Cost of Living Comparison Between Barnsley and Glasgow Cost of Living Comparison Between Barnsley and Glasgow

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,901 per month in Barnsley vs $2,475 in Glasgow, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,913 per month in Barnsley vs $3,746 in Glasgow, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,925 per month in Barnsley vs $5,018 in Glasgow, rent included.

Barnsley is about 23% cheaper than Glasgow, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Barnsley and Glasgow sit above the global median – Barnsley by 38%, Glasgow by 80%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barnsley
Glasgow
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.10 £17.83
$23.02 £17.03
4.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 £62.6
$68.8 £50.9
23.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.86 £8.03
$10.68 £7.90
1.69%
Cappuccino
$5.17 £3.83
$4.98 £3.68
3.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 £1.71
$2.28 £1.69
1.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 £1.27
$1.82 £1.35
-5.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.12 £4.53
$5.78 £4.28
5.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.82 £5.05
$6.58 £4.87
3.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barnsley
Glasgow
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 £1.23
$1.64 £1.21
1.22%
White Bread (500g)
$1.97 £1.46
$1.39 £1.03
41.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.10 £1.56
$2.01 £1.49
4.48%
Eggs
$4.02 £2.98
$3.85 £2.85
4.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.90 £6.58
$9.93 £7.35
-10.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.77 £6.48
$9.48 £7.02
-7.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.00 £11.10
$18.95 £14.02
-20.84%
Apples (1kg)
$3.02 £2.24
$2.81 £2.08
7.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.96 £1.45
$1.68 £1.24
16.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.59 £1.92
$2.85 £2.11
-9.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.87 £2.13
$3.08 £2.28
-6.82%
Potato (1kg)
$1.93 £1.42
$1.78 £1.32
8.43%
Onion (1kg)
$1.65 £1.22
$1.53 £1.13
7.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.50 £1.11
$1.16 £0.86
29.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.42 £1.05
$1.69 £1.25
-15.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$23.59 £17.45
$24.33 £18.00
-3.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.71 £8.66
$11.13 £8.23
5.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.36 £2.49
$3.32 £2.46
1.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 £2.51
$3.20 £2.37
5.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Barnsley
Glasgow
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.69 £1.99
$4.12 £3.05
-34.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$103 £76.4
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.40 £4.00
$5.85 £4.32
-7.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.46 £1.08
$1.20 £0.89
21.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.57 £14.48
$63.4 £46.87
-69.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.02 £1.49
$2.03 £1.50
-0.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.1K £28.9K
$39.7K £29.4K
-1.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.1K £30.4K
$41.9K £31.0K
-1.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barnsley
Glasgow
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$291 £215
$342 £253
-15.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.89 £15.45
$20.02 £14.81
4.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.29 £32.77
$42.24 £31.25
4.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barnsley
Glasgow
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 £49.69
$45.13 £33.38
48.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$20.67 £15.29
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.84 £9.50
$16.03 £11.86
-19.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barnsley
Glasgow
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,485 £1,098
$931 £688
59.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.5K £12.2K
$21.8K £16.1K
-24.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barnsley
Glasgow
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.6 £46.33
$138 £102
-54.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.60 £31.52
$46.04 £34.06
-7.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.2 £69.7
$106 £78.2
-10.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.4 £58.0
$92.6 £68.5
-15.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barnsley
Glasgow
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$938 £694
$1,382 £1,022
-32.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$677 £501
$1,089 £806
-37.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,389 £1,028
$2,775 £2,053
-49.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,118 £827
$2,055 £1,520
-45.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,208 £3,113
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$3,170 £2,345
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barnsley
Glasgow
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,030 £2,242
$3,459 £2,559
-12.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.61
4.75
18.11%

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

Last update for Barnsley: August 31, 2026

Last update for Glasgow: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $938 in Barnsley versus $1,382 in Glasgow. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 14% higher in Glasgow, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $85.0 in Barnsley versus $69.0 in Glasgow. Groceries tell a different story – $307 in Barnsley vs $317 in Glasgow – so Barnsley wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Barnsley vs Glasgow: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Glasgow cheaper than Barnsley?
Yes – Glasgow is pricier by about 30%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,851 per month in Barnsley and $3,712 in Glasgow. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Barnsley, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Barnsley and in Glasgow?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,901 in Barnsley and $2,475 in Glasgow. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,485 per month in Barnsley and $931 in Glasgow. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Barnsley or in Glasgow?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Barnsley, where all-in costs run around $1,901, than in Glasgow at $2,475. In Barnsley it covers expenses comfortably, while in Glasgow it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Barnsley or Glasgow more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Barnsley – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Barnsley or Glasgow?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Barnsley. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Glasgow makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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