An Indian PhD student in the UK has shared a breakdown of her monthly expenses, drawing attention to the increasing cost of living pressures faced by international students, especially the rising cost of accommodation.Anushka Diwakar, a first-year PhD student at the University of Manchester, posted a video on Instagram explaining how she manages her finances while studying on a scholarship. You receive a tax-free salary of around £1,800 per month.A large portion of this income goes toward rent. Her university studio accommodation costs around £1,100 a month, which is around 60% of her salary. “These are my main expenses in one month,” she said, stressing that housing alone consumes most of her budget.
After covering the rent, she is left with approximately £700 for all other expenses. She allocates about £100 a month to groceries. In addition, she sets aside £50 for dining out and social outings, and a further £50 for shopping and smaller personal expenses.Its breakdown reflects the tight budget that many students have to follow, especially as the cost of accommodation in major UK cities continues to rise. Fixed salaries, which do not always keep pace with inflation and rent increases, can leave little room for savings or unexpected expenses.
In the caption accompanying her post, Diwakar wrote that she moved to Manchester in October 2025 and wanted to provide a clear picture of the actual cost of PhD life in the UK. She noted that many prospective students often wonder if the scholarship stipend is enough to live comfortably.The collapse has reignited concerns about the gap between fixed student salaries and rising costs of living, with housing continuing to absorb a large share of income.
