Cost of Living in Sunderland - Updated Prices & Insights

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends around $1,921 per month with rent, or $934 for everyday expenses alone.

A couple spends around $2,867 per month with rent, or $1,789 for everyday expenses alone.

A family of three spends around $3,812 per month with rent, or $2,643 without housing.

Overall, Sunderland is 35–43% above the global median across household types. Within Europe, costs are slightly above average (8%) – still relatively affordable for the region.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.59 £15.25

$13.73 £10.17

$41.17 £30.51

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.7 £59.8

$40.38 £29.92

$109 £80.8

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.39 £7.70

$8.31 £6.16

$13.86 £10.27

Cappuccino

$4.78 £3.54

$3.30 £2.45

$6.59 £4.89

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

$2.37 £1.76

$1.67 £1.23

$3.86 £2.86

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 £1.16

$1.08 £0.80

$2.01 £1.49

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.75 £5.00

$3.23 £2.39

$8.10 £6.00

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.55 £4.11

$4.17 £3.09

$7.63 £5.65

Milk (1 liter)

$1.60 £1.19

$0.87 £0.64

$1.99 £1.47

White Bread (500g)

$1.66 £1.23

$0.63 £0.47

$2.69 £2.00

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.15 £1.59

$0.66 £0.49

$2.69 £2.00

Eggs

$3.51 £2.60

$1.62 £1.20

$4.79 £3.55

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.36 £7.68

$4.02 £2.98

$33.47 £24.80

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.91 £6.61

$3.98 £2.95

$9.87 £7.31

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.39 £11.40

$8.64 £6.40

$22.34 £16.55

Apples (1kg)

$3.57 £2.64

$1.37 £1.02

$5.49 £4.07

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 £1.49

$1.08 £0.80

$4.15 £3.07

Oranges (1kg)

$2.68 £1.99

$1.22 £0.91

$4.10 £3.03

Tomato (1kg)

$3.83 £2.84

$1.92 £1.42

$7.25 £5.37

Potato (1kg)

$1.94 £1.44

$0.70 £0.52

$2.93 £2.17

Onion (1kg)

$1.60 £1.19

$0.60 £0.44

$2.40 £1.78

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.28 £0.95

$0.66 £0.49

$1.86 £1.38

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 £1.36

$0.66 £0.49

$2.90 £2.15

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.58 £13.77

$15.16 £11.23

$20.68 £15.32

Wine (Bottle)

$10.86 £8.05

$6.79 £5.03

$13.57 £10.06

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 £2.01

$1.32 £0.98

$3.70 £2.74

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 £2.21

$1.15 £0.85

$3.47 £2.57

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.08 £2.28

$2.68 £1.99

$4.56 £3.38

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.4 £56.6

$32.19 £23.85

$121 £89.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.28 £4.65

$2.67 £1.98

$6.67 £4.94

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.40 £1.04

$1.19 £0.88

$1.59 £1.18

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.14 £11.96

$9.42 £6.98

$26.90 £19.93

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.94 £1.44

$1.85 £1.37

$2.06 £1.53

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

$37.8K £28.0K

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

$43.0K £31.8K

$41.4K £30.7K

$43.0K £31.8K

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

$294 £218

$137 £101

$410 £304

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

$16.82 £12.47

$9.34 £6.92

$46.68 £34.59

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.33 £31.37

$33.35 £24.71

$60.0 £44.48

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.83 £31.73

$17.58 £13.03

$54.1 £40.08

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.47 £9.24

Cinema Ticket

$13.11 £9.71

$8.28 £6.13

$17.93 £13.29

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

$1,276 £946

$621 £460

$1,932 £1,431

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,922 £5,129

$20.8K £15.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$79.7 £59.1

$40.43 £29.96

$135 £99.9

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.90 £31.79

$26.81 £19.87

$53.6 £39.74

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.0 £63.7

$40.86 £30.28

$136 £101

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.2 £61.7

$41.04 £30.41

$137 £101

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$800 £593

$786 £583

$814 £603

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$599 £444

$466 £345

$732 £543

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,359 £1,007

$816 £604

$1,903 £1,410

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$985 £730

$951 £705

$1,019 £755

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,084 £3,026

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,164 £1,604

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,629 £2,689

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.6

4.2

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

Last update: April 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the city center costs around $800, dropping to $599 outside central areas. Housing accounts for roughly 22% of the average salary ($3,629) – noticeably above the typical 30% rent-to-income guideline.

The average net salary is $3,629 – comfortably above monthly costs of $1,921. Most workers can save and live well. A comfortable lifestyle typically starts at $2,881.

Groceries cost around $314 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 $76 – above the European average of $48.

Cost Highlights

Sunderland is more expensive than 63% of cities worldwide and 64% within Europe.

Sunderland 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 Sunderland - Frequently Asked Questions

Sunderland tends to offer a good value proposition for budget-minded visitors and remote workers, especially compared with larger UK cities. Cost of Living in Sunderland remains favorable for housing, groceries, and casual dining, with options from compact flats to riverside apartments within easy reach of amenities. Public transit and basic services stay reliable without the premium found in bigger metropolises, and there are plenty of free or low-cost cultural and outdoor activities. The city’s compact scale means shorter commutes and easier routine planning, which helps budgeting. Seasonality matters: quieter periods can bring lower costs for rooms and coworking. Tip: start by testing a couple of neighborhoods to gauge vibe and accessibility.

From a daily-life perspective, Sunderland living cost sits in a comfortable middle ground for many nomads. Housing searches reveal a mix of city-centre flats, riverside options, and quieter streets within easy reach of amenities; landlords and agents commonly offer flexible leases for short or longer stays. Food options range from supermarket staples to affordable casual eateries and weekly markets. Transport is practical: a reliable bus network and the Tyne and Wear Metro connect you to nearby cities, plus pleasant cycle routes along the river. For work and errands, expect plenty of wifi-friendly cafes, a few coworking spaces, and library facilities. Tip: map a few core routes and amenities to minimize time between work and daily tasks.

Quality of life in Sunderland comes from a mix of approachable neighborhoods, outdoor access along the river, and a pace that supports a balanced schedule. Consider prioritizing areas with good transit links to the city centre and universities, such as riverside and central districts for easy access to amenities. A simple budgeting framework can help: separate essentials, flexible lifestyle costs, and savings goals, then adjust with the seasons when travel and entertainment volumes shift. Take advantage of free or low-cost activities – parks, riverside walks, and local markets – and lean on coworking-friendly spaces for networking or quiet workdays. Tip: plan a seasonal rotation of neighborhoods to keep daily life fresh and affordable.

Housing in Sunderland takes a heavy bite – about 22% of a typical income, which is above the 30% international benchmark. That squeezes the budget for everything else and is one of the main pain points for residents here.

All in, Sunderland runs about $1,921 monthly with rent, or $934 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.

You'll want at least $2,881 per month after taxes to live comfortably in Sunderland. That covers a decent apartment, groceries, utilities, transport, and enough left over for dining out occasionally. Families or people wanting a central location should budget higher.

In Sunderland's center, a one-bedroom apartment runs about $800 per month. Move further out and that drops to around $599. Location makes a big difference here – and furnished places or short-term rentals will cost more on top of these figures.

Private kindergarten in Sunderland costs about $1,276 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.

Expect to pay about $42.83 per month for a gym in Sunderland – 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.

$1,500 is below the $1,921 average in Sunderland, 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.

Sunderland makes a good retirement base. About $2,881 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.

Sunderland is neither cheap nor expensive – it sits comfortably in the middle. Monthly costs with rent run about $1,921, a figure most working professionals can handle without major financial stress.