🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,346 in Cheltenham versus $4,221 in London.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,549 in Cheltenham versus $5,971 in London.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,752 in Cheltenham versus $7,721 in London.
🌍Living in Cheltenham costs roughly 44% less than in London, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Cheltenham71% above, London207% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cheltenham
London
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.91£17.68
$27.14£20.07
-11.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$106£78.6
$110£81.3
-3.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.75£8.69
$11.05£8.17
6.33%
Cappuccino
$4.70£3.47
$5.84£4.31
-19.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76£2.04
$3.02£2.23
-8.61%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80£1.33
$2.24£1.66
-19.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.76£5.74
$9.33£6.90
-16.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.90£5.10
$8.92£6.60
-22.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cheltenham
London
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71£1.26
$1.88£1.39
-9.04%
White Bread(500g)
$1.68£1.24
$2.05£1.51
-18.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.10£1.56
$2.46£1.82
-14.63%
Eggs
$4.49£3.32
$5.21£3.85
-13.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.33£6.16
$12.72£9.40
-34.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.82£7.26
$10.97£8.11
-10.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.42£9.92
$18.29£13.52
-26.63%
Apples(1kg)
$3.26£2.41
$3.17£2.34
2.84%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51£1.11
$1.50£1.11
0.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.95£1.44
$2.80£2.07
-30.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.43£2.53
$3.50£2.58
-2.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.63£1.21
$1.65£1.22
-1.21%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54£1.14
$1.85£1.37
-16.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.29£0.95
$1.53£1.13
-15.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.46£1.08
$1.83£1.35
-20.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$23.75£17.56
$24.20£17.89
-1.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.03£8.15
$13.40£9.91
-17.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.86£2.12
$3.27£2.42
-12.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97£2.20
$4.67£3.45
-36.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Cheltenham
London
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.46£2.56
$4.18£3.09
-17.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$94.9£70.2
$272£201
-65.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.62£2.67
$5.75£4.25
-37.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.64£1.21
$3.32£2.46
-50.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.20£20.11
$58.0£42.85
-53.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.86£1.38
$2.06£1.52
-9.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K£28.8K
$39.5K£29.2K
-1.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.1K£31.1K
$42.6K£31.5K
-1.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cheltenham
London
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$345£255
$373£276
-7.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.09£12.63
$18.28£13.51
-6.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.9£37.63
$42.44£31.37
19.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cheltenham
London
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.41£33.57
$63.7£47.08
-28.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.04£30.33
$22.74£16.81
80.47%
Cinema Ticket
$14.00£10.35
$18.46£13.65
-24.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cheltenham
London
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,048£1,514
$2,922£2,160
-29.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$25.0K£18.5K
$37.1K£27.4K
-32.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cheltenham
London
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103£76.5
$115£84.8
-9.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.4£37.23
$54.6£40.37
-7.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$110£81.6
$129£95.1
-14.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.7£73.7
$153£113
-34.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cheltenham
London
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,201£888
$3,001£2,218
-59.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$931£688
$2,363£1,746
-60.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,248£1,662
$5,471£4,044
-58.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,639£1,212
$3,809£2,816
-56.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,902£4,363
$18.4K£13.6K
-67.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,719£4,227
$7,891£5,833
-27.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cheltenham
London
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,877£3,605
$4,580£3,386
6.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.54
4.61
20.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cheltenham: August 29, 2026
Last update for London: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,201 in Cheltenham and $3,001 in London. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cheltenham pays 6% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $106 in Cheltenham vs $110 in London for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $298 vs $361 per month, with Cheltenham cheaper across the board.
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
Cheltenham vs London: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is London cheaper than Cheltenham?
Cheltenham is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 80% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cheltenham or London?
Average pay runs 6% higher in Cheltenham, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Cheltenham and London?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,201 in Cheltenham versus $3,001 in London. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Cheltenham or in London?
Dining out is cheaper in Cheltenham – a meal for two runs $106 versus $110 in London. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Cheltenham and in London?
All in, you'll spend $2,346 per month in Cheltenham versus $4,221 in London – a 80% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Cheltenham or in London?
At $2,346 in Cheltenham versus $4,221 in London, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Cheltenham but tight or insufficient in London. The gap between the two cities makes Cheltenham the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cheltenham or London more family-friendly?
For families, Cheltenham is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in London, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cheltenham or London?
Safety-wise, Cheltenham and London are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Cheltenham gentler on the wallet – expenses run 80% less than in London. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Cheltenham vs other spots: cost of living compared