Rising rents: Students struggle to afford to live and study in Bay 20 Feb, 2021 07:00 PM 7 minutes to read Some students were struggling to pay rent in the Bay. Photo / Getty Images Some students are sacrificing food and study times and working fulltime jobs just to keep up with the costs of living in the Bay of Plenty. Educational leaders say students were struggling to find affordable accommodation in the Bay and a students' union president says students should be able to study without this "ridiculous financial burden". The news comes as the Bay of Plenty's median weekly rent has hit an all-time high of $550.