Are PhDs expensive, do you get paid? In Europe you are actually a full time worker for the university and get paid a living wage (bit lower than industry but it ramps up I guess).
There is no salary progression, bonus or pension and your funding cuts off at 3/3.5/4 years. After that, you aren't eligible for any govt. benefits as you are a full time student.
In some parts of the UK £14k can go a long way, but UK PhD students definitely aren't equal to full time staff as it stands.
The pay can be higher with industry partnerships (£30k tax free!!) but this is the more usual research council level.
Although I consider it to be one of the best times that I had, in professional terms I didn't got much from it unfortunately..