How much spending money will I need? A guide to budgeting for residential programmes

Updated: 08.01.2026

Read time: 6 min read

Aside from packing your passport and choosing what to wear, one question sits quietly in the back of most suitcases: how much money should I actually bring? That’s why understanding the cost of living in our programme cities matters.

Everyday spending shapes your experience more than you expect. Depending on your preferences and programme, you might want some spending money for lunch between academic sessions, a quick coffee, local transport, or a souvenir to be home.

This guide breaks down typical prices across our Immerse Education programme cities, using realistic ranges to help you predict what participants might spend day to day.

With a clearer picture of everyday costs, you can plan calmly, settle in faster, and focus on enjoying your surroundings and the experience ahead.

Everyday Costs in Immerse Cities: Food, Transport and Shopping

Below are typical prices across our Immerse Education programme cities to help you plan with confidence.

We’ve converted all prices into US dollars simply to give you a single, consistent reference point across multiple countries, making it much easier to compare everyday costs at a glance without needing to mentally switch between currencies or check exchange rates as you read. That said, we’ve also included the local currency equivalent in case you find that more helpful!

Cambridge

Average price of lunch at a restaurant: From £16 ($20.10) at an inexpensive restaurant to £32 ($40.20) at a mid range restaurant.
Average price of lunch to take away: Around £3.50 ($5) for a supermarket “Meal Deal” (typically a sandwich, snack and drink) to £8 ($10) for a sandwich or salad from a deli.
Price of a coffee: About £3.60 ($4.54) for a cappuccino.
Price of a bus ticket: Around £3.20 ($4.02) for a single bus journey under the fare cap.
Souvenir shopping: From £3.75 ($4.69) for a Cambridge University metal scroll magnet to £29 ($36.18) for a Cambridge University emblem hoodie.

Oxford

Average price of lunch at a restaurant: From around £15 ($18.76) at an inexpensive restaurant to £17 ($21.44) for a basic lunchtime menu with a drink.
Average price of lunch to take away: Around £3.50 ($5) for a supermarket “Meal Deal” to £8 ($10) for a sandwich or salad from a deli.
Price of a coffee: About £3.65 ($4.58) for a standard café coffee.
Price of a bus ticket: Around £3.20 ($4.02) for a single bus journey under the fare cap.
Souvenir shopping: From £4 ($5.35) for a Bodleian chocolate bar to £60 ($80.40) for an official University of Oxford silk scarf, with common mid range options like £5 ($6.69) keyrings and £11 ($14.73) mugs.

London

Average price of lunch at a restaurant: From about £7.50 ($9.38) for a fast food combo meal to £15 ($18.76) for a basic lunchtime menu with a drink.
Average price of lunch to take away: Around £3.50 ($5) for a supermarket “Meal Deal” to £8 ($10) for a sandwich or salad from a deli.
Price of a coffee: About £4.20 ($5.24) on average at a café.
Price of a bus or tram ticket: £1.75 ($2.35) for a single fare.
Souvenir shopping: From £1.50 ($2.01) for a small museum style badge to around £65 ($87.03) for a larger keepsake like a London Museum backpack.

Sydney

Average price of lunch: From about A$16 ($10.62) for a fast food combo meal to A$21 ($13.93) for a basic lunchtime menu with a drink.
Price of a coffee: Around A$5 ($3.32) for a typical café coffee.
Price of a bus or metro ticket: About A$4.30 ($2.87) for an average one way journey.
Souvenir shopping: From around A$10 ($6.64) for a Sydney Opera House souvenir coin to A$59 ($39.15) for a Sydney Opera House tote bag.

New York

Average price of lunch: From $13 to $35, covering everything from a quick casual lunch to a sit down meal at a mid range restaurant.
Price of a coffee: Around $7 for a typical coffee out.
Price of a bus or metro ticket: $2.90 for a standard subway or local bus ride.
Souvenir shopping: From a small I Love NY gift bag at $1.50 to an official I Love NY hoodie from $37.99.

Toronto

Average price of lunch: From about C$15 ($11) for a fast food combo meal to C$26 ($19) for a basic lunchtime menu with a drink.
Price of a coffee: Around C$6.20 ($4.63) at a café.
Price of a bus or metro ticket: C$3.35 ($2.40) for one adult TTC fare when you tap PRESTO.
Souvenir shopping: From around C$8 ($6) for a Toronto skyline postcard to about C$59 ($43.56) for a Toronto skyline wooden wall clock.

San Francisco

Average price of lunch: From $12 for a fast food combo meal to $26 for a basic lunchtime menu with a drink in the business district.
Price of a coffee: About $5.87 on average for a coffee style drink.
Price of a bus or metro ticket: $2.85 for a full fare single Muni ride using Clipper or MuniMobile.
Souvenir shopping: From $5.95 for an “I Heart San Francisco” pin to $44.95 for a reflective tote bag, with mid range options like mugs and backpacks in between.

Singapore

Average price of lunch: From about S$3 ($2.32) for a hawker style meal to around S$14 ($10.84) for a basic lunchtime menu.
Price of a coffee: About S$5.60 ($4.15) for a typical café coffee.
Price of a bus or metro ticket: From S$1.20 ($0.84) for a short journey using a travel card.
Souvenir shopping: From about S$6.70 ($4.97) for a small edible souvenir to S$46 ($33.92) for a preserved orchid paperweight with a Merlion design.

Boston

Average price of lunch: From $12 for a casual lunch to around $22 for a basic lunchtime menu with a drink.
Price of a coffee: Around $4.15 for a typical café coffee.
Price of a bus or metro ticket: $2.40 for a standard MBTA fare.
Souvenir shopping: From around $5 for a small Boston themed souvenir to $35 for higher end keepsakes.

Tokyo

Average price of lunch: From about ¥650 ($4.49) for a set meal style lunch to around ¥1,100 ($7.69) for a fuller set meal.
Price of a coffee: About ¥470 ($3.21) at a chain café.
Price of a bus or metro ticket: Around ¥170 ($1.15) for a Tokyo Metro single ticket.
Souvenir shopping: From ¥280 ($1.92) for a small snack souvenir to ¥5,800 ($39.39) for a premium Tokyo themed T shirt.

Planning Your Journey with Confidence

Preparing for an academic adventure across our programme locations, from the crisp, historic streets of Oxford to the bright, buzzing energy of Tokyo, becomes easier when you understand the cost of living in each city.

These everyday costs may seem small, yet they shape how comfortably you settle in and how confidently you explore your surroundings.

With these insights, you can plan your spending intentionally and enjoy each moment without worry.

For more preparation support on studying abroad, explore our study abroad blogs and discover guidance that makes every Immerse journey feel inspiring and achievable.