😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,038 in Scarborough versus $1,584 in Valenciennes.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,899 in Scarborough versus $2,565 in Valenciennes.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,759 in Scarborough versus $3,545 in Valenciennes.
😐Living in Scarborough is roughly 29% more expensive than Valenciennes, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Scarborough52% above, Valenciennes18% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Scarborough
Valenciennes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.51£10.81
$15.70€13.52
-7.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7£51.9
$63.3€54.5
10.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.90£7.38
$12.97€11.16
-23.67%
Cappuccino
$4.43£3.30
$2.27€1.95
95.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15£1.60
$1.76€1.52
22.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99£0.74
$1.13€0.97
-12.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.67£4.23
$4.61€3.97
22.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.80£3.57
$3.38€2.91
42.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Scarborough
Valenciennes
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.47£1.09
$1.31€1.13
12.21%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63£1.22
$1.69€1.45
-3.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.51£1.87
$1.85€1.60
35.68%
Eggs
$3.62£2.70
$3.40€2.92
6.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.12£6.79
$14.74€12.69
-38.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.26£6.16
$13.36€11.50
-38.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.70£7.23
$23.48€20.22
-58.69%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39£2.52
$2.67€2.30
26.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44£1.07
$2.25€1.94
-36.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.43£1.07
$2.29€1.97
-37.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.21£1.65
$3.14€2.70
-29.62%
Potato(1kg)
$1.14£0.85
$1.91€1.64
-40.31%
Onion(1kg)
$1.57£1.17
$1.59€1.37
-1.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99£0.74
$1.46€1.26
-32.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.74£1.30
$0.22€0.19
690.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.49£8.56
$12.55€10.81
-8.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.63£7.18
$4.60€3.96
109.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.80£2.09
$2.33€2.00
20.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66£1.98
$2.95€2.54
-9.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Scarborough
Valenciennes
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.08£2.30
$1.87€1.61
64.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$93.8£69.8
$48.27€41.56
94.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.48£3.34
$2.60€2.24
72.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14£0.85
$1.02€0.88
11.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.07£11.98
$26.82€23.09
-40.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.88£1.40
$2.01€1.73
-6.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.5K£27.2K
$38.2K€32.9K
-4.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.6K£28.8K
$37.6K€32.3K
2.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Scarborough
Valenciennes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$272£203
$194€167
40.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.99£11.91
$16.44€14.15
-2.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.64£25.81
$22.91€19.72
51.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Scarborough
Valenciennes
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.50£24.95
$28.83€24.82
16.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.90£9.61
$18.40€15.84
-29.89%
Cinema Ticket
$11.00£8.19
$14.44€12.43
-23.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Scarborough
Valenciennes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,704£1,269
$343€295
397.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.2K£13.6K
$8,486€7,305
114.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Scarborough
Valenciennes
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.5£51.8
$88.5€76.2
-21.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.18£27.70
$33.68€28.99
10.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$109£81.2
$84.4€72.7
29.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.3£65.0
$104€89.5
-16.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Scarborough
Valenciennes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$872£650
$458€395
90.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$856£638
$504€434
69.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,578£1,176
$1,118€962
41.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,200£894
$1,092€940
9.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,793€2,405
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,299€1,979
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Scarborough
Valenciennes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,075£1,546
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.45
3.69
47.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Scarborough: May 31, 2026
Last update for Valenciennes: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $872 in Scarborough and $458 in Valenciennes. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $70.0 in Scarborough vs $63.0 in Valenciennes. Groceries flip the comparison at $266 vs $328, with Scarborough cheaper for home cooking.
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
Scarborough vs Valenciennes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Scarborough and Valenciennes?
Scarborough and Valenciennes differ by about 29% in total monthly costs ($2,038 vs $1,584 including rent). Valenciennes is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Scarborough compared to Valenciennes?
You'd need roughly $3,057 in Scarborough and $2,376 in Valenciennes to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Scarborough and Valenciennes?
Rent for a central apartment: $872 in Scarborough versus $458 in Valenciennes. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Scarborough and Valenciennes?
A monthly transit pass in Valenciennes runs roughly 94% less than in Scarborough. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Scarborough and Valenciennes?
Childcare runs $1,704 in Scarborough versus $343 in Valenciennes. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,584 in Valenciennes versus $2,038 in Scarborough, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Valenciennes but tight or insufficient in Scarborough. The gap between the two cities makes Valenciennes the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Scarborough and Valenciennes?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Scarborough or Valenciennes safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Scarborough and Valenciennes are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Scarborough or Valenciennes?
Expats usually find Valenciennes gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Scarborough. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Scarborough vs other spots: cost of living compared