Cost of Living Comparison Between Ilford and Glasgow Cost of Living Comparison Between Ilford and Glasgow

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,005 per month in Ilford vs $2,505 in Glasgow, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,949 per month in Ilford vs $3,735 in Glasgow, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,893 per month in Ilford vs $4,966 in Glasgow, rent included.

Ilford costs about 20% more than Glasgow, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ilford and Glasgow sit above the global median – Ilford by 124%, Glasgow by 87%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.59 £15.30

$20.19 £15.01

1.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.3 £65.7

$98.0 £72.9

-9.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.70 £7.96

$9.35 £6.95

14.44%

Cappuccino

$4.68 £3.48

$4.76 £3.54

-1.68%

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

$1.51 £1.13

$2.18 £1.62

-30.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.09 £0.81

$1.43 £1.06

-23.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.29 £3.93

$6.68 £4.96

-20.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.28 £4.67

$6.72 £4.99

-6.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 £1.05

$1.77 £1.31

-20.34%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 £1.05

$1.64 £1.22

-14.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 £1.61

$2.64 £1.96

-17.80%

Eggs

$3.62 £2.69

$3.85 £2.86

-5.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 £6.20

$10.17 £7.56

-17.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.44 £6.27

$9.21 £6.85

-8.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.32 £9.90

$13.83 £10.28

-3.69%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 £2.40

$3.26 £2.43

-0.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 £1.16

$1.79 £1.33

-12.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.87 £2.13

$3.37 £2.50

-14.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.91 £2.16

$3.69 £2.75

-21.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.74 £1.29

$1.65 £1.22

5.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.51 £1.12

$1.91 £1.42

-20.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.29 £0.96

$1.22 £0.90

5.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 £1.04

$1.59 £1.18

-11.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$20.45 £15.20

$21.49 £15.97

-4.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.04 £6.72

$11.31 £8.41

-20.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.73 £2.03

$3.01 £2.23

-9.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 £1.81

$3.37 £2.51

-27.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.48 £2.59

$4.04 £3.00

-13.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.4 £66.4

$95.0 £70.6

-5.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.14 £4.57

$5.28 £3.92

16.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 £1.58

$2.27 £1.68

-6.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.52 £21.94

$27.65 £20.55

6.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.93 £1.44

$1.94 £1.44

-0.52%

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

$38.3K £28.5K

$38.8K £28.9K

-1.26%

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

$38.6K £28.7K

$38.0K £28.2K

1.50%

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

$318 £236

$378 £281

-15.90%

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

$16.22 £12.05

$17.76 £13.20

-8.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.41 £26.32

$41.41 £30.78

-14.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.63 £21.28

$51.3 £38.16

-44.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.32 £14.36

Cinema Ticket

$20.71 £15.39

$17.62 £13.10

17.54%

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

$1,880 £1,397

$1,150 £855

63.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.6K £16.8K

$18.0K £13.4K

25.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$103 £76.3

$125 £93.2

-18.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.29 £30.69

$50.6 £37.64

-18.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.1 £66.9

$106 £78.7

-14.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.8 £73.4

$107 £79.3

-7.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,387 £1,031

$1,393 £1,036

-0.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,747 £1,299

$1,011 £751

72.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,015 £2,241

$2,716 £2,019

11.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,191 £1,628

$1,884 £1,401

16.26%

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)

$3,566 £2,651

$3,453 £2,566

3.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.45

5.32

2.44%

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

Last update for Ilford: May 31, 2026

Last update for Glasgow: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,387 in Ilford versus $1,393 in Glasgow. 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 3% higher in Ilford, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Ilford versus $98.0 in Glasgow. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $277 vs $314 – making Ilford 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

Ilford vs Glasgow: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ilford costs about 20% more than Glasgow, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,508 per month in Ilford and $3,757 in Glasgow. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $1,880 per month in Ilford and $1,150 in Glasgow. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 13% cheaper in Ilford – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Glasgow, where all-in costs run around $2,505, than in Ilford at $3,005. In Glasgow it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ilford it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Glasgow has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,505 in Glasgow to $3,005 in Ilford. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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