London rental problem

[DrivingMissMaisy]

DD is coming to the end of her first year at a central London uni.
Before she chose London she costed out going to London vs a non-London uni and decided she could afford it based on our contribution and her savings from her weekend job whilst at school and Summer holiday earnings.

She found a group of course friends to rent with and they decided they would look at a maximum budget of £170 per week (DD's maximum budget). They are now wanting to spend £190-200 for a nicer place but DD just won't have the money and is getting quite stressed about it. We are far from London and I really don't know how to advise her. She has said she's happy to have a box room if she can pay less but this is proving a challenge. She's worried she will be left out in the cold.

We could perhaps scrape together a bit more to help (we already pay her several hundred pounds a month)
Is £170 (excluding bills) for a Zone 1 room unrealistic?

Have other people had this issue?

Shared facilities in some zone 1 halls are £199 pw atm. It's horrifying.

Ds is coming to the end of his second year at UCL and about to vacate a 5 bed house v close to Arsenal tube station (Picadilly line), zone 2. His rent is £180/month plus bills.

“It has really opened my eyes to the yawning gulf between London and non-London people. All her friends bar one are Londoners with parents who have seemingly very deep pockets”

No, London is full of squeezed middle and poorer. The problem is that your Dd has made friends with the more wealthy. But London rents are outrageous for everyone.

I went to UCL albeit many years ago. They are looking at very close areas, I can't think of anyone I knew who lived that close in apart from halls. My friends were mostly split around Haringey, Tottenham, Wood Green, Hackney ish areas. All a cycle or bus ride commute, really not a problem.

I think her friends have more money, expensive tastes and high expectations which is unfortunate for her. Even if she scrapes together the money to stay with them, will she then be skint so no money to join them going out etc, that would be miserable. Unless she can persuade them to move further out or she gets the smallest, cheapest room, she needs to give up on this idea and fund somewhere cheaper.