😐A single person spends $3,892 per month in London vs $2,648 in Braintree, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $5,638 per month in London vs $3,823 in Braintree, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $7,385 per month in London vs $4,998 in Braintree, rent included.
😐London costs about 47% more than Braintree, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both London and Braintree sit above the global median – London by 190%, Braintree by 98%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
London
Braintree
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$26.92£20.01
$18.64£13.86
44.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$110£81.5
$80.8£60.0
35.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.83£8.05
$8.01£5.96
35.21%
Cappuccino
$5.10£3.79
$2.28£1.69
123.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77£2.06
$1.20£0.89
130.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78£1.33
$0.93£0.69
91.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.93£6.64
$6.00£4.46
48.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.03£5.97
$6.20£4.61
29.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
London
Braintree
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.77£1.32
$1.95£1.45
-9.23%
White Bread(500g)
$2.08£1.55
$2.35£1.75
-11.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.57£1.91
$2.01£1.49
27.86%
Eggs
$4.75£3.53
$4.38£3.26
8.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.16£8.30
$9.94£7.39
12.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.00£6.69
$12.90£9.59
-30.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.83£11.02
$19.91£14.80
-25.51%
Apples(1kg)
$3.33£2.47
$2.36£1.76
41.10%
Banana(1kg)
$1.96£1.46
$1.87£1.39
4.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.25£2.42
$3.61£2.69
-9.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.60£2.67
$4.62£3.44
-22.08%
Potato(1kg)
$1.68£1.25
$1.74£1.30
-3.45%
Onion(1kg)
$1.87£1.39
$1.52£1.13
23.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.32£0.98
$1.19£0.88
10.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.95£1.45
$1.79£1.33
8.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$22.81£16.96
$19.34£14.38
17.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.71£10.19
$10.92£8.12
25.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.31£2.46
$3.26£2.42
1.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.93£2.92
$3.26£2.42
20.55%
🚌 Getting Around
London
Braintree
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.95£2.94
$3.42£2.54
15.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$240£179
$87.5£65.0
174.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.04£4.49
$6.82£5.07
-11.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.31£2.46
$2.42£1.80
36.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$40.84£30.36
$23.52£17.48
73.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.88£1.40
$1.94£1.44
-3.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.9K£28.9K
$37.7K£28.0K
3.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.0K£29.8K
$41.2K£30.6K
-2.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
London
Braintree
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$326£243
$343£255
-4.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.23£15.04
$10.97£8.15
84.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.59£31.66
$37.30£27.72
14.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
London
Braintree
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$64.4£47.86
$33.35£24.79
93.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.34£16.61
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$20.19£15.00
$13.74£10.21
46.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
London
Braintree
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,525£1,876
$1,415£1,052
78.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$28.0K£20.8K
$12.4K£9,244
125.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
London
Braintree
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$119£88.6
$105£78.3
13.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.83£37.04
$42.64£31.70
16.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$127£94.4
$61.8£45.92
105.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$159£118
$123£91.4
29.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
London
Braintree
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,019£2,244
$1,227£912
146.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,274£1,690
$1,286£956
76.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$5,543£4,120
$2,008£1,493
176.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,737£2,778
$2,181£1,621
71.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$19.4K£14.4K
$5,633£4,187
244.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$9,516£7,073
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
London
Braintree
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,820£3,583
$2,101£1,562
129.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.05
5.9
-14.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for London: May 31, 2026
Last update for Braintree: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $3,019 in London versus $1,227 in Braintree. 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 129% higher in London, 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 $110 in London versus $81.0 in Braintree. Groceries tell a different story – $340 in London vs $362 in Braintree – so London wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Braintree: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in London and Braintree compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $3,892 in London, $2,648 in Braintree – roughly 47% apart. London costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in London compared to Braintree?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,838 per month in London and $3,972 in Braintree. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between London and Braintree?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Braintree, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in London – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $110 in London and $81.0 in Braintree. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Braintree, where all-in costs run around $2,648, than in London at $3,892. In Braintree it covers expenses comfortably, while in London it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between London and Braintree?
It depends on your priorities. London has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,648 in Braintree to $3,892 in London. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is London or Braintree safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between London and Braintree?
If budget matters most, go with Braintree. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, London makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.