Cost of Living in Exeter - Updated Prices & Insights

Monthly Cost of Living

Living costs for one person come to about $2,385 monthly including rent, or $870 excluding housing.

Estimated monthly costs for a couple: $3,900 with rent, or $1,824 without housing.

Monthly costs for a family of three come to about $5,415 including rent, or $2,777 for daily expenses alone.

Exeter sits 78–92% above the global median across household types. Within Europe, costs are 34% above average – pricier than most cities in the region.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.10 £14.94

$15.40 £11.45

$26.80 £19.92

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.7 £66.7

$62.1 £46.16

$110 £82.1

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.17 £7.56

$8.66 £6.44

$10.85 £8.06

Cappuccino

$4.59 £3.42

$3.46 £2.57

$5.52 £4.10

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 £2.27

$1.47 £1.09

$4.70 £3.50

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 £1.29

$1.23 £0.91

$3.42 £2.54

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.58 £5.64

$6.89 £5.12

$8.27 £6.15

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.27 £4.66

$4.60 £3.42

$9.76 £7.25

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 £1.27

$1.34 £1.00

$2.01 £1.50

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 £1.37

$1.19 £0.89

$3.32 £2.47

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.74 £1.30

$0.73 £0.54

$2.79 £2.07

Eggs

$4.63 £3.44

$1.99 £1.48

$6.62 £4.92

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.22 £6.11

$5.30 £3.94

$19.89 £14.79

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.84 £5.08

$2.67 £1.98

$9.32 £6.93

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.76 £14.69

$13.79 £10.25

$24.82 £18.45

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 £1.79

$0.96 £0.71

$4.67 £3.47

Banana (1kg)

$1.29 £0.96

$0.97 £0.72

$2.78 £2.06

Oranges (1kg)

$2.26 £1.68

$1.35 £1.00

$5.40 £4.01

Tomato (1kg)

$3.15 £2.34

$2.71 £2.01

$4.06 £3.02

Potato (1kg)

$1.10 £0.82

$0.67 £0.50

$3.36 £2.50

Onion (1kg)

$1.30 £0.97

$0.90 £0.67

$2.08 £1.54

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 £0.74

$0.57 £0.42

$1.33 £0.99

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 £1.08

$0.97 £0.72

$2.79 £2.07

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$21.66 £16.10

$20.30 £15.09

$33.83 £25.14

Wine (Bottle)

$9.20 £6.84

$6.57 £4.89

$11.83 £8.79

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 £1.95

$2.03 £1.51

$4.32 £3.21

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 £1.86

$1.74 £1.29

$6.00 £4.46

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.68 £1.99

$4.02 £2.99

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$103 £76.7

$93.3 £69.3

$117 £86.7

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.59 £4.90

$3.16 £2.35

$7.25 £5.39

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 £1.21

$1.53 £1.13

$1.91 £1.42

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.71 £16.14

$40.21 £29.89

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.90 £1.41

$1.83 £1.36

$1.94 £1.44

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$38.4K £28.5K

$40.7K £30.2K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$38.6K £28.7K

$41.2K £30.6K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$342 £254

$278 £206

$579 £430

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$16.31 £12.12

$15.02 £11.17

$20.49 £15.23

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.85 £34.08

$37.76 £28.07

$60.7 £45.11

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.53 £29.39

$21.81 £16.21

$81.8 £60.8

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.05 £10.45

$8.70 £6.46

$14.05 £10.45

Cinema Ticket

$12.02 £8.93

$9.35 £6.95

$16.02 £11.91

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,472 £1,094

$340 £253

$2,378 £1,768

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.1K £15.7K

$13.7K £10.2K

$30.7K £22.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.3 £58.2

$43.95 £32.67

$137 £102

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.38 £24.81

$26.71 £19.85

$40.06 £29.78

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 £75.3

$60.8 £45.19

$270 £201

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 £81.7

$40.80 £30.33

$231 £172

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,324 £984

$1,087 £808

$1,630 £1,212

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$998 £742

$817 £607

$1,225 £911

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,590 £1,925

$2,045 £1,520

$3,408 £2,533

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,476 £1,841

$1,926 £1,432

$3,164 £2,352

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,395 £4,010

$4,461 £3,316

$6,370 £4,735

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,667 £4,956

$4,395 £3,267

$9,500 £7,061

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,090 £2,297

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.72

3.5

5.9

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Expect to pay about $1,324 for a central one-bedroom, or $998 outside the center. At 43% of the average salary ($3,090), housing is the biggest financial pressure.

