Cost of Living in Retford - Updated Prices & Insights

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends around $2,301 per month with rent, or $881 for everyday expenses alone.

A couple spends around $3,426 per month with rent, or $1,571 for everyday expenses alone.

A family of three spends around $4,552 per month with rent, or $2,261 without housing.

Overall, Retford is 61–71% above the global median across household types. Within Europe, costs are 29% above average – pricier than most cities in the region.

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🍽 Eating Out
Cost
Range
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.39 £15.07
$13.60 £10.05
$40.78 £30.14
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.3 £60.1
$63.7 £47.06
$135 £100
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.23 £7.56
$8.64 £6.38
$12.30 £9.09
Cappuccino
$4.55 £3.36
$3.32 £2.45
$5.97 £4.41
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 £1.76
$1.52 £1.12
$4.18 £3.09
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 £1.23
$1.39 £1.02
$2.77 £2.05
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.09 £4.50
$4.02 £2.97
$8.44 £6.24
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.18 £4.56
$4.81 £3.56
$8.24 £6.09
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cost
Range
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 £1.22
$0.98 £0.72
$2.30 £1.70
White Bread (500g)
$1.58 £1.17
$0.99 £0.73
$2.66 £1.96
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.31 £1.70
$1.40 £1.03
$4.20 £3.10
Eggs
$3.96 £2.93
$2.49 £1.84
$5.51 £4.07
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.61 £7.10
$4.25 £3.14
$16.18 £11.95
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.77 £6.48
$5.39 £3.98
$11.92 £8.81
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.08 £10.41
$7.48 £5.53
$21.77 £16.09
Apples (1kg)
$3.06 £2.26
$1.34 £0.99
$5.15 £3.81
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 £1.20
$1.10 £0.81
$2.88 £2.13
Oranges (1kg)
$2.88 £2.13
$1.37 £1.01
$4.12 £3.04
Tomato (1kg)
$3.47 £2.57
$1.61 £1.19
$5.96 £4.41
Potato (1kg)
$1.67 £1.24
$0.70 £0.51
$2.74 £2.03
Onion (1kg)
$1.47 £1.08
$1.06 £0.78
$2.64 £1.95
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.11 £0.82
$0.69 £0.51
$1.65 £1.22
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 £1.07
$0.66 £0.49
$2.65 £1.96
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.32 £14.28
$16.91 £12.49
$23.47 £17.34
Wine (Bottle)
$10.72 £7.92
$8.04 £5.94
$16.08 £11.88
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74 £2.02
$1.62 £1.20
$4.06 £3.00
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 £2.29
$1.59 £1.18
$5.30 £3.92
🚌 Getting Around
Cost
Range
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.46 £2.56
$2.79 £2.06
$4.19 £3.09
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$88.8 £65.6
$59.2 £43.74
$102 £75.5
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.28 £3.90
$3.83 £2.83
$6.60 £4.88
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 £1.16
$1.33 £0.99
$1.91 £1.41
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.19 £17.14
$20.46 £15.12
$32.74 £24.20
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.87 £1.38
$1.80 £1.33
$2.05 £1.52
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.0K £28.1K
$37.6K £27.8K
$38.0K £28.1K
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.1K £30.4K
$41.1K £30.4K
$41.4K £30.6K
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cost
Range
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$301 £222
$188 £139
$543 £401
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.92 £12.50
$13.39 £9.90
$40.23 £29.73
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.68 £32.28
$34.41 £25.43
$61.9 £45.78
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cost
Range
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.93 £33.94
$27.22 £20.11
$61.2 £45.26
Cinema Ticket
$13.64 £10.08
$9.55 £7.06
$20.46 £15.12
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cost
Range
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,574 £1,163
$1,209 £893
$2,149 £1,588
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.0K £13.3K
$15.0K £11.1K
$24.1K £17.8K
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cost
Range
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.0 £61.3
$40.37 £29.83
$135 £99.4
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.87 £32.42
$27.42 £20.27
$68.6 £50.7
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.1 £68.8
$54.8 £40.48
$137 £101
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100 £73.9
$62.1 £45.89
$166 £122
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cost
Range
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,234 £912
$960 £709
$1,234 £912
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$998 £738
$744 £550
$1,049 £775
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,032 £1,501
$1,578 £1,166
$2,167 £1,601
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,704 £1,259
$1,295 £957
$1,908 £1,410
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 £1,611
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,026 £1,497
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cost
Range
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,375 £1,016
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.63
4.5
6

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

Last update: April 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the city center costs around $1,234, dropping to $998 outside central areas. Housing accounts for roughly 90% of the average salary ($1,375) – noticeably above the typical 30% rent-to-income guideline.

