Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint Helena and United Kingdom Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint Helena and United Kingdom

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $887 in Saint Helena versus $2,360 in United Kingdom.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,421 in Saint Helena versus $3,471 in United Kingdom.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,955 in Saint Helena versus $4,581 in United Kingdom.

Living in Saint Helena costs about 62% less than in United Kingdom on average.

Saint Helena (34% below) and United Kingdom (76% above) straddle the global median.

Internal cost variation is higher in United Kingdom: monthly costs span $1,688 to $4,005, compared to $520$1,254 in Saint Helena. City choice carries more weight in United Kingdom.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saint Helena
United Kingdom
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.27 SHP 12.04
$20.50 £15.17
-20.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.4 SHP 39.52
$89.6 £66.3
-40.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.20 SHP 9.02
$10.05 £7.44
21.39%
Cappuccino
$3.11 SHP 2.30
$4.53 £3.35
-31.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22 SHP 0.90
$2.47 £1.83
-50.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18 SHP 0.87
$1.70 £1.25
-30.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.62 SHP 3.42
$6.61 £4.89
-30.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70 SHP 2.00
$6.48 £4.80
-58.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saint Helena
United Kingdom
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.88 SHP 1.39
$1.64 £1.21
14.63%
White Bread (500g)
$1.82 SHP 1.35
$1.70 £1.26
7.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 SHP 1.03
$2.20 £1.63
-36.82%
Eggs
$4.17 SHP 3.08
$3.98 £2.94
4.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.23 SHP 6.09
$9.62 £7.12
-14.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.78 SHP 7.98
$9.02 £6.67
19.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 SHP 8.03
$14.00 £10.36
-22.43%
Apples (1kg)
-
$3.07 £2.27
-
Banana (1kg)
-
$1.61 £1.19
-
Oranges (1kg)
-
$2.82 £2.09
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$3.58 £2.65
-
Potato (1kg)
-
$1.61 £1.19
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$1.52 £1.13
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.77 SHP 2.05
$1.16 £0.86
138.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.30 SHP 1.70
$1.50 £1.11
53.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.49 SHP 8.50
$20.28 £15.01
-43.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.64 SHP 11.57
$10.76 £7.96
45.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.90 £2.14
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.27 £2.42
-
🚌 Getting Around
Saint Helena
United Kingdom
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$3.25 £2.40
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.39 SHP 30.63
$96.6 £71.5
-57.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.69 SHP 1.99
$5.41 £4.00
-50.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.55 £1.14
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$27.40 £20.28
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.57 SHP 1.90
$2.00 £1.48
28.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$38.6K £28.6K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$40.1K £29.7K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint Helena
United Kingdom
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$324 £239
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$17.16 £12.70
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$167 SHP 123
$42.46 £31.42
292.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saint Helena
United Kingdom
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$13.57 SHP 10.04
$46.45 £34.38
-70.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.23 £12.01
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$13.44 £9.94
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saint Helena
United Kingdom
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$1,720 £1,273
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$21.1K £15.6K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saint Helena
United Kingdom
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.34 SHP 30.59
$89.6 £66.3
-53.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.49 SHP 15.16
$43.89 £32.48
-53.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$47.35 SHP 35.04
$101 £74.6
-53.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$105 £78.1
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saint Helena
United Kingdom
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$703 SHP 520
$1,396 £1,033
-49.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$623 SHP 461
$1,126 £833
-44.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$701 SHP 519
$2,346 £1,736
-70.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$647 SHP 479
$1,877 £1,389
-65.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$5,923 £4,383
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$4,613 £3,413
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saint Helena
United Kingdom
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$799 SHP 592
$3,374 £2,497
-76.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.2
5.75
7.83%

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

Last update for Saint Helena: April 27, 2026

Last update for United Kingdom: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $718 in Saint Helena, $1,267 in United Kingdom. Capital cities: $676 in Jamestown vs $3,034 in London.

National salary averages: $799 in Saint Helena, $3,209 in United Kingdom. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 76% higher in United Kingdom.

Dining out costs 45% more in United Kingdom.

Public transport is 127% more expensive in United Kingdom.

Salaries are 302% higher in United Kingdom, giving United Kingdom stronger purchasing power.

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
Saint Helena vs United Kingdom: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Saint Helena and United Kingdom?
At $887 per month in Saint Helena and $2,847 in United Kingdom, there's a 221% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Saint Helena is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in United Kingdom beats Saint Helena across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Saint Helena or United Kingdom?
In Saint Helena, $1,500 covers most cities easily. In United Kingdom, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Saint Helena or United Kingdom?
It depends on what you're after. Saint Helena wins on affordability; United Kingdom may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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