Cost of Living Comparison Between Retford and London Cost of Living Comparison Between Retford and London

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,159 per month in Retford vs $4,221 in London, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,360 per month in Retford vs $5,971 in London, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,560 per month in Retford vs $7,721 in London, rent included.

Retford is about 73% cheaper than London, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Retford sits 16% below the global median, while London is 207% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.17 £11.22

$27.14 £20.08

-44.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.7 £49.37

$110 £81.3

-39.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.35 £5.44

$11.05 £8.17

-33.48%

Cappuccino

$4.11 £3.04

$5.84 £4.32

-29.62%

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

$1.82 £1.35

$3.02 £2.24

-39.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 £1.36

$2.24 £1.66

-17.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.38 £3.24

$9.33 £6.90

-53.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.32 £3.20

$8.92 £6.60

-51.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.84 £1.36

$1.88 £1.39

-2.13%

White Bread (500g)

$1.92 £1.42

$2.05 £1.51

-6.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 £1.03

$2.46 £1.82

-43.09%

Eggs

$4.86 £3.59

$5.21 £3.85

-6.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.40 £8.43

$12.72 £9.41

-10.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.19 £3.10

$10.97 £8.12

-61.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.76 £9.44

$18.29 £13.53

-30.24%

Apples (1kg)

$1.38 £1.02

$3.17 £2.35

-56.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 £1.01

$1.50 £1.11

-8.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.35 £1.00

$2.80 £2.07

-51.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.73 £1.28

$3.50 £2.59

-50.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.46 £1.08

$1.65 £1.22

-11.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.56 £1.15

$1.85 £1.37

-15.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.42 £0.31

$1.53 £1.14

-72.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 £1.19

$1.83 £1.35

-12.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$23.60 £17.46

$24.20 £17.90

-2.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.96 £5.89

$13.40 £9.91

-40.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 £1.27

$3.27 £2.42

-47.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 £1.54

$4.67 £3.46

-55.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 £2.04

$4.18 £3.09

-33.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$272 £201

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$13.64 £10.09

$5.75 £4.26

137.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.99 £2.95

$3.32 £2.46

20.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$58.0 £42.89

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.07 £1.53

$2.06 £1.52

0.49%

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

$40.4K £29.9K

$39.5K £29.2K

2.43%

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

$44.4K £32.9K

$42.6K £31.5K

4.22%

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

$353 £261

$373 £276

-5.40%

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

$28.89 £21.38

$18.28 £13.53

58.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.34 £35.02

$42.44 £31.39

11.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.7 £47.12

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.74 £16.82

Cinema Ticket

$16.50 £12.21

$18.46 £13.66

-10.62%

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

$1,986 £1,469

$2,922 £2,161

-32.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.6K £18.2K

$37.1K £27.4K

-33.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.5 £64.7

$115 £84.8

-23.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.4 £45.46

$54.6 £40.40

12.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 £83.0

$129 £95.2

-12.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$160 £118

$153 £113

4.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,001 £2,220

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,363 £1,748

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,146 £847

$5,471 £4,047

-79.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,100 £814

$3,809 £2,818

-71.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,197 £1,626

$18.4K £13.6K

-88.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,039 £1,508

$7,891 £5,838

-74.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,746 £1,292

$4,580 £3,388

-61.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.3

4.61

14.97%

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

Last update for Retford: August 31, 2026

Last update for London: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 162% 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 $67.0 in Retford versus $110 in London. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $361 – making Retford 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

Retford vs London: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,159 in Retford, $4,221 in London – roughly 264% apart. London costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,739 per month in Retford and $6,332 in London. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,159 in Retford and $4,221 in London. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,986 per month in Retford and $2,922 in London. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Retford, where all-in costs run around $1,159, than in London at $4,221. In Retford it covers expenses comfortably, while in London it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. London has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,159 in Retford to $4,221 in London. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Retford. 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.