Cost of Living Comparison Between Cheltenham and London Cost of Living Comparison Between Cheltenham and London

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,186 in Cheltenham versus $3,916 in London.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,213 in Cheltenham versus $5,631 in London.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,240 in Cheltenham versus $7,345 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: Cheltenham 64% above, London 193% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cheltenham
London
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.67 £15.38
$27.47 £20.43
-24.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.9 £61.6
$111 £82.4
-25.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.05 £8.22
$10.67 £7.94
3.56%
Cappuccino
$4.67 £3.47
$5.30 £3.94
-11.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 £1.55
$2.74 £2.04
-24.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33 £0.99
$1.79 £1.33
-25.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.32 £3.95
$9.00 £6.69
-40.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.67 £4.96
$8.12 £6.04
-17.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cheltenham
London
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.47 £1.10
$1.72 £1.28
-14.53%
White Bread (500g)
$0.69 £0.52
$2.11 £1.57
-67.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.07 £1.54
$2.47 £1.84
-16.19%
Eggs
$4.55 £3.38
$4.98 £3.71
-8.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.72 £3.51
$11.11 £8.26
-57.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.08 £5.26
$9.13 £6.79
-22.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.89 £11.82
$14.41 £10.72
10.27%
Apples (1kg)
$2.06 £1.53
$3.36 £2.50
-38.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 £1.27
$2.03 £1.51
-15.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.02 £1.50
$3.27 £2.44
-38.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.59 £2.67
$3.63 £2.70
-1.10%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 £1.00
$1.68 £1.25
-20.24%
Onion (1kg)
$1.83 £1.36
$1.77 £1.32
3.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 £0.80
$1.33 £0.99
-18.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 £1.18
$1.91 £1.42
-17.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$17.22 £12.81
$22.79 £16.95
-24.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.31 £8.41
$13.62 £10.13
-16.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.96 £1.45
$3.20 £2.38
-38.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 £1.47
$4.07 £3.03
-51.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Cheltenham
London
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.56 £2.64
$3.82 £2.84
-6.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.6 £42.06
$249 £185
-77.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.06 £3.02
$5.89 £4.38
-31.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.39 £1.03
$3.32 £2.47
-58.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.73 £19.14
$40.47 £30.10
-36.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.90 £1.41
$1.90 £1.41
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.9K £28.9K
$38.9K £29.0K
-0.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.6K £30.9K
$39.4K £29.3K
5.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cheltenham
London
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$262 £195
$328 £244
-20.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.81 £11.76
$19.61 £14.58
-19.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.79 £32.57
$42.68 £31.75
2.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cheltenham
London
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.78 £32.56
$63.2 £47.04
-30.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.33 £17.35
$22.39 £16.65
4.20%
Cinema Ticket
$13.85 £10.30
$20.69 £15.39
-33.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cheltenham
London
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,411 £1,049
$2,474 £1,841
-42.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.8K £10.2K
$27.9K £20.8K
-50.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cheltenham
London
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$112 £83.1
$119 £88.8
-6.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.74 £26.59
$50.1 £37.26
-28.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 £83.5
$131 £97.3
-14.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.9 £73.5
$158 £118
-37.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cheltenham
London
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,166 £867
$2,937 £2,184
-60.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$943 £702
$2,229 £1,658
-57.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,262 £1,682
$5,569 £4,142
-59.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,676 £1,247
$3,707 £2,757
-54.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,683 £4,227
$20.1K £15.0K
-71.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,809 £4,321
$8,485 £6,311
-31.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cheltenham
London
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,756 £3,538
$4,247 £3,159
12.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.79
5.05
14.65%

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

Last update for Cheltenham: July 12, 2026

Last update for London: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,166 in Cheltenham and $2,937 in London. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cheltenham pays 12% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $83.0 in Cheltenham vs $111 in London for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $259 vs $339 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 79% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cheltenham or London?
Average pay runs 12% 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: $1,166 in Cheltenham versus $2,937 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 $83.0 versus $111 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 $2,186 per month in Cheltenham versus $3,916 in London – a 79% 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 $2,186 in Cheltenham versus $3,916 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 79% less than in London. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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