Cost of Living Comparison Between Bolton and London Cost of Living Comparison Between Bolton and London

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,389 per month in Bolton vs $2,465 in London, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,344 per month in Bolton vs $3,548 in London, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,299 per month in Bolton vs $4,631 in London, rent included.

Bolton is about 3% cheaper than London, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Bolton and London sit above the global median – Bolton by 77%, London by 83%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bolton
London
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.53 £15.21
$18.73 CA$25.65
9.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.7 £59.8
$73.8 CA$101
9.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 £7.69
$10.21 CA$13.98
1.67%
Cappuccino
$4.80 £3.56
$3.42 CA$4.69
40.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 £1.71
$1.99 CA$2.72
15.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 £1.19
$1.95 CA$2.68
-17.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.98 £5.17
$5.87 CA$8.05
18.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.52 £4.09
$6.45 CA$8.84
-14.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bolton
London
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 £1.25
$1.70 CA$2.33
-1.18%
White Bread (500g)
$1.72 £1.27
$2.33 CA$3.19
-26.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.25 £1.67
$3.38 CA$4.63
-33.43%
Eggs
$4.07 £3.01
$3.30 CA$4.52
23.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.40 £7.71
$10.00 CA$13.70
4.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 £6.18
$12.48 CA$17.10
-33.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.87 £12.50
$9.14 CA$12.52
84.57%
Apples (1kg)
$3.21 £2.38
$4.40 CA$6.03
-27.05%
Banana (1kg)
$1.83 £1.36
$1.37 CA$1.88
33.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.11 £2.31
$3.69 CA$5.06
-15.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.71 £2.75
$3.70 CA$5.07
0.27%
Potato (1kg)
$1.82 £1.35
$1.60 CA$2.20
13.75%
Onion (1kg)
$1.83 £1.36
$2.13 CA$2.91
-14.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.33 £0.98
$2.17 CA$2.97
-38.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.50 £1.11
$1.43 CA$1.96
4.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$18.59 £13.78
$12.42 CA$17.02
49.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.33 £7.66
$13.02 CA$17.84
-20.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.52 £1.87
$2.08 CA$2.84
21.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 £1.78
$2.59 CA$3.55
-7.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Bolton
London
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.76 £2.05
$2.44 CA$3.34
13.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$88.0 £65.2
$82.1 CA$112
7.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.29 £3.92
$4.12 CA$5.64
28.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.15 £0.85
$1.71 CA$2.34
-32.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.14 £11.96
$31.74 CA$43.48
-49.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.88 £1.39
$1.15 CA$1.57
63.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K £28.9K
$25.1K CA$34.4K
55.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.2K £31.3K
$20.5K CA$28.1K
105.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bolton
London
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$299 £222
$144 CA$197
107.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.25 £12.78
$46.71 CA$64.0
-63.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.30 £32.09
$58.7 CA$80.5
-26.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bolton
London
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.43 £35.15
$42.50 CA$58.2
11.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.52 £20.39
$7.43 CA$10.18
270.39%
Cinema Ticket
$13.53 £10.03
$10.81 CA$14.81
25.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bolton
London
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,546 £1,146
$561 CA$769
175.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.3K £9,877
$14.5K CA$19.9K
-8.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bolton
London
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.5 £60.4
$55.8 CA$76.4
46.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.71 £31.65
$47.17 CA$64.6
-9.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.2 £63.9
$86.3 CA$118
-0.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.7 £60.6
$81.1 CA$111
0.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bolton
London
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,199 £889
$1,460 CA$2,000
-17.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,080 £801
$1,267 CA$1,736
-14.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,719 £1,274
$2,636 CA$3,612
-34.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,499 £1,110
$1,978 CA$2,710
-24.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,575 CA$4,898
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$3,752 CA$5,140
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bolton
London
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,335 £3,212
$3,022 CA$4,140
43.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.8
6.21
-6.60%

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

Last update for Bolton: April 13, 2026

Last update for London: April 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,199 in Bolton versus $1,460 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 43% higher in Bolton, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $81 in Bolton versus $74 in London. Groceries tell a different story – $311 in Bolton vs $327 in London – so Bolton 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
Bolton vs London: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is London cheaper than Bolton?
Yes – London is pricier by about 3%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. 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 $3,583 per month in Bolton and $3,698 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 Bolton, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 7% less in Bolton. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,546 per month in Bolton and $561 in London. 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 Bolton or London?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Bolton, where all-in costs run around $2,389, than in London at $2,465. In Bolton it covers expenses comfortably, while in London it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Bolton or London more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Bolton – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Bolton 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 Bolton. 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.

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