Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Glasgow and Derby

For one person, living is cheaper in Derby: $2,255 a month against $2,425 in Glasgow, rent and utilities included – about $2,000 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Glasgow outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Glasgow, United Kingdom
Derby, United Kingdom
Glasgow
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
$2,425
/mo nomad
Derby
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
$2,255
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Glasgow and in Derby

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

A single person spends $2,425 per month in Glasgow vs $2,255 in Derby, rent included.

  • Glasgow $2,425
  • Derby $2,255

A couple spends around $3,706 per month in Glasgow vs $3,377 in Derby, rent included.

  • Glasgow $3,706
  • Derby $3,377

A family of three spends $4,987 per month in Glasgow vs $4,499 in Derby, rent included.

  • Glasgow $4,987
  • Derby $4,499

Glasgow costs about 8% more than Derby, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Glasgow and Derby sit above the global median – Glasgow by 78%, Derby by 66%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Glasgow
Derby
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.28 £15.87
$26.57 £19.81
-19.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.2 £50.1
$95.0 £70.8
-29.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.58 £7.88
$10.72 £7.99
-1.31%
Cappuccino
$4.81 £3.59
$4.97 £3.70
-3.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 £1.68
$2.52 £1.88
-10.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 £1.36
$1.96 £1.46
-6.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.48 £4.09
$6.82 £5.08
-19.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.63 £4.95
$7.10 £5.30
-6.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Glasgow
Derby
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.67 £1.24
$1.57 £1.17
6.37%
White Bread (500g)
$1.64 £1.22
$1.43 £1.07
14.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.00 £1.49
$2.34 £1.75
-14.53%
Eggs
$4.00 £2.98
$3.96 £2.95
1.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.28 £6.92
$8.42 £6.28
10.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.08 £6.77
$8.58 £6.40
5.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.75 £12.49
$23.38 £17.43
-28.36%
Apples (1kg)
$3.02 £2.25
$5.42 £4.04
-44.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 £1.13
$2.80 £2.09
-46.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.91 £2.17
$2.96 £2.20
-1.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.19 £2.38
$3.74 £2.79
-14.71%
Potato (1kg)
$1.93 £1.44
$1.55 £1.15
24.52%
Onion (1kg)
$1.55 £1.16
$1.54 £1.15
0.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 £0.84
$1.05 £0.78
7.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 £1.18
$1.37 £1.02
15.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$23.96 £17.86
$23.73 £17.70
0.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.32 £8.44
$10.62 £7.92
6.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.37 £2.51
$3.28 £2.45
2.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33 £2.48
$3.61 £2.69
-7.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Glasgow
Derby
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.98 £2.97
$4.01 £2.99
-0.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$108 £80.5
$115 £86.0
-6.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.75 £4.29
$4.34 £3.24
32.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.14 £0.85
$1.62 £1.20
-29.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$60.6 £45.19
$31.95 £23.82
89.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.09 £1.56
$1.98 £1.47
5.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.3K £29.3K
$38.2K £28.5K
2.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.6K £30.3K
$39.9K £29.7K
1.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Glasgow
Derby
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$312 £233
$366 £273
-14.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.29 £15.13
$19.97 £14.89
1.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.05 £31.35
$39.71 £29.61
5.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Glasgow
Derby
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.31 £27.82
$36.95 £27.55
0.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.73 £15.46
$25.60 £19.09
-19.02%
Cinema Ticket
$16.26 £12.12
$15.22 £11.35
6.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Glasgow
Derby
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,124 £838
$1,912 £1,426
-41.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.6K £16.1K
$20.3K £15.1K
6.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Glasgow
Derby
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$132 £98.4
$114 £85.3
15.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.81 £34.15
$58.0 £43.22
-20.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 £79.5
$87.2 £65.0
22.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.4 £69.6
$98.1 £73.1
-4.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Glasgow
Derby
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,368 £1,020
$947 £706
44.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,047 £781
$746 £556
40.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,770 £2,065
$1,532 £1,142
80.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,080 £1,551
$1,206 £899
72.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,035 £3,008
$4,201 £3,132
-3.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,923 £2,179
$3,055 £2,278
-4.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Glasgow
Derby
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,339 £2,489
$3,541 £2,640
-5.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.79
4.88
-1.84%

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

Last update for Glasgow: October 27, 2026

Last update for Derby: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Glasgow
$1K
Derby
$746 28.7% $301
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Glasgow
$375
Derby
$425 13.5% $51
Eating Out
Glasgow
$317
Derby
$371 17% $54
Groceries & Markets
Glasgow
$311
Derby
$341 9.7% $30
Clothing & Footwear
Glasgow
$170
Derby
$161 5.3% $9.1
Getting Around
Glasgow
$135
Derby
$144 6.2% $8.4
Sport & Entertainment
Glasgow
$70
Derby
$67 3.5% $2.4

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,368 in Glasgow versus $947 in Derby. 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 6% higher in Derby, 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 $67 in Glasgow versus $95 in Derby. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $311 vs $341 – making Glasgow the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇬🇧 Glasgow
🇬🇧 Derby
🕒 Local time
18:15 6:15 PM
18:15 6:15 PM
Same time as Glasgow
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
606,340
233,700
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to GBP – British Pound Converter

British Pound exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 0.746 GBP (1 GBP = 1.34 USD). 1 EUR = 0.832 GBP (1 GBP = 1.2 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Glasgow Derby 370 km
From you
  • Glasgow
  • Derby

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
Glasgow vs Derby: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Glasgow or Derby?
Glasgow costs about 8% more than Derby, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from clothing. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Glasgow and in Derby?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,637 per month in Glasgow and $3,383 in Derby. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Glasgow or Derby?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Derby, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $947 there versus $1,368 in Glasgow.
How do childcare costs compare in Glasgow and in Derby?
Kindergarten costs $1,124 per month in Glasgow and $1,912 in Derby. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Glasgow or in Derby?
Interestingly, groceries are about 9% cheaper in Glasgow – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Glasgow or in Derby?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,425 in Glasgow and $2,255 in Derby. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Glasgow or Derby?
It depends on your priorities. Glasgow has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,255 in Derby to $2,425 in Glasgow. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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