Cost of Living Comparison Between London and Hastings Cost of Living Comparison Between London and Hastings

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,892 in London versus $2,639 in Hastings.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,638 in London versus $3,540 in Hastings.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,385 in London versus $4,442 in Hastings.

Living in London is roughly 47% more expensive than Hastings, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: London 190% above, Hastings 97% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
London
Hastings
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$26.92 £20.05
$20.59 £15.34
30.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$110 £81.7
$78.7 £58.6
39.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.83 £8.06
$11.43 £8.51
-5.25%
Cappuccino
$5.10 £3.80
$4.48 £3.33
13.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 £2.06
$2.67 £1.99
3.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 £1.33
$1.34 £0.99
32.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.93 £6.65
$6.93 £5.16
28.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.03 £5.98
$6.71 £4.99
19.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
London
Hastings
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.77 £1.32
$0.71 £0.53
149.30%
White Bread (500g)
$2.08 £1.55
$1.42 £1.06
46.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.57 £1.92
$2.80 £2.08
-8.21%
Eggs
$4.75 £3.54
$3.34 £2.49
42.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.16 £8.31
$9.40 £7.00
18.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.00 £6.70
$9.28 £6.92
-3.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.83 £11.05
$13.35 £9.94
11.09%
Apples (1kg)
$3.33 £2.48
$2.31 £1.72
44.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.96 £1.46
$1.60 £1.19
22.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.25 £2.42
$2.50 £1.86
30.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.60 £2.68
$3.61 £2.69
-0.28%
Potato (1kg)
$1.68 £1.25
$1.82 £1.36
-7.69%
Onion (1kg)
$1.87 £1.40
$1.21 £0.90
54.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.32 £0.99
$0.99 £0.74
33.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 £1.45
$2.30 £1.71
-15.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$22.81 £16.99
$17.70 £13.19
28.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.71 £10.21
$6.81 £5.07
101.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.31 £2.47
$2.93 £2.18
12.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.93 £2.93
$3.37 £2.51
16.62%
🚌 Getting Around
London
Hastings
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.95 £2.95
$2.68 £1.99
47.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$240 £179
$89.5 £66.7
168.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.04 £4.50
$5.12 £3.81
17.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.31 £2.46
$1.67 £1.25
98.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$40.84 £30.42
$40.01 £29.80
2.07%
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 £29.0K
$20.4K £15.2K
90.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.0K £29.8K
$33.1K £24.7K
20.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
London
Hastings
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$326 £243
$334 £249
-2.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.23 £15.07
$18.87 £14.05
7.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.59 £31.72
$26.88 £20.02
58.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
London
Hastings
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.4 £47.95
$46.31 £34.49
39.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.34 £16.64
$47.76 £35.57
-53.22%
Cinema Ticket
$20.19 £15.03
$12.37 £9.21
63.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
London
Hastings
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,525 £1,880
$1,552 £1,156
62.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.0K £20.9K
$18.2K £13.5K
54.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
London
Hastings
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$119 £88.7
$81.5 £60.7
46.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.83 £37.11
$40.86 £30.43
21.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$127 £94.6
$119 £88.6
6.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$159 £119
$148 £110
7.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
London
Hastings
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,019 £2,249
$1,470 £1,095
105.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,274 £1,694
$1,305 £972
74.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,543 £4,129
$2,045 £1,523
171.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,737 £2,783
$1,519 £1,131
146.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$19.4K £14.4K
$13.7K £10.2K
41.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$9,516 £7,087
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
London
Hastings
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,820 £3,590
$3,444 £2,565
39.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.05
5.62
-10.14%

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

Last update for London: May 31, 2026

Last update for Hastings: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,019 in London and $1,470 in Hastings. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

London pays 40% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $110 in London vs $79.0 in Hastings for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $340 vs $284 per month, with Hastings 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 Hastings: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in London and Hastings?
London and Hastings differ by about 47% in total monthly costs ($3,892 vs $2,639 including rent). Hastings is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: London or Hastings?
London pays 40% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in London and Hastings?
Rent for a central apartment: $3,019 in London versus $1,470 in Hastings. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: London or Hastings?
All in, you'll spend $3,892 per month in London versus $2,639 in Hastings – a 47% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in London and Hastings?
A monthly transit pass in Hastings runs roughly 169% less than in London. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,639 in Hastings versus $3,892 in London, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Hastings but tight or insufficient in London. The gap between the two cities makes Hastings the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between London and Hastings?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: London or Hastings?
Expats usually find Hastings gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in London. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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