Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cheltenham and London

For one person, living is cheaper in Cheltenham: $2,327 a month against $3,986 in London, rent and utilities included – about $19,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Cheltenham
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
$2,327
/mo nomad
London
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
$3,986
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cheltenham and in London

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Cheltenham and in London actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,327 in Cheltenham versus $3,986 in London.

  • Cheltenham $2,327
  • London $3,986

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,528 in Cheltenham versus $5,791 in London.

  • Cheltenham $3,528
  • London $5,791

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,729 in Cheltenham versus $7,595 in London.

  • Cheltenham $4,729
  • London $7,595

Living in Cheltenham costs roughly 42% less than in London, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Cheltenham 72% above, London 195% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cheltenham
London
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.67 £17.75
$25.93 £19.45
-8.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$105 £79.1
$107 £79.9
-1.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.03 £8.28
$10.71 £8.03
2.99%
Cappuccino
$4.89 £3.67
$5.47 £4.11
-10.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56 £1.92
$2.97 £2.23
-13.80%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 £1.31
$2.20 £1.65
-20.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.76 £5.82
$9.13 £6.85
-15.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.54 £4.91
$7.94 £5.96
-17.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cheltenham
London
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 £1.30
$1.86 £1.40
-6.99%
White Bread (500g)
$1.71 £1.29
$2.07 £1.55
-17.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.99 £1.49
$2.42 £1.81
-17.77%
Eggs
$4.43 £3.33
$5.09 £3.82
-12.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.19 £6.15
$12.87 £9.66
-36.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.59 £7.19
$10.43 £7.82
-8.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.09 £9.82
$16.87 £12.66
-22.41%
Apples (1kg)
$3.10 £2.32
$3.11 £2.33
-0.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 £1.07
$1.40 £1.05
2.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.93 £1.45
$3.08 £2.31
-37.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.49 £2.62
$3.27 £2.45
6.73%
Potato (1kg)
$1.52 £1.14
$1.58 £1.19
-3.80%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 £1.13
$1.74 £1.31
-13.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.21 £0.91
$1.40 £1.05
-13.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.42 £1.07
$1.80 £1.35
-21.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$23.12 £17.35
$23.28 £17.46
-0.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.63 £7.98
$13.03 £9.77
-18.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.86 £2.15
$3.17 £2.38
-9.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93 £2.20
$4.42 £3.32
-33.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Cheltenham
London
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.44 £2.58
$4.07 £3.05
-15.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$92.5 £69.4
$247 £185
-62.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.53 £2.65
$5.58 £4.18
-36.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.64 £1.23
$3.36 £2.52
-51.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.85 £20.14
$56.8 £42.58
-52.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.87 £1.40
$2.13 £1.60
-12.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.1K £27.8K
$38.2K £28.6K
-2.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.2K £30.9K
$40.9K £30.7K
0.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cheltenham
London
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$341 £256
$372 £279
-8.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.10 £12.83
$17.82 £13.37
-4.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.0 £38.24
$40.37 £30.29
26.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cheltenham
London
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.28 £33.22
$60.0 £44.99
-26.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$39.01 £29.27
$21.29 £15.97
83.23%
Cinema Ticket
$14.00 £10.50
$17.74 £13.31
-21.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cheltenham
London
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,020 £1,516
$2,864 £2,149
-29.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.2K £18.9K
$35.3K £26.5K
-28.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cheltenham
London
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$98.2 £73.7
$114 £85.5
-13.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.22 £36.18
$54.3 £40.71
-11.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 £79.4
$124 £93.2
-14.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.9 £72.7
$163 £122
-40.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cheltenham
London
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,161 £871
$2,869 £2,152
-59.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$929 £697
$2,233 £1,675
-58.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,149 £1,613
$5,266 £3,951
-59.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,617 £1,213
$3,778 £2,835
-57.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,704 £4,279
$18.3K £13.8K
-68.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,676 £4,258
$8,024 £6,020
-29.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cheltenham
London
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,753 £3,566
$5,037 £3,779
-5.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.54
4.74
16.88%

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

Last update for Cheltenham: October 11, 2026

Last update for London: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cheltenham
$929
London
$2.2K 141% $1.3K
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cheltenham
$409
London
$430 5.3% $22
Eating Out
Cheltenham
$350
London
$388 10.6% $37
Groceries & Markets
Cheltenham
$292
London
$349 19.6% $57
Clothing & Footwear
Cheltenham
$157
London
$205 30.5% $48
Getting Around
Cheltenham
$118
London
$285 142% $167
Sport & Entertainment
Cheltenham
$72
London
$95 32.1% $23

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,161 in Cheltenham and $2,869 in London. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

London pays 6% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $105 in Cheltenham vs $107 in London for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $349 per month, with Cheltenham cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇬🇧 Cheltenham
🇬🇧 London
🕒 Local time
16:22 4:22 PM
16:22 4:22 PM
Same time as Cheltenham
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
115,300
8,908,083 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to GBP – British Pound Converter

British Pound exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.75 GBP (1 GBP = 1.33 USD). 1 EUR = 0.843 GBP (1 GBP = 1.19 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cheltenham London 140 km
From you
  • Cheltenham
  • London

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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, and clothing. The 71% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cheltenham or London?
On paper, salaries run 6% lower in London. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Cheltenham and London?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,161 in Cheltenham versus $2,869 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 $105 versus $107 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 $2,327 per month in Cheltenham versus $3,986 in London – a 71% 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 $2,327 in Cheltenham versus $3,986 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 71% 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

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?