Cost of Living Comparison Between Poole and London Cost of Living Comparison Between Poole and London

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,536 per month in Poole vs $3,930 in London, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,758 per month in Poole vs $5,723 in London, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,981 per month in Poole vs $7,516 in London, rent included.

Poole is about 35% cheaper than London, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Poole and London sit above the global median – Poole by 89%, London by 192%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Poole
London
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.49 £15.24
$26.75 £19.89
-23.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$108 £80.1
$110 £82.1
-2.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.79 £7.28
$10.65 £7.92
-8.08%
Cappuccino
$4.85 £3.61
$5.30 £3.94
-8.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56 £1.90
$2.77 £2.06
-7.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 £1.26
$1.79 £1.33
-5.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.62 £5.67
$9.03 £6.72
-15.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.95 £5.16
$8.21 £6.10
-15.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Poole
London
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 £1.23
$1.78 £1.33
-6.74%
White Bread (500g)
$1.27 £0.95
$2.18 £1.62
-41.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.60 £1.93
$2.55 £1.90
1.96%
Eggs
$3.29 £2.45
$4.93 £3.67
-33.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.86 £7.33
$11.26 £8.38
-12.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.92 £5.14
$8.63 £6.42
-19.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.36 £9.93
$14.48 £10.76
-7.73%
Apples (1kg)
$2.69 £2.00
$3.47 £2.58
-22.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.27 £0.94
$1.97 £1.46
-35.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.33 £1.73
$3.13 £2.33
-25.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.21 £1.64
$3.60 £2.68
-38.61%
Potato (1kg)
$1.55 £1.15
$1.74 £1.30
-10.92%
Onion (1kg)
$1.45 £1.08
$1.80 £1.34
-19.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 £0.73
$1.38 £1.02
-28.99%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 £1.08
$1.91 £1.42
-24.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$17.93 £13.33
$23.53 £17.50
-23.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.42 £7.00
$13.12 £9.75
-28.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.59 £1.93
$3.20 £2.38
-19.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 £1.86
$3.97 £2.95
-36.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Poole
London
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.99 £2.97
$4.01 £2.98
-0.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.8 £57.9
$245 £182
-68.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.16 £3.09
$6.10 £4.53
-31.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.69 £1.26
$3.20 £2.38
-47.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.93 £16.31
$41.13 £30.58
-46.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.98 £1.47
$1.94 £1.44
2.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.8K £28.1K
$37.8K £28.1K
0.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.6K £28.7K
$39.9K £29.7K
-3.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Poole
London
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$335 £249
$325 £241
3.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.45 £12.23
$19.51 £14.50
-15.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.63 £33.18
$42.94 £31.93
3.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Poole
London
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.60 £22.01
$64.4 £47.91
-54.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$22.99 £17.10
-
Cinema Ticket
$22.39 £16.65
$20.47 £15.22
9.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Poole
London
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,339 £1,739
$2,476 £1,841
-5.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K £12.1K
$28.7K £21.3K
-43.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Poole
London
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.9 £63.9
$118 £87.9
-27.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.17 £29.87
$49.06 £36.47
-18.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.9 £67.6
$128 £95.2
-29.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.7 £63.8
$156 £116
-45.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Poole
London
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,182 £879
$3,031 £2,253
-60.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,223 £909
$2,249 £1,672
-45.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,395 £1,780
$5,565 £4,138
-56.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,156 £1,603
$3,661 £2,722
-41.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$20.4K £15.1K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,093 £1,556
$9,765 £7,260
-78.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Poole
London
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,242 £2,410
$4,801 £3,570
-32.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.45
5.05
7.92%

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

Last update for Poole: June 8, 2026

Last update for London: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,182 in Poole versus $3,031 in London. 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 48% 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 Poole versus $110 in London. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $264 vs $337 – making Poole 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
Poole vs London: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Poole and London compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,536 in Poole, $3,930 in London – roughly 55% apart. London costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Poole compared to London?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,805 per month in Poole and $5,895 in London. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Poole and London?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Poole, 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 28% 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 Poole and $110 in London. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Poole, where all-in costs run around $2,536, than in London at $3,930. In Poole it covers expenses comfortably, while in London it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Poole and London?
It depends on your priorities. London has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,536 in Poole to $3,930 in London. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Poole or London safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Poole and London?
If budget matters most, go with Poole. 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.

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