Do students have it tougher today than in the 1970s? How the cost of essentials compares – and why owning a kettle to make Pot Noodle was an untold luxury

We’re all told that students face a ‘never-ending cost of living crisis’, unable to afford the most basic needs without going into debt, borrowing from Mum and Dad Bank, living at home or working a part-time job.

So are they really worse off than students of the past, or should they accept that the pursuit of higher education always brings its own struggles?

To put this theory to the test, the Daily Mail investigated the prices of some basic necessities in the 1970s, including the cost of a dozen eggs, a loaf of bread and, of course, a pint of beer, compared to what they cost today.

University funding was cut in the 70s and bursaries were only worth around £380 before rising to £1,430 in 1980. Many school leavers chose to forego sixth form out of fear they would not be able to get a place at university due to cuts.

As some students today struggle with mounting debt and maintenance loans that fall short of their actual cost, more than half of parents are helping their children by giving them at least £200 a month, according to a recent survey by the National Union of Students (NUS).

But are the prices faced by modern students really that different from those of the 70s? For example, 56 years ago a loaf of bread cost 10p, but the inflation-adjusted price would be £1.28, just 12p less than today’s price.

Meanwhile, if you wanted a kettle for your university flat in the Disco Age, you’d pay a whopping £101.76, compared to £20 in 2026.

So, are today’s students really that bad? You decide! Read on to compare the prices of some products from the 1970s with today’s costs…

glass of beer

Even in Coventry, the cheapest city in England for a pint, a pint will cost you £3.84, while in London the average is an eye-watering £6.74.

The average cost of a pint rose above £5 for the first time last year, as Rachel Reeves’s rises in the minimum wage and National Insurance contributions forced pubs to raise prices.

In the 1970s students could buy a pint for just 18p, and even when adjusted for inflation this is a much more acceptable price than it is today.

IN THE 1970s: 18p

Price adjusted for inflation: £2.30

NOW: £5.50

a loaf of bread

Fifty years ago a loaf of bread cost just 22p, whether for late-night toast after a night out at the pub or topped with beans as part of the basic student diet.

Even though the price has increased, there is not a huge difference when inflation is taken into account. An average loaf will set you back just 12p more.

IN THE 1970s: 9/10p

Price adjusted for inflation: £1.28

NOW: £1.40

a can of beans

In addition to the aforementioned toast, beans have always been an important part of the student diet.

In fact, in the 1970s, when convenience meals were just starting to make their way into daily diets, a can of beans was the go-to dinner.

The price difference between the 1970s and today is 43 pence, taking inflation into account, a much bigger difference than bread.

IN THE 1970s: 7-8p

Price adjusted for inflation: £1.02

NOW: £1.45

Cereal

Breakfast cereal was another staple convenience food before the advent of microwaveable meals.

Priced at just 23p, these bowls were the bowls of choice for breakfast, dinner or dinner for many students in the 70s.

But with an inflation-adjusted price of £1.41, this is an area in which today’s university students do not excel. The average price of cereal will be £2.50 in 2026; That’s an increase of more than a pound.

IN THE 1970s: 11p

Price adjusted for inflation: £1.41

NOW: £2.50

eggs

Eggs were a staple, affordable food and central to the decade’s popular Whole English, which established itself as a hearty, easy-to-cook meal for students.

Eggs cost 23p in the 70s, but despite the popularity of the product, one had to pay more for a dozen eggs.

Eggs will now cost students an average of £1.80 (an inflation-adjusted price of £2.94).

IN THE 1970s: 23p

Price adjusted for inflation: £2.94

NOW: £1.80

Banana

Bananas, which were first seen and sold in Britain in 1633 by botanist and pharmacist Thomas Johnson, were indispensable for homes in the 70s.

They would cost less than a dozen eggs for a pound, more than a 16p loaf of bread and tinned beans.

For students at the time, this was undoubtedly an expensive decision, given that inflation-adjusted prices suggest they would have been around £2.05, a pound more expensive than today’s cost.

IN THE 1970s: 16p

Price adjusted for inflation: £2.05

NOW: £1.02

A notebook:

A notebook, an essential for every student, was priced between two and ten pence in the 70s.

But fast forward 56 years, and if you’re shopping for designer versions from brands like Harrods or NET-A-PORTER, today’s offers can be as high as £15 or more.

However, many students on an average budget are unlikely to spend this much, and laptops sell for between £1 and £2 in many supermarkets.

IN THE 1970s: 2p to 10p

Price adjusted for inflation: £1.28

NOW: up to £15

fish and chips

Takeaways are a must for every student, especially when you’re dealing with a hangover or looming over deadlines.

And there’s no doubt about it, we’re a nation of fish and chips lovers, and Friday lunch is reserved for the humble fries.

But it’s bad news for today’s students. The cost has increased from £2.56 (20p in the 70s) to £9.

IN THE 1970s: 20p

Price adjusted for inflation: £2.56

NOW: £9

TV license

Many students will be paying bills such as a TV license for the first time and are likely to be shocked at the price of this, considering it currently costs £174.50.

But that’s only £20 more than those who went to university in the seventies would have paid if they had indulged in television.

IN THE 1970s: £12

Price adjusted for inflation: £153.60

NOW: £174.50

a movie ticket

Between exams, lectures and seminars, some students still like to relax by going to the cinema.

In the seventies the price of a cinema ticket was 50p (inflation adjusted price £6.40).

These days, it costs a hefty £10.99 to watch the latest movies in some cities; it even costs even more than that if you go to certain screenings, such as in London or a cinema with chairs and sofas.

IN THE 1970s: 30p to 50p

Price adjusted for inflation: £6.40

NOW: £10.99

a kettle

Living off Noodles during the chaos of exam season is a rite of passage for many modern students.

But having a kettle to prepare food seemed like an untold luxury in the age of disco.

These were priced at £7.95; a staggering £101.76 in today’s money, rather than the cheap £20 price tag of kettles today.

IN THE 1970s: £7.95

Price adjusted for inflation: £101.76

NOW: £20

20 cigarettes

According to the Office for National Statistics, 46 per cent of adults in the UK smoked in 1974. Half of the men (51 percent) smoked, while 41 percent of the women smoked.

In 1976, an average of 16.8 cigarettes were consumed per day, and 20 cigarettes cost 26p (£3.33, taking inflation into account).

But the cost of the product has since risen to £14.75 and by 2023 only 11.9 per cent of adults in the UK were smokers.

IN THE 1970s: 26p

Price adjusted for inflation: £3.33

NOW: £14.75

A liter of milk

IN THE 1970s: 5p

Price adjusted for inflation: £0.64

NOW: 85p

Margarine

IN 1970S.: 23p

Price adjusted for inflation: £2.94

NOW: £3.50

Shampoo

IN THE 1970s: 20p to 50p

Price adjusted for inflation: £6.40

NOW: up to £25

Coffee

IN THE 1970s: 32p

Price adjusted for inflation: £4.10

NOW: £4.99

24″ television

IN THE 1970s: £67

Price adjusted for inflation: £857.57

NOW: £99 to £200+

The prices above are the average cost in the early 70s compared to the average price today according to statistics from websites such as Age UK and the Office for National Statistics.