield Theatre or Cygnet Theatre.

• Live music – Enjoy concerts at venues like Exeter Corn Exchange and Westpoint. Or, attend live music events right on campus.

• Festivals – Exeter has many fun festivals throughout the year, including food, music, craft and cultural celebrations like Exeter Festival, Let’s Rock Exeter, and Exeter Respect Festival.

• Shopping – Shop popular brands at Princesshay or explore Fore Street and McCoy’s Arcade for unique and vintage finds.

Discover more things to do in Exeter

Exeter is a great city for sports – not just rugby and football, but also water sports like rowing and dragon boat racing on nearby rivers and beaches. You can watch or join fun competitions throughout the year.

If you love the outdoors, explore national parks for hiking, cycling and bouldering.

Visit the Sports Park on Streatham Campus or St Luke’s Sports Centre. You can also try indoor rock climbing with friends at local climbing centres.