Wild pupil cities with least expensive boozy nights out — however is probably not the most secure

As Freshers‘ week approaches, we’ve discovered the cheapest and best cities in the UK for a student night out. But could your choice of boozer be putting you in danger?

Nationwide’s annual Student Living Index has revealed prices are soaring for students, thanks to the cost of living crisis. The report revealed that the average cost of a night out for a UK university student is £44.

More students than ever are taking on part-time work, or turning more to the bank of mum and dad to combat rising expenses.

READ MORE: 4 in 10 UK children feel isolated with no school support for mental health issues

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Another alternative? Choose a cheaper place to party.



The cost of living crisis is affecting student life, as socialising becomes almost entirely unaffordable
(Image: Getty Images)

Research ranking the most cost-effective UK cities for a night on the town, has revealed Stoke-on-Trent as the cheapest location. Averaging around £24 for a night out, students can expect to get their money’s worth in this Staffordshire town.

The priciest town has been named as Salford, where students can expect to pay a whopping £60 per soiree. The remaining cities are ranked below, with the average cost of one student night out:

  1. Stoke-On-Trent: £24
  2. Leicester: £28
  3. Dundee: £30
  4. Coventry, Portsmouth: £31
  5. Derby: £32
  6. Bournemouth, Lincoln, Sheffield: £35
  7. Birmingham, York: £36
  8. Bath, Cambridge, Colchester: £37
  9. Lancaster, Norwich, Plymouth: £38
  10. Nottingham: £42
  11. Londonderry, Oxford: £43
  12. Bristol: £44
  13. Cardiff: £45
  14. Newcastle-Upon-Tyne: £46
  15. Leeds: £49
  16. Ormskirk: £51
  17. Edinburgh, London: £52
  18. Liverpool: £54
  19. Belfast: £55
  20. Manchester: £56
  21. Glasgow: £57
  22. Salford: £60


Stoke-On-Trent and Leicester are among the cheapest student cities in the UK for a night out
(Image: Getty Images)

But a bargain booze-up may come with more than a hangover. Many of the cheaper cities listed also possess some of the UK’s highest crime rates.

The 15th cheapest city on the list, Leeds, has the highest crime rate in the UK according to CrimeRate statistics. In 2023, the overall crime rate in Leeds was 151 crimes per 1,000 people. The most common crimes in Leeds are violence and sexual offences – not an ideal environment for inebriated teenagers.



Salford was ranked the most expensive student city in the UK for a night out
(Image: Getty Images)

The 7th cheapest city on the list, Birmingham, has the second highest crime rate in the UK. Since December 2023, the crime rate stands at 51.6 crimes per year, per 1000 people. 40.6% of all reported offences were determined to be violent crime.

Neighbourhood Watch has published a guide to maintaining safety whilst on a night out, which can be viewed here.

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