😐A single person spends $4,000 per month in London vs $2,441 in Stevenage, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $5,771 per month in London vs $3,791 in Stevenage, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $7,542 per month in London vs $5,141 in Stevenage, rent included.
😐London costs about 64% more than Stevenage, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both London and Stevenage sit above the global median – London by 197%, Stevenage by 81%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
London
Stevenage
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.00£20.00
$26.89£19.93
0.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$108£79.7
$83.0£61.5
29.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.76£7.97
$11.07£8.20
-2.80%
Cappuccino
$5.12£3.79
$3.47£2.57
47.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75£2.04
$1.66£1.23
65.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78£1.32
$1.59£1.18
11.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.84£6.55
$5.34£3.96
65.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.08£5.99
$5.28£3.91
53.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
London
Stevenage
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.75£1.30
$1.88£1.39
-6.91%
White Bread(500g)
$2.18£1.61
$1.52£1.13
43.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.53£1.88
$1.29£0.95
96.12%
Eggs
$4.78£3.54
$3.21£2.38
48.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.46£8.49
$11.95£8.85
-4.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.96£6.64
$7.74£5.74
15.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.45£10.71
$10.53£7.80
37.23%
Apples(1kg)
$3.45£2.55
$3.65£2.71
-5.48%
Banana(1kg)
$2.04£1.51
$1.50£1.11
36.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.19£2.37
$3.30£2.44
-3.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.59£2.66
$2.57£1.90
39.69%
Potato(1kg)
$1.75£1.30
$0.94£0.69
86.17%
Onion(1kg)
$1.78£1.32
$1.39£1.03
28.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.32£0.98
$1.17£0.87
12.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.89£1.40
$1.03£0.77
83.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$22.64£16.78
$16.47£12.20
37.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.27£9.83
$9.18£6.81
44.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.23£2.40
$2.66£1.97
21.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90£2.89
$3.53£2.62
10.48%
🚌 Getting Around
London
Stevenage
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.00£2.96
$3.43£2.54
16.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$244£181
$95.4£70.7
155.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.03£4.47
$4.65£3.45
29.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.24£2.40
$1.75£1.30
85.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$40.25£29.82
$20.23£14.99
98.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.96£1.45
$1.91£1.41
2.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2K£28.3K
$38.5K£28.6K
-0.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K£29.1K
$41.7K£30.9K
-6.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
London
Stevenage
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$328£243
$240£178
36.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.14£14.92
$22.52£16.69
-10.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.96£31.83
$36.43£27.00
17.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
London
Stevenage
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$65.4£48.48
$55.6£41.17
17.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.39£16.59
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$20.19£14.96
$12.17£9.02
65.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
London
Stevenage
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,552£1,891
$1,735£1,285
47.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$27.9K£20.6K
$18.6K£13.7K
50.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
London
Stevenage
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$119£88.4
$98.9£73.3
20.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.55£36.71
$40.92£30.32
21.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$128£94.7
$60.8£45.07
110.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$154£114
$89.4£66.2
72.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
London
Stevenage
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,993£2,218
$1,479£1,096
102.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,221£1,646
$1,224£907
81.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$5,642£4,181
$3,111£2,305
81.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,634£2,693
$2,355£1,745
54.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$19.2K£14.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$10.2K£7,572
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
London
Stevenage
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,067£3,755
$3,334£2,470
52.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.05
5.6
-9.82%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for London: April 13, 2026
Last update for Stevenage: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $2,993 in London versus $1,479 in Stevenage. 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 52% 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 $108 in London versus $83 in Stevenage. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $339 vs $273 – making Stevenage 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 Stevenage: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in London and Stevenage compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $4,000 in London, $2,441 in Stevenage – roughly 64% apart. London costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in London compared to Stevenage?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,000 per month in London and $3,662 in Stevenage. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between London and Stevenage?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Stevenage, 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?
Groceries cost about 24% more in London, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $108 in London and $83.0 in Stevenage. 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 Stevenage, where all-in costs run around $2,441, than in London at $4,000. In Stevenage 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 Stevenage?
It depends on your priorities. London has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,441 in Stevenage to $4,000 in London. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between London and Stevenage?
If budget matters most, go with Stevenage. 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.