Cost of Living Comparison Between Glasgow and Southwark Cost of Living Comparison Between Glasgow and Southwark

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,505 per month in Glasgow vs $2,498 in Southwark, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,735 per month in Glasgow vs $4,754 in Southwark, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,966 per month in Glasgow vs $7,009 in Southwark, rent included.

Glasgow and Southwark have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Glasgow and Southwark sit above the global median – Glasgow by 87%, Southwark by 86%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.19 £15.01

$21.46 £15.95

-5.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.0 £72.9

$87.5 £65.1

11.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.35 £6.95

$10.92 £8.11

-14.38%

Cappuccino

$4.76 £3.54

$5.18 £3.85

-8.11%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 £1.62

$2.76 £2.05

-21.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 £1.06

$1.81 £1.35

-20.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.68 £4.96

$6.88 £5.12

-2.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.72 £4.99

$6.66 £4.95

0.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 £1.31

$1.69 £1.26

4.73%

White Bread (500g)

$1.64 £1.22

$2.22 £1.65

-26.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.64 £1.96

$2.24 £1.67

17.86%

Eggs

$3.85 £2.86

$3.77 £2.80

2.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.17 £7.56

$8.44 £6.27

20.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.21 £6.85

$8.28 £6.15

11.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.83 £10.28

$13.30 £9.88

3.98%

Apples (1kg)

$3.26 £2.43

$3.35 £2.49

-2.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 £1.33

$1.55 £1.15

15.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.37 £2.50

$2.89 £2.14

16.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.69 £2.75

$2.92 £2.17

26.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.65 £1.22

$1.71 £1.27

-3.51%

Onion (1kg)

$1.91 £1.42

$1.57 £1.17

21.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 £0.90

$1.25 £0.93

-2.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 £1.18

$1.44 £1.07

10.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$21.49 £15.97

$20.90 £15.53

2.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.31 £8.41

$12.16 £9.04

-6.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 £2.23

$2.72 £2.02

10.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 £2.51

$2.44 £1.82

38.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.04 £3.00

$3.31 £2.46

22.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$95.0 £70.6

$163 £121

-41.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.28 £3.92

$5.54 £4.11

-4.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.27 £1.68

$2.10 £1.56

8.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.65 £20.55

$29.44 £21.88

-6.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.94 £1.44

$1.95 £1.45

-0.51%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$38.8K £28.9K

$38.7K £28.8K

0.36%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$38.0K £28.2K

$39.9K £29.7K

-4.73%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$378 £281

$331 £246

13.95%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$17.76 £13.20

$18.89 £14.04

-5.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.41 £30.78

$34.36 £25.54

20.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.3 £38.16

$45.72 £33.99

12.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.32 £14.36

Cinema Ticket

$17.62 £13.10

$20.53 £15.26

-14.17%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,150 £855

$2,518 £1,871

-54.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.0K £13.4K

$22.8K £17.0K

-21.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$125 £93.2

$114 £84.8

9.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.6 £37.64

$40.48 £30.09

25.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$106 £78.7

$89.6 £66.6

18.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 £79.3

$100 £74.6

6.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,393 £1,036

$2,361 £1,755

-41.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,011 £751

$1,008 £749

0.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,716 £2,019

$2,003 £1,489

35.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,884 £1,401

$3,911 £2,907

-51.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,173 £3,102

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,091 £2,297

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,453 £2,566

$4,160 £3,092

-17.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.32

5.45

-2.39%

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

Last update for Glasgow: June 2, 2026

Last update for Southwark: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,393 in Glasgow versus $2,361 in Southwark. 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 20% higher in Southwark. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Glasgow versus $88.0 in Southwark. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $314 vs $295 – making Southwark the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Southwark: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,757 per month in Glasgow and $3,748 in Southwark. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Southwark, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 6% more in Glasgow, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

Kindergarten costs $1,150 per month in Glasgow and $2,518 in Southwark. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,505 in Glasgow and $2,498 in Southwark. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Glasgow has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,498 in Southwark to $2,505 in Glasgow. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Southwark. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Glasgow makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.