For one person, living is cheaper in the Gambia: $703 a month against $2,462 in the United Kingdom, rent and utilities included – about $21,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in the United Kingdom and in the Gambia
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in the United Kingdom and in the Gambia actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,462 in the United Kingdom versus $703 in the Gambia.
United Kingdom $2,462
Gambia $703
Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,600 in the United Kingdom versus $1,215 in the Gambia.
United Kingdom $3,600
Gambia $1,215
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,738 in the United Kingdom versus $1,726 in the Gambia.
United Kingdom $4,738
Gambia $1,726
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in the United Kingdom: monthly costs span $1,126 to $4,646, compared to $56–$677 in the Gambia. City choice carries more weight in the United Kingdom.
🌍
Living in the United Kingdom is roughly 250% more expensive than in the Gambia on average.
📊
The United Kingdom (81% above) and the Gambia (48% below) straddle the global median.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
United Kingdom
Gambia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.48£16.15
$6.81GMD 505
215.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.7£64.4
$74.8GMD 5,542
14.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.61£7.98
$7.59GMD 562
39.79%
Cappuccino
$4.91£3.69
$3.51GMD 260
39.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66£2.00
$2.19GMD 163
21.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87£1.40
$1.31GMD 96.9
42.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.63£4.98
$5.73GMD 424
15.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.84£5.14
$4.52GMD 335
51.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United Kingdom
Gambia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68£1.26
$1.38GMD 102
21.74%
White Bread(500g)
$1.72£1.29
$0.72GMD 53.4
138.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17£1.63
$1.19GMD 88.2
82.35%
Eggs
$4.00£3.01
$2.07GMD 154
93.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.42£7.08
$5.92GMD 439
59.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.19£6.90
$8.57GMD 635
7.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.77£11.10
$5.55GMD 411
166.13%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97£2.23
$2.01GMD 149
47.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62£1.22
$1.53GMD 114
5.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.85£2.15
$2.08GMD 154
37.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.52£2.65
$1.76GMD 131
100.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83£1.38
$0.98GMD 72.6
86.73%
Onion(1kg)
$1.61£1.21
$0.91GMD 67.3
76.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.25£0.94
$0.28GMD 20.95
346.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.66£1.25
$0.39GMD 28.75
325.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$23.65£17.77
$1.66GMD 123
1324.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.50£7.89
$6.83GMD 506
53.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.98£2.24
$1.51GMD 112
97.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.51£2.64
$1.57GMD 117
123.57%
🚌 Getting Around
United Kingdom
Gambia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.98£2.99
$0.33GMD 24.09
1106.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$107£80.7
$6.63GMD 491
1520.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.18£3.89
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.35£1.76
$0.65GMD 48.22
261.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$26.84£20.17
$4.03GMD 299
566.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99£1.49
$1.03GMD 76.6
93.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.4K£29.6K
$2,672GMD 198.0K
1376.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.5K£30.4K
$3,254GMD 241.1K
1144.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United Kingdom
Gambia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$327£246
$30.48GMD 2,258
973.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.21£13.69
$14.20GMD 1,052
28.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.60£32.77
$51.7GMD 3,830
-15.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United Kingdom
Gambia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.36£31.83
$23.45GMD 1,738
80.64%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.22£13.69
$13.63GMD 1,010
33.68%
Cinema Ticket
$13.85£10.41
$3.33GMD 247
315.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United Kingdom
Gambia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,868£1,404
$6.61GMD 490
28159.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$22.6K£17.0K
$138GMD 10.2K
16348.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United Kingdom
Gambia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.9£69.8
$56.8GMD 4,212
63.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.92£34.51
$44.94GMD 3,330
2.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102£76.4
$97.8GMD 7,247
3.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102£76.8
$87.6GMD 6,490
16.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United Kingdom
Gambia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,342£1,009
$102GMD 7,587
1211.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,073£807
$82.4GMD 6,107
1202.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,231£1,677
$219GMD 16.2K
919.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,742£1,309
$104GMD 7,684
1580.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,601£4,210
$1,467GMD 108.7K
281.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,265£3,205
$1,144GMD 84.8K
272.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United Kingdom
Gambia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,349£2,517
$60.4GMD 4,477
5443.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.32
15
-64.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for the United Kingdom: October 26, 2026
Last update for the Gambia: October 26, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
United Kingdom
$1.1K 43.6%
Gambia
$82 11.7% ↓ 92.3%$991
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
United Kingdom
$389 15.8%
Gambia
$96 13.7% ↓ 75.2%$293
🍽Eating Out
United Kingdom
$328 13.3%
Gambia
$171 24.3% ↓ 47.8%$157
🛒Groceries & Markets
United Kingdom
$307 12.5%
Gambia
$183 26% ↓ 40.6%$125
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
United Kingdom
$154 6.3%
Gambia
$129 18.4% ↓ 16.2%$25
🚌Getting Around
United Kingdom
$140 5.7%
Gambia
$11 * 1.6% ↓ 92%$129
🎉Sport & Entertainment
United Kingdom
$70 2.9%
Gambia
$30 4.3% ↓ 57%$40
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🏠Accommodation & Living
United Kingdom
$1.7K 36.8%
Gambia
$104 6% ↓ 94%$1.6K
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
United Kingdom
$407 8.6%
Gambia
$111 6.4% ↓ 72.8%$297
🍽Eating Out
United Kingdom
$1.1K 23.1%
Gambia
$704 40.8% ↓ 35.7%$390
🛒Groceries & Markets
United Kingdom
$705 14.9%
Gambia
$424 24.6% ↓ 39.8%$281
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
United Kingdom
$343 7.2%
Gambia
$287 16.6% ↓ 16.2%$56
🚌Getting Around
United Kingdom
$288 6.1%
Gambia
$23 * 1.3% ↓ 92%$265
🎉Sport & Entertainment
United Kingdom
$158 3.3%
Gambia
$74 4.3% ↓ 53.4%$84
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $1,287 in the United Kingdom, $105 in the Gambia. Capital cities: $2,811 in London vs $105 in Banjul.
💰National salary averages: $3,251 in the United Kingdom, $62 in the Gambia. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 1126% higher in the United Kingdom.
⭐Dining out costs 28% more in the United Kingdom.
⭐Public transport is 1343% more expensive in the United Kingdom.
⭐Salaries are about 52 times higher in the United Kingdom, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United Kingdom.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
United Kingdom vs Gambia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between the Gambia and the United Kingdom?
At $703 per month in the Gambia and $2,462 in the United Kingdom, there’s a 250% 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?
Day-to-day life is cheaper in the Gambia: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. 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 for a central one-bedroom averages $1,287 in the United Kingdom and $105 in the Gambia. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Should I move to the Gambia or to the United Kingdom?
It depends on what you’re after: the Gambia wins on affordability; the United Kingdom may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.
United Kingdom vs other spots: cost of living compared