Cost of Living Comparison Between Redwood City, CA and London Cost of Living Comparison Between Redwood City, CA and London

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,048 per month in Redwood City, CA vs $3,892 in London, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,886 per month in Redwood City, CA vs $5,638 in London, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,725 per month in Redwood City, CA vs $7,385 in London, rent included.

Redwood City, CA costs about 4% more than London, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Redwood City, CA and London sit above the global median – Redwood City, CA by 202%, London by 190%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.01 $27.01

$26.92 £20.01

0.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$110 £81.5

-8.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.57 $14.57

$10.83 £8.05

34.53%

Cappuccino

$4.97 $4.97

$5.10 £3.79

-2.55%

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

$2.59 $2.59

$2.77 £2.06

-6.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$1.78 £1.33

21.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$8.93 £6.64

-33.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.08 $7.08

$8.03 £5.97

-11.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.77 £1.32

-16.95%

White Bread (500g)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.08 £1.55

15.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$2.57 £1.91

119.46%

Eggs

$4.84 $4.84

$4.75 £3.53

1.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.82 $7.82

$11.16 £8.30

-29.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.91 $14.91

$9.00 £6.69

65.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.75 $16.75

$14.83 £11.02

12.95%

Apples (1kg)

$6.45 $6.45

$3.33 £2.47

93.69%

Banana (1kg)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.96 £1.46

13.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.25 £2.42

13.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.14 $3.14

$3.60 £2.67

-12.78%

Potato (1kg)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.68 £1.25

41.07%

Onion (1kg)

$3.49 $3.49

$1.87 £1.39

86.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.21 $2.21

$1.32 £0.98

67.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.95 £1.45

53.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.87 $8.87

$22.81 £16.96

-61.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.11 $12.11

$13.71 £10.19

-11.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$3.31 £2.46

-48.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 $3.95

$3.93 £2.92

0.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$7.20 $7.20

$3.95 £2.94

82.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

$240 £179

-68.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.43 $3.43

$6.04 £4.49

-43.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.87 $1.87

$3.31 £2.46

-43.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.09 $40.09

$40.84 £30.36

-1.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.88 £1.40

-35.64%

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

$24.3K $24.3K

$38.9K £28.9K

-37.45%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$40.0K £29.8K

-35.07%

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

$193 $193

$326 £243

-40.93%

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

$50.4 $50.4

$20.23 £15.04

149.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.3 $72.3

$42.59 £31.66

69.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$179 $179

$64.4 £47.86

178.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.34 £16.61

Cinema Ticket

$14.65 $14.65

$20.19 £15.00

-27.44%

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

$2,698 $2,698

$2,525 £1,876

6.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.2K $38.2K

$28.0K £20.8K

36.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 $59.9

$119 £88.6

-49.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.3 $60.3

$49.83 £37.04

21.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.3 $89.3

$127 £94.4

-29.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 $100

$159 £118

-37.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,174 $4,174

$3,019 £2,244

38.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,503 $2,503

$2,274 £1,690

10.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,455 $5,455

$5,543 £4,120

-1.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,227 $4,227

$3,737 £2,778

13.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$19.4K £14.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,516 £7,073

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,032 $8,032

$4,820 £3,583

66.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

5.05

29.70%

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

Last update for Redwood City, CA: May 30, 2026

Last update for London: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,174 in Redwood City, CA versus $3,019 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 67% higher in Redwood City, CA, 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 $100 in Redwood City, CA versus $110 in London. Groceries tell a different story – $404 in Redwood City, CA vs $340 in London – so London 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

Redwood City, CA vs London: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $4,048 in Redwood City, CA, $3,892 in London – roughly 4% apart. Redwood City, CA costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,071 per month in Redwood City, CA and $5,838 in London. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in London, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 19% more in Redwood City, CA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $100 in Redwood City, CA and $110 in London. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,048 in Redwood City, CA and $3,892 in London. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. London has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,892 in London to $4,048 in Redwood City, CA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with London. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Redwood City, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.