What Are Some Affordable Student Accommodation in Cardiff?
Cardiff is a student-friendly city with several universities, a compact centre and a wide choice of private student housing. Students on a budget can find good-value housing in Cardiff options such as Ty Pont Haearn, The Fitzalan, Zenith, Howard Gardens, Livin and West Wing, with many shared rooms and en-suite options helping to keep weekly rent lower. This guide compares their prices, university commutes, facilities and other ways to save on Cardiff student accommodation.
6 Most Affordable Cardiff Student Housing
Some of the most affordable student accommodation in Cardiff includes Livin, The Fitzalan, Ty Pont Haearn, Howard Gardens, Zenith, and West Wing. All six offer furnished student rooms with bills included, so students can compare their real weekly housing costs more easily. Shared flats like Livin and The Fitzalan are usually the best choice for students who want to keep rent as low as possible, while studios offer more privacy at a higher price. For students who want to find an even lower price, uhomes.com offers cheap student accommodation in Cardiff from around £140 per week, with exclusive offers and cashback deals for students to save more.
Livin is a good-value Cardiff student accommodation with affordable two bed apartments from only £145 per week. The accommodation includes Wi-Fi, contents insurance and utility bills in the rent. Its communal facilities include a gym, study zones, a games area, lounge and private dining space. The communal areas are also being upgraded for September 2026.
Livin is particularly convenient for students who want to stay close to central Cardiff without living directly in the busiest part of the city. Cardiff University Main Campus is around 20 minutes away on foot, while the University of South Wales Cardiff Campus is around 12 minutes away on foot. Cardiff Met Cyncoed Campus is around 35 minutes by bus. Queen Street Station is only about four minutes away on foot, which is useful for travelling around Cardiff.
Weekly Rent: From around £145.
University Commute: 12 minutes walk USW to 20 minutes walk to Cardiff University mian campus, 35-minutes bus to Cardiff Met Cyncoed.
The Fitzalan
The Fitzalan offers budget-friendly two-bedroom flats from £150 per person per week with all utility bills included. The building also provides a wide range of facilities, including a gym, cinema lounge, games room, music room, private dining room, library and study space. Other facilities include table tennis, table football, pool, a communal kitchen and laundry room.
The Fitzalan is on Newport Road in the heart of Cardiff, close to Queen Street shopping area and the railway station. It is also a popular choice for student accommodation near Cardiff University, with just a 13 minutes walk to campus. While the University of South Wales Cardiff Campus is around seven minutes away on foot. This central location can also help students save on regular transport costs.
Weekly Rent: From £150 per person.
University Commute: Cardiff University around 13 minutes on foot. USW Cardiff Campus around seven minutes on foot. Cardiff Met around 21 minutes by bus.
Howard Gardens
Howard Gardens offers affordable rooms for students with bills and Wi-Fi included. The property offers en-suite rooms in shared apartments, giving students a private bathroom while keeping the cost below many private studio options. Each flat has a fully equipped kitchen and washing machine and dryer. Residents also have access to a gym, cinema lounge, games hub, private dining room, study spaces, courtyard and communal lounge. Internet is available at up to 300Mbps.
Its location is especially useful for students studying around Cardiff University's Engineering School and the USW Cardiff Campus. Cardiff University's Engineering School is around 6 minutes away on foot, while USW's Atrium building is around nine minutes away on foot. Howard Gardens is also close to the city centre, making it easy to combine a short university commute with access to shops, cafés and other student amenities.
Weekly Rent: From around £163.
University Commute: Cardiff University Engineering School around six minutes on foot. USW Atrium around nine minutes on foot.
Ty Pont Haearn
Ty Pont Haearn is one of the best-value central Cardiff student accommodation with only a short walk from USW. The property has en-suite rooms and studios for students who want either shared or more private living. Residents have access to study spaces, a TV lounge and PlayStation area, together with laundry facilities, bike storage and vending machines. Heating, water, electricity, Wi-Fi, broadband and contents insurance are included in the rent.
Ty Pont Haearn is particularly suitable for students at the University of South Wales Cardiff Campus, which is only around two minutes away on foot. Cardiff University Cathays Park Campus is around 20 minutes away on foot, while Cardiff Met is around 35 minutes by bus. The property is also less than 10 minutes from Cardiff city centre and within about 10 minutes of both Cardiff Queen Street and Cardiff Central railway stations.
