Cost of Living Comparison Between London and Normal, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between London and Normal, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,380 in London versus $1,893 in Normal, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,496 in London versus $3,327 in Normal, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,612 in London versus $4,761 in Normal, IL.

Living in London is roughly 26% more expensive than Normal, IL, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: London 78% above, Normal, IL 41% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.17 CA$24.89

$9.96 $9.96

82.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.9 CA$99.8

$50.9 $50.9

43.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.34 CA$14.17

$10.19 $10.19

1.47%

Cappuccino

$3.46 CA$4.74

$5.03 $5.03

-31.21%

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

$1.95 CA$2.67

$3.14 $3.14

-37.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 CA$2.61

$2.16 $2.16

-12.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.94 CA$8.14

$4.90 $4.90

21.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.78 CA$9.28

$6.88 $6.88

-1.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 CA$2.21

$0.79 $0.79

103.80%

White Bread (500g)

$2.40 CA$3.29

$2.54 $2.54

-5.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.27 CA$4.48

$3.33 $3.33

-1.80%

Eggs

$3.28 CA$4.49

$3.93 $3.93

-16.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.49 CA$13.01

$8.95 $8.95

6.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.44 CA$17.04

$12.66 $12.66

-1.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.26 CA$12.69

$15.54 $15.54

-40.41%

Apples (1kg)

$4.57 CA$6.26

$5.55 $5.55

-17.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 CA$1.87

$1.17 $1.17

16.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.63 CA$4.97

$4.69 $4.69

-22.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.78 CA$5.18

$4.88 $4.88

-22.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.62 CA$2.22

$2.13 $2.13

-23.94%

Onion (1kg)

$2.12 CA$2.90

$2.21 $2.21

-4.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.16 CA$2.96

$1.92 $1.92

12.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 CA$2.00

$2.70 $2.70

-45.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.50 CA$17.12

$10.33 $10.33

21.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.97 CA$17.76

$11.42 $11.42

13.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 CA$2.91

$1.86 $1.86

13.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 CA$3.56

$2.97 $2.97

-12.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.42 CA$3.31

$1.96 $1.96

23.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$83.4 CA$114

$93.9 $93.9

-11.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.08 CA$5.59

$2.78 $2.78

46.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 CA$2.43

$1.58 $1.58

12.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$31.30 CA$42.88

$21.35 $21.35

46.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 CA$1.56

$0.79 $0.79

44.30%

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

$24.7K CA$33.8K

$29.9K $29.9K

-17.55%

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

$20.4K CA$27.9K

$26.0K $26.0K

-21.77%

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

$142 CA$194

$181 $181

-21.69%

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

$47.48 CA$65.1

$39.73 $39.73

19.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.0 CA$79.5

$63.0 $63.0

-7.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.33 CA$58.0

$42.24 $42.24

0.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.20 CA$9.87

Cinema Ticket

$10.87 CA$14.90

$14.50 $14.50

-25.03%

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

$552 CA$756

$694 $694

-20.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.2K CA$19.5K

$24.5K $24.5K

-41.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 CA$74.4

$30.29 $30.29

79.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.53 CA$62.4

$40.57 $40.57

12.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 CA$119

$81.2 $81.2

6.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.4 CA$110

$104 $104

-22.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,455 CA$1,993

$1,576 $1,576

-7.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,285 CA$1,761

$712 $712

80.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,576 CA$3,530

$2,674 $2,674

-3.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,980 CA$2,713

$2,259 $2,259

-12.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,482 CA$4,771

$9,955 $9,955

-65.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,725 CA$5,103

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,125 CA$4,281

$3,461 $3,461

-9.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.21

6.55

-5.19%

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

Last update for London: April 20, 2026

Last update for Normal, IL: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,455 in London and $1,576 in Normal, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Normal, IL pays 11% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $73 in London vs $51 in Normal, IL. Groceries flip the comparison at $326 vs $366, with London cheaper for home cooking.

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

London vs Normal, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Normal, IL is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 26% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Normal, IL earns 11% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,455 in London versus $1,576 in Normal, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,380 per month in London versus $1,893 in Normal, IL – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Normal, IL runs roughly 13% less than in London. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,893 in Normal, IL versus $2,380 in London, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Normal, IL but tight or insufficient in London. The gap between the two cities makes Normal, IL the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Normal, IL 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.

Safety-wise, London and Normal, IL are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Normal, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in London. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.