Cost of Living in United Kingdom - Updated Prices & Insights

75.4

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $1,012 (excluding rent), and $2,498 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $2,590 (excluding rent), and $4,845 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.31 £14.94

$13.54 £9.97

$40.62 £29.89

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.1 £64.9

$67.8 £49.88

$136 £99.8

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.17 £7.48

$8.81 £6.48

$12.06 £8.88

Cappuccino

$4.69 £3.45

$2.88 £2.12

$6.79 £5

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

$2.38 £1.75

$1.53 £1.13

$4.01 £2.95

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 £1.25

$1.34 £0.99

$2.68 £1.97

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.99 £5.14

$4.2 £3.09

$9.08 £6.69

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.5 £4.78

$4.84 £3.56

$8.29 £6.1

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 £1.23

$1.03 £0.76

$2.42 £1.78

White Bread (500g)

$1.73 £1.27

$1.04 £0.76

$3.08 £2.27

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 £1.66

$1.3 £0.96

$4.12 £3.03

Eggs

$3.99 £2.93

$2.17 £1.6

$5.9 £4.34

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.52 £7.01

$4.67 £3.43

$19.98 £14.7

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.12 £6.71

$4.5 £3.31

$13.83 £10.18

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.32 £10.54

$6.88 £5.06

$23.41 £17.22

Apples (1kg)

$3.01 £2.21

$1.37 £1.01

$5.46 £4.02

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 £1.24

$1.09 £0.8

$3.5 £2.58

Oranges (1kg)

$2.91 £2.14

$1.38 £1.01

$6.07 £4.47

Tomato (1kg)

$3.45 £2.54

$1.34 £0.99

$6.02 £4.43

Potato (1kg)

$1.62 £1.19

$0.67 £0.49

$2.67 £1.96

Onion (1kg)

$1.53 £1.12

$1 £0.74

$2.66 £1.96

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 £0.86

$0.69 £0.51

$1.66 £1.22

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 £1.15

$0.77 £0.57

$2.75 £2.03

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$20.45 £15.05

$17.04 £12.54

$24.54 £18.06

Wine (Bottle)

$11.05 £8.13

$8.29 £6.1

$16.58 £12.2

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 £2.09

$1.48 £1.09

$4.1 £3.02

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 £2.46

$1.62 £1.2

$5.62 £4.14

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.28 £2.42

$2.74 £2.02

$5.47 £4.02

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$94.9 £69.8

$67.8 £49.89

$244 £180

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.57 £4.1

$4.18 £3.08

$7.66 £5.64

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.6 £1.17

$0.96 £0.71

$3.47 £2.55

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.82 £19.73

$16.09 £11.84

$46.93 £34.54

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2 £1.47

$1.9 £1.4

$2.27 £1.67

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

$38.5K £28.3K

$36K £26.5K

$38.5K £28.3K

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

$40K £29.5K

$38.6K £28.4K

$40.7K £29.9K

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

$322 £237

$204 £150

$577 £424

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

$17.62 £12.97

$13.7 £10.08

$41.09 £30.24

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.79 £30.75

$33.38 £24.57

$60.1 £44.23

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.07 £33.9

$26.98 £19.85

$80.9 £59.6

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.11 £11.86

$8.24 £6.07

$24.73 £18.2

Cinema Ticket

$13.7 £10.08

$10.84 £7.98

$20.54 £15.11

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

$1,706 £1,255

$1,183 £871

$2,573 £1,894

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.3K £15.7K

$12.6K £9,300

$35.7K £26.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$90.2 £66.4

$33.59 £24.72

$134 £98.9

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45 £33.11

$27.36 £20.14

$68.4 £50.4

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 £75.5

$61.5 £45.24

$150 £111

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 £76.3

$54.4 £40.05

$170 £125

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,418 £1,043

$881 £649

$3,023 £2,224

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,148 £845

$821 £604

$2,265 £1,667

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,335 £1,719

$1,501 £1,104

$5,591 £4,115

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,815 £1,336

$1,206 £887

$3,622 £2,666

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,360 £4,680

$3,444 £2,534

$21.3K £15.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,933 £3,631

$2,791 £2,054

$11.2K £8,247

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,290 £2,421

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.75

4.5

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

Cost of Living in United Kingdom - Frequently Asked Questions

Overall affordability hinges on location and lifestyle. Cost of Living in United Kingdom tends to be higher in London and the Southeast, with more moderate costs in other regions. For travelers and expats, a mix of housing options – share houses, apartments outside city centers, or short-term rentals – can stretch a budget. Public transport is extensive but not cheap; buying transit passes or using bikes helps. Healthcare access adds value that can offset some costs, though private options exist. Seasonal shifts in tourism or business travel impact prices in hospitality and activities. Tip: build a flexible monthly plan and test several neighborhoods before committing.

Daily life comes down to housing, food, and transport choices. For housing, look at city outskirts, university neighborhoods, or smaller towns to balance rent and commute. Food options range from farmers markets and budget supermarkets to specialty grocers; cooking at home cuts costs, while occasional dining out highlights local flavors. Public transit is robust; buses and rail are convenient, with intercity connections via trains. If you work remotely, seek coworking spaces or cafes with reliable Wi-Fi. For errands, plan weekly routes to reduce trips and consider parcel pickup options. United Kingdom living cost varies by region, so align your base with your work and social needs. Tip: map a weekly groceries-and-ops route to save time and stress.

Quality of life in the UK combines versatility with practical budgeting. Start with a simple budgeting framework, allocating housing, essentials, and savings, then adapt by city. Seasonality affects leisure and transport; shoulder seasons can offer better deals on activities and accommodations in popular destinations. To find a neighborhood fit, assess commute times, local amenities, safety, and community vibe beyond price. Embrace seasonal markets, pub dine-outs, parks, and cultural events to maximize value. Compare patterns across regions by your priorities – historic cities for culture, coastlines for pace, or countryside for space. Tip: keep a flexible month in your plan to test neighborhoods and adjust your route.