Cost of Living Comparison Between Oldham and Glasgow Cost of Living Comparison Between Oldham and Glasgow

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,097 per month in Oldham vs $2,505 in Glasgow, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,037 per month in Oldham vs $3,735 in Glasgow, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,976 per month in Oldham vs $4,966 in Glasgow, rent included.

Oldham is about 16% cheaper than Glasgow, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Oldham and Glasgow sit above the global median – Oldham by 56%, Glasgow by 87%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oldham
Glasgow
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.61 £15.35
$20.19 £15.04
2.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.4 £65.1
$98.0 £73.0
-10.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.23 £7.62
$9.35 £6.97
9.41%
Cappuccino
$4.86 £3.62
$4.76 £3.54
2.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 £1.95
$2.18 £1.63
19.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 £1.29
$1.43 £1.07
21.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.83 £5.09
$6.68 £4.97
2.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.93 £4.42
$6.72 £5.00
-11.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oldham
Glasgow
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.63 £1.22
$1.77 £1.32
-7.91%
White Bread (500g)
$1.71 £1.27
$1.64 £1.22
4.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.38 £2.52
$2.64 £1.97
28.03%
Eggs
$3.93 £2.92
$3.85 £2.87
2.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.71 £7.98
$10.17 £7.58
5.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.74 £7.25
$9.21 £6.86
5.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.44 £12.99
$13.83 £10.30
26.10%
Apples (1kg)
$3.31 £2.47
$3.26 £2.43
1.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.91 £1.42
$1.79 £1.33
6.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.11 £2.32
$3.37 £2.51
-7.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.71 £2.77
$3.69 £2.75
0.54%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 £1.33
$1.65 £1.23
7.88%
Onion (1kg)
$1.88 £1.40
$1.91 £1.42
-1.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.31 £0.98
$1.22 £0.91
7.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 £1.08
$1.59 £1.18
-8.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$18.53 £13.80
$21.49 £16.00
-13.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 £7.69
$11.31 £8.42
-8.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.75 £2.05
$3.01 £2.24
-8.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42 £2.55
$3.37 £2.51
1.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Oldham
Glasgow
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.45 £2.57
$4.04 £3.01
-14.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$83.7 £62.4
$95.0 £70.8
-11.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 £4.02
$5.28 £3.93
2.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.74 £1.29
$2.27 £1.69
-23.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.60 £25.03
$27.65 £20.59
21.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.88 £1.40
$1.94 £1.44
-3.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.0K £28.3K
$38.8K £28.9K
-2.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K £30.8K
$38.0K £28.3K
8.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oldham
Glasgow
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$303 £226
$378 £281
-19.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.17 £17.26
$17.76 £13.23
30.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.56 £32.44
$41.41 £30.84
5.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oldham
Glasgow
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.04 £35.04
$51.3 £38.23
-8.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.32 £14.39
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.68 £9.44
$17.62 £13.12
-28.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oldham
Glasgow
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,584 £1,180
$1,150 £856
37.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,885 £5,128
$18.0K £13.4K
-61.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oldham
Glasgow
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.4 £68.1
$125 £93.4
-27.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.64 £31.02
$50.6 £37.71
-17.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.5 £65.2
$106 £78.9
-17.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.1 £54.4
$107 £79.4
-31.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oldham
Glasgow
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,240 £924
$1,393 £1,038
-11.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$751 £559
$1,011 £753
-25.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,401 £1,044
$2,716 £2,023
-48.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,110 £827
$1,884 £1,403
-41.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,173 £3,108
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$3,091 £2,302
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oldham
Glasgow
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,457 £1,830
$3,453 £2,571
-28.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.6
5.32
5.26%

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

Last update for Oldham: May 30, 2026

Last update for Glasgow: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,240 in Oldham versus $1,393 in Glasgow. 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 41% higher in Glasgow, 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 $87.0 in Oldham versus $98.0 in Glasgow. Groceries tell a different story – $328 in Oldham vs $314 in Glasgow – so Glasgow wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Oldham vs Glasgow: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Oldham and Glasgow compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,097 in Oldham, $2,505 in Glasgow – roughly 19% apart. Glasgow costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Oldham compared to Glasgow?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,145 per month in Oldham and $3,757 in Glasgow. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Oldham and Glasgow?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Oldham, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Oldham and Glasgow?
Kindergarten costs $1,584 per month in Oldham and $1,150 in Glasgow. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Glasgow – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Oldham, where all-in costs run around $2,097, than in Glasgow at $2,505. In Oldham it covers expenses comfortably, while in Glasgow it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Oldham and Glasgow?
It depends on your priorities. Glasgow has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,097 in Oldham to $2,505 in Glasgow. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Oldham and Glasgow?
If budget matters most, go with Oldham. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Glasgow makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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