Average take-home pay sits at $3,090, while typical expenses reach $2,385. This leaves some room for savings, though a comfortable buffer starts closer to $3,578.

Expect to spend about $287 monthly on groceries. Dining out at a mid-range restaurant costs roughly $90.0 for two – above the European average of $75.0.

Public transport is priced at around $103 per month – above the European average of $48.00.

Cost Highlights

Public transport monthly pass is more expensive than 96% of cities in Europe

3-bedroom apartment, outside city center is more expensive than 96% of cities in Europe

Family monthly cost (including rent) is more expensive than 94% of cities in Europe

Exeter Median Internet Speeds (Updated April 2026)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

City tags:

🇪🇺 Europe

Cost of Living in Exeter - Frequently Asked Questions

Exeter offers a balanced mix of approachable prices and solid quality, making it a solid value pick for you. The Cost of Living in Exeter, United Kingdom tends to sit lower than the big metro hubs while still giving you reliable services, a walkable center, and quick access to nature. Housing options range from agreeable city flats to quiet homes on the outskirts, with rents typically more manageable than in London or coastal hotspots. Daily costs – groceries, transit, dining, and leisure – are steady, with seasonal swings but usually predictable. Tip: start with a few week-long stays in different neighborhoods to gauge value, commute times, and your preferred pace before signing a longer lease.

Housing choices cluster around quaint city-center flats, modern apartments on the outskirts, and student-friendly options near campuses; aim to view multiple properties to compare layouts and noise levels. Food choices range from farmers’ markets and bakeries to dependable supermarkets and affordable cafés. Public transport is reliable, and cycling is popular, with good bus routes and easy access to the rail network for weekend trips. For daily budgeting, balance groceries with the occasional meal out and factor utilities by season. Exeter, United Kingdom living cost varies by neighborhood and lifestyle, so map where you work, study, or cowork, then test a few zones. Tip: sign up for alerts on rent ranges and use short-term leases to test fit.

Exeter offers a high quality of life with a safe, compact city feel, easy access to coast and countryside, and a friendly local scene. Build a simple budgeting framework: fixed costs (rent, council tax, utilities) and flexible spending (food, transport, entertainment), with a monthly cushion for unexpected costs. Seasonality matters: colder months may hike heating and indoor activities; summer brings outdoor events and more daylight for walks or cycling. For neighborhood fit, prioritize proximity to your workflow, parks, and cafes, then test several areas during different times of week. Tip: use a weekly spending tracker and compare transit times across zones to refine where you live and move as needed.

With 43% of the average paycheck going to rent, Exeter is on the expensive side for housing. Many locals cope by sharing apartments, moving to outer neighborhoods, or downsizing to keep things manageable.

All in, Exeter runs about $2,385 monthly with rent, or $870 without it. These numbers assume a moderate lifestyle – comfortable but not lavish. Choosing a cheaper neighborhood and cooking at home are the easiest ways to spend less.

Earning $3,578 monthly in Exeter means you're living well – a one-bedroom, regular groceries, transport, and some entertainment without stress. That's the threshold where most residents feel genuinely comfortable rather than just getting by.

Rents for a 1-bedroom flat in Exeter range from $998 to $1,324, depending on location and condition. Central apartments sit at the top of that range; outer neighborhoods and suburbs deliver noticeably better value per square meter.

A monthly transit pass in Exeter runs about $103, with good coverage across residential and business areas. It's entirely feasible to live car-free here for daily commuting and errands.

At about $287 monthly, food costs in Exeter sit in moderate territory. A mix of local markets and supermarkets covers most needs at fair prices, and most residents eat well without having to pinch pennies.

Living on $3,000 in Exeter means careful planning, since monthly costs average $2,385. It works with a cheap apartment and disciplined spending, but expect trade-offs on where you live, how often you eat out, and entertainment.

Remote workers pick Exeter for good reason: fast internet, low crime rates, vibrant nightlife, all at about $2,385 per month including rent. It fits a wide range of remote salaries without compromising on comfort or connectivity.

Monthly expenses in Exeter run around $2,385, so putting money aside takes more than $3,578 in income. Keeping housing costs low and avoiding lifestyle creep are the keys to building a decent savings rate here.

Budget travel in Exeter works but takes effort. Hostels, street food, and local restaurants keep daily costs reasonable. All-in monthly expenses run about $2,385 for residents – backpackers can do less with some planning.