😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,631 in Tunbridge Wells versus $2,228 in Livingston.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,872 in Tunbridge Wells versus $3,456 in Livingston.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,114 in Tunbridge Wells versus $4,684 in Livingston.
😐Living in Tunbridge Wells is roughly 18% more expensive than Livingston, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Tunbridge Wells96% above, Livingston66% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tunbridge Wells
Livingston
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.26£20.27
$20.17£14.99
35.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.7£70.4
$96.2£71.5
-1.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.13£7.53
$9.91£7.37
2.22%
Cappuccino
$4.40£3.27
$4.81£3.57
-8.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06£1.53
$2.67£1.98
-22.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32£0.98
$2.19£1.63
-39.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.92£5.89
$6.73£5.00
17.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.52£4.10
$6.63£4.93
-16.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tunbridge Wells
Livingston
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73£1.29
$1.64£1.22
5.49%
White Bread(500g)
$2.27£1.68
$1.65£1.23
37.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.67£1.24
$2.16£1.61
-22.69%
Eggs
$3.72£2.76
$3.58£2.66
3.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.01£6.70
$11.03£8.20
-18.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.32£6.18
$9.36£6.95
-11.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.34£8.43
$16.25£12.08
-30.22%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73£2.03
$3.25£2.42
-16.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.05£0.78
$1.64£1.22
-35.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.63£2.70
$2.70£2.01
34.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.66£2.72
$3.71£2.75
-1.35%
Potato(1kg)
$1.49£1.11
$1.76£1.31
-15.34%
Onion(1kg)
$1.07£0.79
$1.49£1.11
-28.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18£0.87
$1.14£0.85
3.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.47£1.09
$1.74£1.29
-15.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$18.77£13.95
$18.86£14.02
-0.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.03£8.20
$10.83£8.05
1.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.70£2.01
$2.49£1.85
8.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08£1.54
$3.39£2.52
-38.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Tunbridge Wells
Livingston
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.33£2.47
$3.18£2.36
4.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$87.5£65.0
$74.7£55.5
17.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.33£4.70
$5.38£4.00
17.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.68£1.25
$1.23£0.92
36.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$54.9£40.77
$22.78£16.93
140.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.88£1.39
$1.98£1.48
-5.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7K£28.0K
$38.0K£28.2K
-0.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.3K£32.9K
$39.9K£29.7K
10.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tunbridge Wells
Livingston
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$341£253
$385£286
-11.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.84£11.77
$17.35£12.90
-8.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.26£29.18
$44.39£33.00
-11.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tunbridge Wells
Livingston
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.74£25.08
$60.6£45.01
-44.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$33.72£25.06
-
Cinema Ticket
$16.58£12.33
$10.92£8.11
51.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tunbridge Wells
Livingston
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,224£1,653
$1,247£927
78.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.0K£17.1K
$18.9K£14.1K
21.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tunbridge Wells
Livingston
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.0£64.6
$104£77.7
-16.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.7£41.43
$53.8£40.00
3.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.0£64.7
$116£86.2
-24.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110£81.4
$84.1£62.5
30.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tunbridge Wells
Livingston
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,485£1,104
$866£644
71.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,213£902
$782£581
55.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,616£1,945
$1,931£1,435
35.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,188£1,626
$1,593£1,184
37.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tunbridge Wells
Livingston
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,661£2,721
$3,494£2,597
4.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.54
5.7
-2.81%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tunbridge Wells: June 1, 2026
Last update for Livingston: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,485 in Tunbridge Wells and $866 in Livingston. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tunbridge Wells pays 5% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $95.0 in Tunbridge Wells vs $96.0 in Livingston for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $315 per month, with Tunbridge Wells cheaper across the board.
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
Tunbridge Wells vs Livingston: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tunbridge Wells or Livingston?
Livingston wins on cost – living expenses run 18% lower than in Tunbridge Wells. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Livingston the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tunbridge Wells or Livingston?
Tunbridge Wells pays 5% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Tunbridge Wells vs Livingston?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,485 in Tunbridge Wells versus $866 in Livingston. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Tunbridge Wells and Livingston?
Childcare runs $2,224 in Tunbridge Wells versus $1,247 in Livingston. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Tunbridge Wells or Livingston?
Shoppers in Tunbridge Wells pay roughly 10% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Tunbridge Wells or Livingston?
At $2,228 in Livingston versus $2,631 in Tunbridge Wells, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Livingston but tight or insufficient in Tunbridge Wells. The gap between the two cities makes Livingston the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Tunbridge Wells or Livingston?
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.
How safe is Tunbridge Wells compared to Livingston?
Safety-wise, Tunbridge Wells and Livingston are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Livingston gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Tunbridge Wells. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Tunbridge Wells vs other spots: cost of living compared