Cost of Living Comparison Between London and Lewes Cost of Living Comparison Between London and Lewes

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,221 per month in London vs $2,425 in Lewes, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,971 per month in London vs $3,566 in Lewes, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,721 per month in London vs $4,708 in Lewes, rent included.

London costs about 74% more than Lewes, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both London and Lewes sit above the global median – London by 207%, Lewes by 76%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.14 £20.08

$25.34 £18.75

7.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$110 £81.3

$95.8 £70.9

14.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.05 £8.17

$10.33 £7.64

6.97%

Cappuccino

$5.84 £4.32

$4.81 £3.56

21.41%

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

$3.02 £2.24

$3.03 £2.24

-0.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 £1.66

$2.82 £2.09

-20.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.33 £6.90

$8.90 £6.58

4.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.92 £6.60

$6.83 £5.06

30.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 £1.39

$1.51 £1.12

24.50%

White Bread (500g)

$2.05 £1.51

$1.77 £1.31

15.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.46 £1.82

$2.19 £1.62

12.33%

Eggs

$5.21 £3.85

$3.80 £2.81

37.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.72 £9.41

$11.49 £8.50

10.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.97 £8.12

$8.67 £6.41

26.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.29 £13.53

$13.10 £9.69

39.62%

Apples (1kg)

$3.17 £2.35

$2.98 £2.21

6.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 £1.11

Oranges (1kg)

$2.80 £2.07

$2.92 £2.16

-4.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.50 £2.59

$3.39 £2.51

3.24%

Potato (1kg)

$1.65 £1.22

Onion (1kg)

$1.85 £1.37

$1.41 £1.04

31.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.53 £1.14

$1.01 £0.74

51.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 £1.35

$1.58 £1.17

15.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$24.20 £17.90

$24.30 £17.98

-0.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.40 £9.91

$11.20 £8.28

19.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.27 £2.42

$2.34 £1.73

39.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.67 £3.46

$3.17 £2.34

47.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.18 £3.09

$3.34 £2.47

25.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$272 £201

$96.1 £71.1

182.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.75 £4.26

$5.02 £3.72

14.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.32 £2.46

$2.67 £1.97

24.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$58.0 £42.89

$23.00 £17.01

152.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.06 £1.52

$1.99 £1.47

3.52%

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

$39.5K £29.2K

$39.8K £29.5K

-0.90%

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

$42.6K £31.5K

$41.5K £30.7K

2.84%

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

$373 £276

$289 £214

29.06%

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

$18.28 £13.53

$17.17 £12.70

6.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.44 £31.39

$46.53 £34.42

-8.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.7 £47.12

$46.85 £34.66

35.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.74 £16.82

$13.80 £10.21

64.78%

Cinema Ticket

$18.46 £13.66

$13.81 £10.22

33.67%

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

$2,922 £2,161

$1,795 £1,328

62.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$37.1K £27.4K

$29.9K £22.1K

23.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$115 £84.8

$76.1 £56.3

50.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.6 £40.40

$46.76 £34.59

16.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$129 £95.2

$106 £78.5

21.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 £113

$92.2 £68.2

65.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,001 £2,220

$1,240 £917

142.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,363 £1,748

$1,035 £766

128.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,471 £4,047

$2,123 £1,570

157.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,809 £2,818

$1,724 £1,276

120.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.4K £13.6K

$5,323 £3,938

246.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,891 £5,838

$3,993 £2,954

97.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,580 £3,388

$4,727 £3,497

-3.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.61

-7.80%

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

Last update for London: August 30, 2026

Last update for Lewes: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,001 in London versus $1,240 in Lewes. 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 Lewes, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $110 in London versus $96.0 in Lewes. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $361 vs $298 – making Lewes 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

London vs Lewes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – London is pricier by about 74%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,332 per month in London and $3,638 in Lewes. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $2,922 per month in London and $1,795 in Lewes. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 21% more in London, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Lewes, where all-in costs run around $2,425, than in London at $4,221. In Lewes it covers expenses comfortably, while in London it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Lewes – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Lewes. 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.