😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,334 in London versus $2,204 in Rockford, IL.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,386 in London versus $3,530 in Rockford, IL.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,439 in London versus $4,856 in Rockford, IL.
🌍Living in London is roughly 6% more expensive than in Rockford, IL, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: London70% above, Rockford, IL60% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
London
Rockford, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.03CA$30.48
$15.64$15.64
40.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.9CA$91.1
$68.7$68.7
-4.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.47CA$17.26
$10.04$10.04
24.20%
Cappuccino
$3.66CA$5.06
$5.11$5.11
-28.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19CA$3.03
$2.95$2.95
-25.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19CA$3.03
$2.11$2.11
3.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.37CA$8.81
$4.38$4.38
45.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.38CA$8.83
$6.80$6.80
-6.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
London
Rockford, IL
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74CA$2.40
$0.82$0.82
112.20%
White Bread(500g)
$2.53CA$3.50
$3.24$3.24
-21.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.95CA$5.47
$5.31$5.31
-25.61%
Eggs
$3.70CA$5.11
$2.90$2.90
27.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.84CA$16.38
$9.97$9.97
18.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.10CA$18.13
$13.90$13.90
-5.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.28CA$21.14
$16.69$16.69
-8.45%
Apples(1kg)
$4.34CA$6.01
$5.02$5.02
-13.55%
Banana(1kg)
$1.30CA$1.80
$1.52$1.52
-14.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.72CA$5.15
$3.82$3.82
-2.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.19CA$5.79
$5.25$5.25
-20.19%
Potato(1kg)
$3.01CA$4.16
$2.48$2.48
21.37%
Onion(1kg)
$2.87CA$3.96
$2.61$2.61
9.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.61CA$3.61
$2.13$2.13
22.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.54CA$2.13
$1.93$1.93
-20.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.19CA$16.86
$10.71$10.71
13.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.61CA$17.45
$15.83$15.83
-20.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.52CA$3.48
$2.03$2.03
24.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95CA$4.09
$1.87$1.87
57.75%
🚌 Getting Around
London
Rockford, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.40CA$3.32
$1.47$1.47
63.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.7CA$110
$54.8$54.8
45.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.49CA$3.45
$2.78$2.78
-10.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.68CA$2.33
$1.56$1.56
7.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.57CA$31.24
$20.98$20.98
7.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22CA$1.68
$0.97$0.97
25.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.8KCA$39.8K
$35.4K$35.4K
-18.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KCA$32.2K
$25.8K$25.8K
-9.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
London
Rockford, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$137CA$189
$193$193
-29.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.44CA$58.7
$46.06$46.06
-7.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.2CA$77.8
$71.4$71.4
-21.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
London
Rockford, IL
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.25CA$54.3
$41.45$41.45
-5.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.78CA$41.21
$24.91$24.91
19.55%
Cinema Ticket
$11.04CA$15.28
$14.44$14.44
-23.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
London
Rockford, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$414CA$573
$519$519
-20.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$21.1KCA$29.2K
$4,066$4,066
418.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
London
Rockford, IL
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.6CA$75.5
$44.97$44.97
21.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.49CA$54.7
$35.26$35.26
12.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.8CA$116
$94.6$94.6
-11.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4CA$127
$111$111
-17.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
London
Rockford, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,283CA$1,776
$1,294$1,294
-0.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,190CA$1,647
$917$917
29.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,060CA$2,850
$2,304$2,304
-10.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,710CA$2,366
$2,064$2,064
-17.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,530CA$4,884
$1,460$1,460
141.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,716CA$5,142
$1,436$1,436
158.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
London
Rockford, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,952CA$4,084
$3,309$3,309
-10.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.73
6.12
-22.71%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for London: August 31, 2026
Last update for Rockford, IL: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,283 in London and $1,294 in Rockford, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Rockford, IL pays 12% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $66.0 in London vs $69.0 in Rockford, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $373 vs $389 per month, with London cheaper across the board.
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 Rockford, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rockford, IL cheaper than London?
Rockford, IL is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Getting Around. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: London or Rockford, IL?
On paper, salaries run 12% lower in Rockford, IL. 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 London and Rockford, IL?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,283 in London versus $1,294 in Rockford, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in London and in Rockford, IL?
All in, you'll spend $2,334 per month in London versus $2,204 in Rockford, IL – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Rockford, IL runs roughly 46% less than in London. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in London or in Rockford, IL?
At $2,204 in Rockford, IL versus $2,334 in London, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Rockford, IL but tight or insufficient in London. The gap between the two cities makes Rockford, IL the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is London or Rockford, IL more family-friendly?
For families, Rockford, 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.
Which city is safer, London or Rockford, IL?
Safety-wise, London and Rockford, 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Rockford, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in London. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.