Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Normal, IL and London

For one person, living costs are similar in Normal, IL and in London: $2,269 and $2,359 a month, rent and utilities included.

Normal, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,269
/mo nomad
London
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,359
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Normal, IL and in London

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Normal, IL and in London actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,269 in Normal, IL versus $2,359 in London.

  • Normal, IL $2,269
  • London $2,359

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,356 in Normal, IL versus $3,355 in London.

  • Normal, IL $3,356
  • London $3,355

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,443 in Normal, IL versus $4,351 in London.

  • Normal, IL $4,443
  • London $4,351

Living in Normal, IL costs roughly 4% less than in London, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Normal, IL 67% above, London 74% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Normal, IL
London
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.29 $11.29
$21.18 CA$29.94
-46.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.5 $50.5
$63.1 CA$89.2
-20.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.82 $9.82
$12.23 CA$17.29
-19.71%
Cappuccino
$5.14 $5.14
$3.67 CA$5.19
40.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40 $3.40
$2.18 CA$3.08
55.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 $1.58
$2.18 CA$3.08
-27.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.27 $5.27
$6.55 CA$9.27
-19.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.08 $6.08
$6.28 CA$8.88
-3.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Normal, IL
London
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.80 $0.80
$1.98 CA$2.79
-59.60%
White Bread (500g)
$2.63 $2.63
$2.69 CA$3.80
-2.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.22 $3.22
$3.91 CA$5.53
-17.65%
Eggs
$3.84 $3.84
$3.67 CA$5.19
4.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.95 $8.95
$10.16 CA$14.37
-11.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.56 $12.56
$11.60 CA$16.40
8.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.70 $18.70
$14.91 CA$21.08
25.42%
Apples (1kg)
$6.55 $6.55
$4.35 CA$6.15
50.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.23 $1.23
$1.24 CA$1.76
-0.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.54 $6.54
$3.75 CA$5.30
74.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.11 $5.11
$4.02 CA$5.69
27.11%
Potato (1kg)
$3.39 $3.39
$3.05 CA$4.31
11.15%
Onion (1kg)
$3.23 $3.23
$3.04 CA$4.29
6.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.55 CA$3.61
-19.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.31 $2.31
$1.52 CA$2.15
51.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.32 $11.32
$11.81 CA$16.70
-4.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.96 $10.96
$12.91 CA$18.25
-15.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 $1.83
$2.44 CA$3.46
-25.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 $3.02
$2.84 CA$4.01
6.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Normal, IL
London
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.27 CA$3.21
13.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$93.0 $93.0
$79.4 CA$112
17.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.86 $5.86
$2.53 CA$3.57
131.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.71 CA$2.42
-36.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.21 $18.21
$21.96 CA$31.05
-17.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$1.24 CA$1.76
-26.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K $27.4K
$27.0K CA$38.2K
1.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K $26.5K
$22.8K CA$32.2K
16.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Normal, IL
London
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$274 $274
$139 CA$197
97.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$97.9 $97.9
$39.70 CA$56.1
146.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.5 $64.5
$57.0 CA$80.5
13.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Normal, IL
London
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.78 $39.78
$37.60 CA$53.2
5.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.03 CA$41.04
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.80 $11.80
$10.48 CA$14.82
12.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Normal, IL
London
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,055 $1,055
$410 CA$580
157.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$20.3K CA$28.6K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Normal, IL
London
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.33 $30.33
$53.0 CA$75.0
-42.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.25 $39.25
$39.23 CA$55.5
0.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$68.4 $68.4
$81.1 CA$115
-15.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$153 $153
$89.7 CA$127
70.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Normal, IL
London
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$994 $994
$1,297 CA$1,834
-23.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$895 $895
$1,172 CA$1,656
-23.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,761 $1,761
$2,066 CA$2,920
-14.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,624 $1,624
$1,682 CA$2,378
-3.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,700 $9,700
$3,510 CA$4,962
176.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$3,683 CA$5,207
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Normal, IL
London
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,253 $4,253
$3,092 CA$4,371
37.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
4.72
38.77%

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

Last update for Normal, IL: October 18, 2026

Last update for London: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Normal, IL
$895
London
$1.2K 31% $277
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Normal, IL
$436
London
$236 46% $201
Groceries & Markets
Normal, IL
$390
London
$362 7.2% $28
Eating Out
Normal, IL
$240
London
$313 30.4% $73
Clothing & Footwear
Normal, IL
$131
London
$118 9.5% $12
Getting Around
Normal, IL
$115
London
$100 13.1% $15
Sport & Entertainment
Normal, IL
$63
London
$59 7.6% $4.8

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $994 in Normal, IL and $1,297 in London. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Normal, IL pays 38% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $50.0 in Normal, IL vs $63.0 in London. Groceries flip the comparison at $390 vs $362, with London cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Normal, IL
🇨🇦 London
🕒 Local time
20:50 8:50 PM
21:50 9:50 PM
1 h ahead of Normal, IL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
52,497
383,822
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Normal, IL London 700 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Normal, IL
  • London

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Normal, IL vs London: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is London cheaper than Normal, IL?
Normal, IL is cheaper overall, especially in eating out. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Normal, IL or London?
Average pay runs 38% higher in Normal, IL, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Normal, IL and London?
Rent for a central apartment: $994 in Normal, IL versus $1,297 in London. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Normal, IL and in London?
All in, you'll spend $2,269 per month in Normal, IL versus $2,359 in London – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Normal, IL runs roughly 17% less than in London. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Normal, IL or in London?
At $2,269 in Normal, IL versus $2,359 in London, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Normal, IL but tight or insufficient in London. The gap between the two cities makes Normal, IL the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Normal, IL or London more family-friendly?
For families, Normal, IL is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in London, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Normal, IL or London?
Safety-wise, Normal, IL and London are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Normal, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in London. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Normal, IL vs other spots: cost of living compared

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