The average net salary is $1,375 – below monthly costs of $2,301. Most locals rely on shared housing or dual incomes. Remote workers earning abroad will find stronger purchasing power.

Groceries cost around $297 per month for one person. A mid-range dinner for two is priced at $81 – broadly in line with the European average.

A monthly public transport pass costs about $89 – above the European average of $48.

Cost Highlights

Retford is more expensive than 75% of cities worldwide and 82% within Europe.

Retford Median Internet Speeds (Updated April 2026)

Mobile

Download
Mbps
Upload
Mbps
Latency
ms

Fixed Broadband

Download
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Latency
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The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
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Cost of Living in Retford - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Retford affordable for travelers, expats, and digital nomads, and how does it compare to larger cities?
Retford offers a practical balance of price and pace that travelers, expats, and digital nomads often value. In broad terms, the town is cheaper than major metropolitan hubs for everyday things like groceries, dining out, and short-term stays, while still delivering reliable services and a friendly vibe. You’ll find walkable neighborhoods, a compact center, and easy train links to larger cities when a bigger excursion is needed. Community markets and independent shops add character without the sticker shock of big-city venues. Cost of Living in Retford, United Kingdom signals a favorable baseline for longer visits or flexible work arrangements, especially when you pair steady routines with occasional weekend trips. Tip: Plan longer stays to maximize value and balance work with local downtime.
What would a typical day look like for someone staying in Retford, including housing search, food options, transport, and a place to work?
Housing options range from period cottages and tidy terraces to short-term flats, with neighborhoods near the station or town center offering quick access to trains, cafes, and errands. For food, local markets, bakeries, and family-run shops pair with larger supermarkets, giving you affordable ingredients and plenty of take-away options. Transport is friendly for a nomad: rail links to Nottingham or Lincoln are straightforward, and buses cover town routes; bikes also ride well on quieter streets. For work, you’ll find cafes with reliable wifi, village libraries with study space, and occasional pop-up coworking setups in nearby towns. Retford, United Kingdom living cost helps frame daily choices while you test a routine. Tip: map a weekly routine to minimize back-and-forth trips.
How can you optimize quality of life, budgeting, seasonality, and neighborhood fit for longer stays in Retford?
To maximize quality of life, adopt a simple budgeting framework that separates essentials from discretionary spends and builds in seasonal variability. Summer visitors can influence cafe lines and bookings, while winter may slow some services. Choose a neighborhood that matches your pace: the town center for easy access to amenities, or quieter outskirts for longer stays and home offices. Build a flexible housing plan, favor longer lets or month-to-month options with easy renewal. Seasonal routines like farmers markets, nearby countryside walks, and weekend markets add balance to work life. Tip: use local transit cards, take advantage of library wifi, and pre-plan errands to reclaim downtime.
Is the cost of living in Retford reasonable?
Retford is mid-range – monthly costs with rent reach about $2,301. For most residents, that's a fair trade: urban amenities, services, and job access without major-hub prices.
Is Retford affordable on an average income?
Retford sits squarely in the middle of the price spectrum – not cheap, not expensive. Monthly costs with rent tend to hover around $2,301, which most working professionals can handle without feeling financially squeezed.
How does the average salary in Retford compare to the cost of living?
The average net salary in Retford is about $1,375, while comfortable living starts around $3,451. With total costs hitting $2,301 monthly, saving is possible if you earn above average – but it takes intentional budgeting.
How much does a one-bedroom apartment cost to rent in Retford?
In Retford's center, a one-bedroom apartment runs about $1,234 per month. Move further out and that drops to around $998. Location makes a big difference here – and furnished places or short-term rentals will cost more on top of these figures.
How expensive is preschool in Retford per month?
Private kindergarten in Retford costs about $1,574 per month – a big number for families. Prices vary by curriculum and whether you go local or international. Public options are cheaper where they exist, but waitlists can be long.
How much is a monthly gym pass in Retford?
Expect to pay about $45.93 per month for a gym in Retford – on par with the regional average. That typically gets you weights, cardio machines, and group classes. Boutique studios, yoga centers, and personal trainers charge extra.
Does $1,500 cover living expenses in Retford?
$1,500 is below the $2,301 average in Retford, so it's tight but not impossible. You'll need to keep rent low – sharing an apartment, cooking at home, and sticking to public transport are the main levers.
What makes Retford attractive for retirement?
Retford makes a good retirement base. About $3,451 per month covers housing, healthcare, and everyday needs with enough left for some leisure and travel. It strikes a nice balance between cost and comfort.
Is Retford affordable for the average person?
Retford is neither cheap nor expensive – it sits comfortably in the middle. Monthly costs with rent run about $2,301, a figure most working professionals can handle without major financial stress.

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