Cost of Living in Cambridge - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $1,190 (excluding rent), and $3,074 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $3,012 (excluding rent), and $5,913 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.56 £20.28

$19.3 £14.2

$49.62 £36.52

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$94.1 £69.3

$67.2 £49.48

$141 £104

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.81 £7.95

$10.39 £7.65

$13.51 £9.94

Cappuccino

$5.1 £3.75

$4.18 £3.07

$6.95 £5.12

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 £2.14

$1.72 £1.26

$4.12 £3.03

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 £1.46

$1.34 £0.98

$2.94 £2.16

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.1 £5.96

$6.75 £4.97

$9.45 £6.96

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.14 £5.99

$6.2 £4.57

$8.28 £6.09

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 £1.43

$1.11 £0.82

$2.77 £2.04

White Bread (500g)

$2.18 £1.6

$1.04 £0.77

$5.61 £4.13

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.78 £2.04

$1.65 £1.22

$3.96 £2.92

Eggs

$4.71 £3.47

$3.39 £2.5

$5.66 £4.17

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.62 £9.29

$8.27 £6.09

$38.61 £28.42

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.19 £7.5

$8.17 £6.01

$10.9 £8.02

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.02 £13.26

$12.29 £9.05

$27.31 £20.09

Apples (1kg)

$3.27 £2.41

$2.47 £1.82

$4.11 £3.02

Banana (1kg)

$1.99 £1.46

$1.24 £0.92

$4.16 £3.06

Oranges (1kg)

$3.77 £2.77

$2.79 £2.06

$5.58 £4.1

Tomato (1kg)

$3.58 £2.63

$2.69 £1.98

$4.03 £2.97

Potato (1kg)

$1.89 £1.39

$0.87 £0.64

$2.7 £1.98

Onion (1kg)

$2.1 £1.55

$1.1 £0.81

$3.38 £2.49

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.32 £0.97

$0.93 £0.68

$2.65 £1.95

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 £1.09

$0.67 £0.5

$4.04 £2.97

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$20.57 £15.14

$18.52 £13.63

$23.32 £17.16

Wine (Bottle)

$11.45 £8.43

$10.78 £7.93

$16.16 £11.89

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.44 £2.53

$2.71 £1.99

$4.06 £2.99

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 £2.96

$2.65 £1.95

$6.62 £4.87

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 £2.03

$4.14 £3.05

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$83 £61.1

$69.2 £50.9

$111 £81.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.75 £4.97

$4.73 £3.48

$9.45 £6.96

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.54 £1.87

$0.86 £0.63

$4.07 £2.99

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$53.3 £39.24

$47.99 £35.32

$53.3 £39.24

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.95 £1.43

$1.87 £1.37

$2.13 £1.57

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$38.3K £28.2K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$44.2K £32.5K

$41.6K £30.6K

$51.9K £38.2K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$346 £254

$235 £173

$761 £560

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$15.73 £11.58

$10.85 £7.99

$20.34 £14.97

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.7 £29.22

$32.96 £24.26

$54.9 £40.42

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.4 £54.8

$27.27 £20.07

$123 £90.3

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.57 £10.73

Cinema Ticket

$16.29 £11.99

$12.22 £8.99

$20.37 £14.99

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,304 £1,695

$2,209 £1,626

$2,761 £2,032

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.9K £16.9K

$21.6K £15.9K

$24.3K £17.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.8 £64.6

$27.44 £20.19

$137 £101

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.5 £41.59

$33.9 £24.95

$81.4 £59.9

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.1 £64.1

$61.1 £44.93

$109 £79.9

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 £89.3

$80.9 £59.5

$162 £119

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,920 £1,413

$1,646 £1,211

$2,469 £1,817

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,614 £1,188

$1,236 £910

$2,198 £1,617

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,591 £2,642

$3,005 £2,212

$4,098 £3,016

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,549 £1,876

$2,054 £1,512

$3,835 £2,822

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,859 £6,520

$7,930 £5,836

$13.4K £9,891

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,760 £4,974

$6,510 £4,791

$7,460 £5,490

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,223 £3,107

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.54

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

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Cost of Living in Cambridge - Frequently Asked Questions

Cost of Living in Cambridge, United Kingdom is generally higher than in many smaller towns, driven by a strong university presence, services, and transport links. You will notice groceries and dining options range from practical supermarkets to nicer cafés, with central spots priced up. Housing can be the biggest variable: look to shared flats or less central neighborhoods to balance cost and lifestyle. For digital nomads, reliable internet and proximity to libraries or coworking spaces matter as much as rent. Seasonal tourism can push prices briefly, but options outside peak times often improve. Tip: explore campus-adjacent districts at shoulder seasons for better room rates.

Daily life balances historic charm with practical needs. Housing options span student clusters, purpose-built flats, and shared-bill setups; you weigh location against commute and noise. Food choices range from affordable grocers to weekly farmers markets and occasional fine dining; cooking at home is generally cheaper than frequent dining out. Transport is bike-friendly, with good bus routes and rail links to London and beyond; many find a bicycle essential for reaching libraries, coworking spaces, and markets. Shopping and errands benefit from mid-sized local neighborhoods and university shops, which can temper Cambridge, United Kingdom living cost if you choose wisely. Tip: map your week around market days and term calendars to optimize costs.

You can stretch your cash by choosing neighborhoods that balance character with value – areas a short bike ride from the center or near parks can feel cheaper and more livable. Build a flexible budget around essentials, then buffer for seasonal shifts in transport and utilities; summer festivals and winter heating impact your rhythm differently. Consider short-term or flexible coworking passes, seasonal grocery deals, and community groups for freebies or swaps. Getting a feel through walking tours or short-term stays helps you gauge fit before committing. Tip: set a monthly cap on shared costs and keep a one-page spending plan to stay aligned.