Belfast Is Ranked As One Of The Best Cities To Move To After University

With University graduates finishing off their degrees and eagerly awaiting the results of years of studying, come June, many graduates will be wondering where they might move to, to soak up the culture and experience of a different city.

To help students who are finishing university this summer, Mystudenthalls.com has analysed five social, financial and cultural factors which are important to graduates moving to a new city including the % of salary that would go on rent, utility costs, quality of life, culture rank and the average price of dining out.

Top 10 UK cities to move to after University

Newcastle comes out on top as the best UK city to move to after University with only 27% of the Av salary needed for rent and one of the highest quality of life scores. The cities renowned for its friendly atmosphere and lively social scene make it an ideal location to move to post studies.

Coventry’s affordable renting costs and cheap dining out options make it an appealing choice for new graduates with the city ranking second best to move to in the UK. The second city in the Northeast to make the top three, Sunderland, offers a mix of urban and coastal living and with low monthly utilities and dining out costs, make it a great city for graduates.

Leeds, which has one of the lowest costs of living in the ranking, with only 27% of the Av salary needed for rent and less than £220 for monthly utilities ranks fourth and Reading, despite having a slightly higher cost of dining out comes in fifth.

Dan Roberts, director of Mystudenthalls.com, adds: “This data really shows how far your rent can go in different cities for those considering a move. Relocating to a new city after university, whether in the UK or further afield, offers an incredible opportunity to grow both personally and professionally.

“It’s a chance to explore and immerse yourself in a new culture and enjoy what new cities have to offer while you’re still young and aren’t too tied down. It can also expand your network of friends and professional connections too.”

Tips for moving to a new city

• Research the City: Understand the cost of living, job market, public transport, and local culture before making the leap to make sure it would be a good fit.

• Budget Wisely: Plan your finances, considering rent, utilities, food, and entertainment expenses compared to what your salary is or would be if finding a job after moving.

• Network Early: Connect with local professional groups, alumni networks, and social clubs to build a support system early on, it can get lonely moving somewhere new.

• Volunteer: Volunteering can be a great way to integrate into the community and meet new people.

For more information on Mystudenthalls.com, or if you’re considering University in Belfast https://www.mystudenthalls.com/student-accommodation/belfast/ 

This dataset ranks  20 UK cities, based on how good they are to live in after uni. To do this, 5 different factors were used. Once the data for the factors was collected, the factors were then normalised, to provide each factor with a score between 0 and 1. If data was not available, a score of 0 was given. The normalised values were then summed, to give each location a total score out of 5. The locations were then ranked from highest to lowest, based on their total scores.

The factors used are as follows:

• % of Salary spent on Rent – The percentage of the average salary which is spent on rent in each city, according to numbeo.

• Monthly Utility Cost – The average utility cost for a 85m2 apartment in each city, according to numbeo.

• Quality of Life – A score given by numbeo, ranking the quality of life in each city using factors such as pollution, safety, cost of living etc.

• Avg Meal Cost – The average cost of an inexpensive meal for 1 in each city, according to numbeo.

• Culture Index Rank – The culture rank of each country on the ‘Good Country Index’. [Country Level]

The factors were indexed as follows:

• % of Salary spent on Rent – Low values get a high score. High values get a low score.

• Monthly Utility Cost – Low values get a high score. High values get a low score.

• Quality of Life – High values get a high score. Low values get a low score.

• Avg Meal Cost – Low values get a high score. High values get a low score.

• Culture Index Rank – Low values get a high score. High values get a low score.

All data is correct as of 21/05/24. The ranking data shown is a compilation of multiple data sources and may not be representative of real life. All data is accurate with regards to the sources provided.