๐A single person spends $2,441 per month in Stevenage vs $2,458 in Arklow, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $3,791 per month in Stevenage vs $3,499 in Arklow, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $5,141 per month in Stevenage vs $4,539 in Arklow, rent included.
๐Stevenage is about 1% cheaper than Arklow, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Both Stevenage and Arklow sit above the global median โ Stevenage by 81%, Arklow by 82%.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Stevenage
Arklow
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$26.89ยฃ19.93
$17.52โฌ14.91
53.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$83.0ยฃ61.5
$69.7โฌ59.3
19.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.07ยฃ8.20
$11.31โฌ9.62
-2.12%
Cappuccino
$3.47ยฃ2.57
$4.48โฌ3.81
-22.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66ยฃ1.23
$2.80โฌ2.39
-40.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59ยฃ1.18
$2.27โฌ1.93
-29.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.34ยฃ3.96
$6.33โฌ5.39
-15.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.28ยฃ3.91
$4.68โฌ3.98
12.82%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Stevenage
Arklow
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88ยฃ1.39
$1.58โฌ1.35
18.99%
White Bread(500g)
$1.52ยฃ1.13
$2.05โฌ1.74
-25.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.29ยฃ0.95
$0.92โฌ0.78
40.22%
Eggs
$3.21ยฃ2.38
$4.35โฌ3.70
-26.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.95ยฃ8.85
$7.02โฌ5.98
70.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.74ยฃ5.74
$8.23โฌ7.00
-5.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.53ยฃ7.80
$8.56โฌ7.28
23.01%
Apples(1kg)
$3.65ยฃ2.71
$1.72โฌ1.46
112.21%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50ยฃ1.11
$1.46โฌ1.24
2.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.30ยฃ2.44
$2.00โฌ1.70
65.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.57ยฃ1.90
$2.65โฌ2.26
-3.02%
Potato(1kg)
$0.94ยฃ0.69
$2.65โฌ2.26
-64.53%
Onion(1kg)
$1.39ยฃ1.03
$1.52โฌ1.30
-8.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17ยฃ0.87
$1.18โฌ1.00
-0.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03ยฃ0.77
$2.08โฌ1.77
-50.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$16.47ยฃ12.20
$19.71โฌ16.77
-16.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.18ยฃ6.81
$14.05โฌ11.96
-34.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.66ยฃ1.97
$3.82โฌ3.25
-30.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53ยฃ2.62
$3.81โฌ3.24
-7.35%
๐ Getting Around
Stevenage
Arklow
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.43ยฃ2.54
$2.45โฌ2.08
40.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$95.4ยฃ70.7
$97.1โฌ82.6
-1.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.65ยฃ3.45
$5.15โฌ4.38
-9.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.75ยฃ1.30
$2.65โฌ2.26
-33.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.23ยฃ14.99
$35.46โฌ30.18
-42.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.91ยฃ1.41
$2.06โฌ1.75
-7.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.5Kยฃ28.6K
$41.9Kโฌ35.7K
-8.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.7Kยฃ30.9K
$40.4Kโฌ34.4K
3.20%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stevenage
Arklow
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$240ยฃ178
$248โฌ211
-3.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.52ยฃ16.69
$21.53โฌ18.32
4.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.43ยฃ27.00
$49.74โฌ42.33
-26.76%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Stevenage
Arklow
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.6ยฃ41.17
$45.48โฌ38.70
22.16%
Cinema Ticket
$12.17ยฃ9.02
$13.66โฌ11.62
-10.91%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Stevenage
Arklow
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,735ยฃ1,285
$1,330โฌ1,132
30.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.6Kยฃ13.7K
$7,388โฌ6,287
151.13%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Stevenage
Arklow
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$98.9ยฃ73.3
$102โฌ86.9
-3.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.92ยฃ30.32
$49.20โฌ41.87
-16.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$60.8ยฃ45.07
$99.1โฌ84.4
-38.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.4ยฃ66.2
$115โฌ98.1
-22.50%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Stevenage
Arklow
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,479ยฃ1,096
$1,482โฌ1,261
-0.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,224ยฃ907
$1,228โฌ1,045
-0.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,111ยฃ2,305
$2,427โฌ2,065
28.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,355ยฃ1,745
$1,958โฌ1,666
20.32%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Stevenage
Arklow
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,334ยฃ2,470
$5,091โฌ4,333
-34.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.6
4.6
21.74%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stevenage: April 13, 2026
Last update for Arklow: April 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $1,479 in Stevenage versus $1,482 in Arklow. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
๐ฐSalaries run about 53% higher in Arklow, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $83 in Stevenage versus $70 in Arklow. Groceries tell a different story โ $273 in Stevenage vs $279 in Arklow โ so Stevenage 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
Stevenage vs Arklow: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Stevenage and Arklow compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,441 in Stevenage, $2,458 in Arklow โ roughly 1% apart. Arklow costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Stevenage compared to Arklow?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,662 per month in Stevenage and $3,687 in Arklow. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Stevenage and Arklow?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Stevenage, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Stevenage or Arklow?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,441 in Stevenage and $2,458 in Arklow. The difference isn't just one category โ it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Stevenage and Arklow?
Public transport costs about 2% less in Stevenage. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Stevenage, where all-in costs run around $2,441, than in Arklow at $2,458. In Stevenage it covers expenses comfortably, while in Arklow it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Stevenage or Arklow?
Families tend to lean toward Stevenage โ lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Stevenage or Arklow 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 โ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Stevenage and Arklow?
If budget matters most, go with Stevenage. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Arklow makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.