Weekly Rent: From around £155.
University Commute: USW Cardiff Campus is a 2-minute walk, Cardiff University Cathays Park Campus a 20-minute walk and Cardiff Met a 35-minute bus ride.
Zenith
Zenith is also a budget-friendly Cardiff student housing with its five-bed apartments from £169 per person per week. Sharing with four flatmates keeps the weekly rent lower while each student still has a private bedroom and study area. Utility bills and contents insurance are included. Zenith also has a gym, fitness studio, basketball court, study spaces, gaming room, karaoke room, private dining room, Sky Lounge and rooftop terrace.
Zenith is on Herbert Street in central Cardiff, making it a practical choice for students who want to stay close to the city's main university areas. Cardiff University is around 20 minutes on foot and the University of South Wales around six minutes on foot. The central location also puts students close to Cardiff's shops, nightlife, Principality Stadium and Cardiff Bay.
Weekly Rent: From £169 per person.
University Commute: 6 minutes walk to USW, 20 minutes walk to Cardiff University.
West Wing
West Wing offers good value through all-inclusive rent and a choice of en-suite rooms at different price levels. The Classic En Suite is currently available from around £176 per week, with a private en-suite bathroom, study space, storage and access to a shared kitchen and lounge. Students can also choose larger en-suite rooms or studios if budget allows. All bills and Wi-Fi are included, while the property also has a gym, multimedia lounge, games room, study rooms, laundry facilities and outdoor social space.
West Wing is located on Glossop Road in Adamsdown, between Cardiff University and the University of South Wales. The University of South Wales Cardiff Campus is around 10 minutes away on foot, while Cardiff University is around 15 to 22 minutes away on foot depending on the campus or building. Cardiff Met is around 40 minutes by the property's listed travel route. The city centre is also around 20 minutes away on foot.
Weekly Rent: From around £176.
University Commute: USW Cardiff Campus around 10 to 11 minutes on foot. Cardiff University around 15 to 22 minutes on foot. Cardiff Met around 40 minutes by the listed travel route.
Where to Find Budget-friendly Cardiff Student Apartments?
uhomes.com is one of the best ways to find affordable student housing in Cardiff, with properties from around £140 per week and a price-match guarantee to ensure the best deal. Budget recommendations like Howard Gardens, Cambrian Point, and Ty Pont Haearn, are listed on uhomes.com, ensuring students secure the most budget homes easily and hassle-free.
uhomes.com can also help reduce the final cost rather than only showing a low weekly rent. Its Cardiff housing listings include all-inclusive accommodation, exclusive offers and cashback discounts to help students budget. Students can use filters to search by price, room type, location and other requirements. uhomes.com also provides 1-to-1 assistance to offer professional guidance and ensure the booking smoothly.
Tips for Booking Cheap Cardiff Student Accommodation
Finding cheap student accommodation in Cardiff is easier when you compare the full cost, location and room type rather than looking only at the weekly rent.
- Look first at shared flats and shared en-suite rooms. Properties such as Livin, The Fitzalan, Howard Gardens, Ty Pont Haearn and Zenith keep rent lower while still giving you your own bedroom and bathroom.
- Always check whether bills are included. Most of the affordable options above cover utilities and Wi-Fi so the weekly price you see is closer to the real cost.
- Compare cashback and special offers before you book. Some buildings currently offer hundreds of pounds in cashback which can make a higher weekly rent better value over the full year.
- Match the location to your actual campus. Choose rooms close to USW Cardiff Campus, Cardiff University Cathays Park Campus or Cardiff Met so you spend less time and money on travel.
- Start your search on uhomes.com to see current budget options. The site lists properties from around £140 per week across central Cardiff and shows exclusive offers and cashback deals.
Final Thoughts
Affordable student accommodation in Cardiff is available across central areas such as Adamsdown, City Road and the city centre, with shared en-suite rooms often providing the best balance between rent, privacy and location. Ty Pont Haearn, The Fitzalan, Howard Gardens, Zenith, Livin and West Wing are all worth comparing, but students can find more budget options and current discounts through uhomes.com. Comparing the full cost, commute and available offers is the best way to find a Cardiff student home that genuinely fits your budget.
