Cost of Living Comparison Between London and Retford Cost of Living Comparison Between London and Retford

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,221 per month in London vs $1,159 in Retford, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,971 per month in London vs $2,360 in Retford, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,721 per month in London vs $3,560 in Retford, rent included.

London costs about 264% more than Retford, driven mainly by Getting Around.

London sits 207% above the global median, while Retford is 16% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.14 £20.08

$15.17 £11.22

78.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$110 £81.3

$66.7 £49.37

64.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.05 £8.17

$7.35 £5.44

50.34%

Cappuccino

$5.84 £4.32

$4.11 £3.04

42.09%

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

$3.02 £2.24

$1.82 £1.35

65.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 £1.66

$1.84 £1.36

21.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.33 £6.90

$4.38 £3.24

113.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.92 £6.60

$4.32 £3.20

106.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 £1.39

$1.84 £1.36

2.17%

White Bread (500g)

$2.05 £1.51

$1.92 £1.42

6.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.46 £1.82

$1.40 £1.03

75.71%

Eggs

$5.21 £3.85

$4.86 £3.59

7.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.72 £9.41

$11.40 £8.43

11.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.97 £8.12

$4.19 £3.10

161.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.29 £13.53

$12.76 £9.44

43.34%

Apples (1kg)

$3.17 £2.35

$1.38 £1.02

129.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 £1.11

$1.37 £1.01

9.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.80 £2.07

$1.35 £1.00

107.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.50 £2.59

$1.73 £1.28

102.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.65 £1.22

$1.46 £1.08

13.01%

Onion (1kg)

$1.85 £1.37

$1.56 £1.15

18.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.53 £1.14

$0.42 £0.31

264.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 £1.35

$1.60 £1.19

14.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$24.20 £17.90

$23.60 £17.46

2.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.40 £9.91

$7.96 £5.89

68.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.27 £2.42

$1.72 £1.27

90.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.67 £3.46

$2.09 £1.54

123.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.18 £3.09

$2.76 £2.04

51.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$272 £201

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.75 £4.26

$13.64 £10.09

-57.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.32 £2.46

$3.99 £2.95

-16.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$58.0 £42.89

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.06 £1.52

$2.07 £1.53

-0.48%

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

$39.5K £29.2K

$40.4K £29.9K

-2.37%

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

$42.6K £31.5K

$44.4K £32.9K

-4.05%

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

$373 £276

$353 £261

5.71%

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

$18.28 £13.53

$28.89 £21.38

-36.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.44 £31.39

$47.34 £35.02

-10.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.7 £47.12

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.74 £16.82

Cinema Ticket

$18.46 £13.66

$16.50 £12.21

11.88%

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

$2,922 £2,161

$1,986 £1,469

47.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$37.1K £27.4K

$24.6K £18.2K

50.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$115 £84.8

$87.5 £64.7

31.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.6 £40.40

$61.4 £45.46

-11.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$129 £95.2

$112 £83.0

14.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 £113

$160 £118

-4.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,001 £2,220

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,363 £1,748

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,471 £4,047

$1,146 £847

377.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,809 £2,818

$1,100 £814

246.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.4K £13.6K

$2,197 £1,626

738.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,891 £5,838

$2,039 £1,508

287.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,580 £3,388

$1,746 £1,292

162.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.61

5.3

-13.02%

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

Last update for London: August 30, 2026

Last update for Retford: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 162% 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 $67.0 in Retford. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $361 vs $242 – making Retford 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 Retford: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $4,221 in London, $1,159 in Retford – roughly 264% apart. London costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,332 per month in London and $1,739 in Retford. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $4,221 in London and $1,159 in Retford. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,922 per month in London and $1,986 in Retford. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Retford, where all-in costs run around $1,159, than in London at $4,221. In Retford it covers expenses comfortably, while in London it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. London has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,159 in Retford to $4,221 in London. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Retford. 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.