Cost of Living Comparison Between Bedford and London Cost of Living Comparison Between Bedford and London

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,294 per month in Bedford vs $3,892 in London, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,378 per month in Bedford vs $5,638 in London, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,463 per month in Bedford vs $7,385 in London, rent included.

Bedford is about 41% cheaper than London, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Bedford and London sit above the global median – Bedford by 71%, London by 190%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.34 £15.16

$26.92 £20.05

-24.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.8 £51.3

$110 £81.7

-37.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.05 £8.23

$10.83 £8.07

2.03%

Cappuccino

$4.03 £3.00

$5.10 £3.80

-20.98%

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

$1.95 £1.45

$2.77 £2.06

-29.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 £0.86

$1.78 £1.33

-34.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.35 £3.99

$8.93 £6.65

-40.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.03 £4.49

$8.03 £5.98

-24.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 £1.09

$1.77 £1.32

-17.51%

White Bread (500g)

$1.66 £1.23

$2.08 £1.55

-20.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 £1.62

$2.57 £1.92

-15.56%

Eggs

$3.74 £2.79

$4.75 £3.54

-21.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.44 £7.78

$11.16 £8.31

-6.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.35 £6.97

$9.00 £6.71

3.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.15 £9.80

$14.83 £11.05

-11.33%

Apples (1kg)

$3.16 £2.36

$3.33 £2.48

-5.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 £1.33

$1.96 £1.46

-8.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.99 £2.23

$3.25 £2.42

-8.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.30 £2.46

$3.60 £2.68

-8.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 £0.99

$1.68 £1.25

-21.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.58 £1.18

$1.87 £1.40

-15.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 £0.80

$1.32 £0.99

-18.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 £1.08

$1.95 £1.45

-25.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$20.13 £15.00

$22.81 £17.00

-11.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.58 £7.88

$13.71 £10.21

-22.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 £2.11

$3.31 £2.47

-14.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 £1.85

$3.93 £2.93

-36.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 £2.02

$3.95 £2.95

-31.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$88.6 £66.0

$240 £179

-63.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.23 £3.89

$6.04 £4.50

-13.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.30 £2.46

$3.31 £2.46

-0.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.84 £22.23

$40.84 £30.43

-26.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.96 £1.46

$1.88 £1.40

4.26%

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

$38.4K £28.6K

$38.9K £29.0K

-1.26%

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

$41.3K £30.8K

$40.0K £29.8K

3.15%

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

$284 £212

$326 £243

-12.88%

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

$15.20 £11.33

$20.23 £15.07

-24.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.76 £28.13

$42.59 £31.73

-11.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.81 £34.12

$64.4 £47.97

-28.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.34 £16.64

Cinema Ticket

$14.90 £11.10

$20.19 £15.04

-26.20%

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

$1,032 £769

$2,525 £1,881

-59.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.6K £16.8K

$28.0K £20.9K

-19.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$103 £76.5

$119 £88.8

-13.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.22 £27.73

$49.83 £37.12

-25.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$109 £81.4

$127 £94.6

-13.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.3 £71.0

$159 £119

-40.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,144 £852

$3,019 £2,249

-62.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$971 £724

$2,274 £1,694

-57.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,018 £1,504

$5,543 £4,130

-63.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,707 £1,271

$3,737 £2,784

-54.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$19.4K £14.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,516 £7,089

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,110 £2,317

$4,820 £3,591

-35.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.85

5.05

15.84%

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

Last update for Bedford: May 31, 2026

Last update for London: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,144 in Bedford 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 55% 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 $69.0 in Bedford versus $110 in London. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $340 – making Bedford 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

Bedford vs London: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

London costs about 70% more than Bedford, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,440 per month in Bedford and $5,838 in London. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bedford, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,294 in Bedford and $3,892 in London. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 171% less in Bedford. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Bedford, where all-in costs run around $2,294, than in London at $3,892. In Bedford it covers expenses comfortably, while in London it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bedford costs $2,294 versus $3,892 in London. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Bedford. 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.