😐A single person spends $2,612 per month in Stevenage vs $1,296 in Arklow, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,943 per month in Stevenage vs $2,099 in Arklow, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,273 per month in Stevenage vs $2,903 in Arklow, rent included.
😐Stevenage costs about 102% more than Arklow, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Stevenage sits 90% above the global median, while Arklow is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stevenage
Arklow
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$26.57£19.64
$21.95€18.87
21.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.8£59.7
$93.2€80.1
-13.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.76£7.95
$11.72€10.08
-8.19%
Cappuccino
$5.22£3.86
$4.38€3.77
19.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95£1.44
$2.96€2.54
-34.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73£1.28
$2.25€1.93
-23.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.62£4.16
$5.60€4.81
0.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.46£4.04
$5.40€4.64
1.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stevenage
Arklow
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.75£1.30
$1.78€1.53
-1.69%
White Bread(500g)
$1.55£1.15
$2.33€2.00
-33.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.90£1.40
$1.97€1.70
-3.55%
Eggs
$4.21£3.11
$4.72€4.06
-10.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34£6.17
$14.39€12.37
-42.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.67£6.41
$13.63€11.71
-36.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.95£10.31
$16.96€14.58
-17.75%
Apples(1kg)
$3.40£2.51
$3.26€2.81
4.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.52£1.12
$2.97€2.55
-48.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.09£2.29
$3.54€3.04
-12.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.89£2.14
$4.99€4.29
-42.08%
Potato(1kg)
$1.19£0.88
$2.32€2.00
-48.71%
Onion(1kg)
$1.73£1.28
$1.90€1.64
-8.95%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23£0.91
$1.50€1.29
-18.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.00£0.74
$2.13€1.83
-53.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$24.04£17.77
$21.21€18.23
13.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.19£7.53
$14.10€12.12
-27.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.82£2.08
$4.32€3.71
-34.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99£2.21
$3.62€3.11
-17.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Stevenage
Arklow
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.47£2.56
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$108£79.8
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.68£2.72
$5.46€4.70
-32.60%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.89£1.40
$1.54€1.32
22.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.24£14.96
$34.56€29.71
-41.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.91£1.41
$2.14€1.84
-10.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7K£28.6K
$40.0K€34.4K
-3.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.1K£31.1K
$39.8K€34.2K
5.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stevenage
Arklow
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$236£175
$248€213
-4.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.25£17.18
$22.42€19.28
3.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.79£33.11
$57.4€49.37
-22.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stevenage
Arklow
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.89£35.40
$45.92€39.48
4.29%
Cinema Ticket
$13.37£9.89
$14.21€12.22
-5.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stevenage
Arklow
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,065£788
$1,110€954
-4.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,659€4,865
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stevenage
Arklow
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.9£59.8
$98.9€85.0
-18.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.76£28.65
$44.86€38.57
-13.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$65.6£48.45
$110€94.7
-40.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.5£67.6
$122€105
-25.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stevenage
Arklow
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,674£1,237
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,388£1,026
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,020£2,233
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,440£1,803
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stevenage
Arklow
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,340£2,469
$4,953€4,258
-32.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.51
4.14
33.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stevenage: August 31, 2026
Last update for Arklow: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 48% higher in Arklow, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $81.0 in Stevenage versus $93.0 in Arklow. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $285 vs $403 – making Stevenage 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
Stevenage vs Arklow: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Stevenage and in Arklow compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,612 in Stevenage, $1,296 in Arklow – roughly 102% apart. Stevenage costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Stevenage compared to Arklow?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,918 per month in Stevenage and $1,944 in Arklow. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $81.0 in Stevenage and $93.0 in Arklow. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 41% cheaper in Stevenage – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Arklow, where all-in costs run around $1,296, than in Stevenage at $2,612. In Arklow it covers expenses comfortably, while in Stevenage it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Stevenage or Arklow?
Families tend to lean toward Arklow – 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 – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Stevenage and Arklow?
If budget matters most, go with Arklow. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Stevenage makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.