🙂A single person spends $1,807 per month in Barnsley vs $3,892 in London, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,743 per month in Barnsley vs $5,638 in London, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,679 per month in Barnsley vs $7,385 in London, rent included.
🙂Barnsley is about 54% cheaper than London, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Barnsley and London sit above the global median – Barnsley by 35%, London by 190%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barnsley
London
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.28£20.27
$26.92£20.01
1.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.9£65.3
$110£81.5
-19.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.43£7.75
$10.83£8.05
-3.69%
Cappuccino
$4.59£3.41
$5.10£3.79
-10.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42£1.80
$2.77£2.06
-12.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78£1.32
$1.78£1.33
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.58£4.15
$8.93£6.64
-37.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.75£5.01
$8.03£5.97
-15.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barnsley
London
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.50£1.12
$1.77£1.32
-15.25%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62£1.20
$2.08£1.55
-22.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.95£1.45
$2.57£1.91
-24.12%
Eggs
$3.88£2.88
$4.75£3.53
-18.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.74£7.24
$11.16£8.30
-12.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.72£6.48
$9.00£6.69
-3.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.92£8.86
$14.83£11.02
-19.62%
Apples(1kg)
$2.93£2.18
$3.33£2.47
-12.01%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49£1.11
$1.96£1.46
-23.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.70£2.01
$3.25£2.42
-16.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.01£2.24
$3.60£2.67
-16.39%
Potato(1kg)
$1.81£1.35
$1.68£1.25
7.74%
Onion(1kg)
$1.61£1.20
$1.87£1.39
-13.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.11£0.83
$1.32£0.98
-15.91%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.41£1.05
$1.95£1.45
-27.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$19.25£14.31
$22.81£16.96
-15.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.35£8.44
$13.71£10.19
-17.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.69£2.00
$3.31£2.46
-18.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41£2.54
$3.93£2.92
-13.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Barnsley
London
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.65£1.97
$3.95£2.94
-32.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$88.3£65.6
$240£179
-63.27%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.49£4.08
$6.04£4.49
-9.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.27£0.94
$3.31£2.46
-61.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.08£14.93
$40.84£30.36
-50.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.90£1.41
$1.88£1.40
1.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K£28.1K
$38.9K£28.9K
-2.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.0K£30.5K
$40.0K£29.8K
2.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barnsley
London
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$201£149
$326£243
-38.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.97£14.10
$20.23£15.04
-6.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.01£31.97
$42.59£31.66
0.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barnsley
London
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.13£34.29
$64.4£47.86
-28.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$22.34£16.61
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.03£8.94
$20.19£15.00
-40.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barnsley
London
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,518£1,128
$2,525£1,876
-39.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,729£5,002
$28.0K£20.8K
-75.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barnsley
London
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.1£43.92
$119£88.6
-50.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.69£28.76
$49.83£37.04
-22.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.6£62.9
$127£94.4
-33.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.8£60.1
$159£118
-49.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barnsley
London
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$755£561
$3,019£2,244
-75.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$584£434
$2,274£1,690
-74.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,152£857
$5,543£4,120
-79.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$972£722
$3,737£2,778
-73.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$19.4K£14.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$9,516£7,073
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barnsley
London
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,986£2,220
$4,820£3,583
-38.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.9
5.05
16.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barnsley: June 2, 2026
Last update for London: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $755 in Barnsley versus $3,019 in London. 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 61% higher in London, 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 $88.0 in Barnsley versus $110 in London. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $285 vs $340 – making Barnsley the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 London: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is London cheaper than Barnsley?
Yes – London is pricier by about 115%, 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 $2,711 per month in Barnsley and $5,838 in London. 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 vs London?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,807 in Barnsley and $3,892 in London. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 172% less in Barnsley. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Barnsley or London?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Barnsley, where all-in costs run around $1,807, than in London at $3,892. In Barnsley it covers expenses comfortably, while in London it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Barnsley or London 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 London?
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, London makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.