How Much Does It Cost to Live In United Kingdom?
The United Kingdom is a very popular destination among tourists and once they come here, the stunning beauty, historical sights, and comfortable living conditions make them think about starting their new lives there.
Before making this crucial decision, it is suggested to take a look at the prices there so as to better understand the key living expenses you can expect to bear after your relocation.
Bear in mind that the data you might find are approximate ranges of what you should expect to pay.
United Kingdom : Cost of Living by City
RESTAURANTS
Due to the high food prices in the United Kingdom, it is not unusual that restaurant meals will be expensive.
The least expensive dish will not be lower than $19 per person while the most expensive might exceed $100.
Compared to the salaries, it is possible affording dining out from time to time.
| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $18.07 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $4.82 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $1.28 |
MARKETS
The best way of finding the most affordable food costs in the United Kingdom is to follow the spending habits of people living there.
Food is pretty expensive and savvy people would know that purchasing it at discounted prices will be a great benefit for the budget.
| Average Market Prices | |
|---|---|
| Milk (1 Liter) | $1.20 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $1.23 |
| Eggs (12) | $2.52 |
TRANSPORTATION
A lot of people who work in the United Kingdom, no matter which city they live in, have to commute every day.
That is when public transportation comes as an advantage, due to the reasonable monthly pass prices.
Gasoline is pretty expensive here, so driving is not suggested if you live on a budget.
| Average Transport Prices | |
|---|---|
| One Way Ticket | $3.01 |
| Monthly Pass | $78.5 |
| Gasoline | $1.88 |
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
In terms of utilities, your costs will be dependent on how high your water and electricity consumption is and the bills will be higher during winter months due to heating.
When it comes to phone and Internet packages, they are affordable here.
| Average Utilities Prices | |
|---|---|
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $230.18 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.15 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $38.73614 |
SPORTS & LEISURE
It is interesting to note that fitness clubs’ fees are not at all expensive in the United Kingdom.
Besides the weather conditions which are not ideal for outdoor activities, the sports center prices are more than reasonable.
On the other hand, cinema lovers will need to pay $12 per person to watch the latest release.
| Average Leisure Prices | |
|---|---|
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $37.50 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $12.50 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $12.05 |
CLOTHING & SHOES
If we compare the average salary of the citizens and the designer apparel prices, it cannot be said that they are high, especially if we know that these items are even more expensive in countries where the average salary is twice lower as in the United Kingdom.
Nevertheless, people do not spend much on clothing here.
| Average Clothing Prices | |
|---|---|
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $73.2 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $35.99 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $77.86 |
RENT PER MONTH
By taking a closer look at the approximate rent prices here might help you calculate your expenses and decide where to look for accommodation.
The United Kingdom offers a wide range of housing opportunities that are neither too expensive, nor too cheap.
| Average Rent Prices | |
|---|---|
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $1086.56 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $833.3 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $1930.70 |
HEALTHCARE
The UK has a public health system funded through general taxation that covers most hospital and GP services at no point-of-use charge.
There is no standard monthly insurance premium for NHS coverage, though many pay for supplemental private insurance, which typically costs around 50 to 150 USD per month.
Out-of-pocket spending for healthcare is relatively low, often under several hundred USD per year, mainly for dental and optical care.
With average monthly salaries of 3,000 to 3,500 USD, public healthcare is highly affordable relative to income.
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in United Kingdom?
As commuting is linked to spending hours on the road, numerous traffic jams, and possible accidents it is not advisable using your vehicle, especially because of the efficient and inexpensive public transportation system.
That way you will save a lot and can spend that money on other monthly costs such as utilities and entertainment.
The United Kingdom citizens do not spend much money on clothing even though its prices are in line with the budget.
Be ready to spend two-thirds of the salary on food and rent here.
Average Costs Breakdown
United Kingdom: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
If you want to get a rough overview of the living expenses in the United Kingdom so as to be able to organize your budget accordingly, it is also important to see what the average and minimum salaries are here.
Calculating the costs will be of great use to you if you get a chance of negotiating your salary with your future employer.
Everything below the average will cause you difficulties, as you, being a newcomer, will have to pay the expensive rent.
United Kingdom Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: United Kingdom Safety Review
| OVERALL RISK | LOW |
|---|---|
| TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK | LOW |
| PICKPOCKETS RISK | MEDIUM |
| NATURAL DISASTERS RISK | LOW |
| MUGGING RISK | LOW |
| TERRORISM RISK | MEDIUM |
| SCAMS RISK | MEDIUM |
| WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK | LOW |
| TAP WATER RISK | LOW |
Cost of Living by City in United Kingdom
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
| Aberdeen |
73.02 |
| Bath |
74.48 |
| Belfast |
62.42 |
| Birmingham |
64.46 |
| Brighton |
69.54 |
| Bristol |
69.58 |
| Cambridge |
72.6 |
| Cardiff |
62.12 |
| Coventry |
66.31 |
| Derby |
61.5 |
| Edinburgh |
61.5 |
| Exeter |
66.56 |
| Glasgow |
66.5 |
| Leeds |
68.26 |
| Leicester |
65.59 |
| Liverpool |
62 |
| London |
81.31 |
| Manchester |
69.86 |
| Milton Keynes |
78.5 |
| Newcastle upon Tyne |
62.76 |
| Norwich |
64.95 |
| Nottingham |
67.05 |
| Oxford |
72.6 |
| Peterborough |
41.93 |
| Plymouth |
70.02 |
| Portsmouth |
71.04 |
| Reading |
76.73 |
| Sheffield |
62.64 |
| Southampton |
63.73 |
| Swindon |
69.92 |
| York |
69.33 |
Absolutely none of this is true.
You can get 2 meals for £10 ($13) in many restaurants in the UK.
Our weather conditions are perfectly fine for sports, to the point where every single city has multiple football fields, Ruby fields, golf courses, indoor and outdoor basketball courts, tennis, and many other sports.
This entire page is lies.
-27 year old UK resident, lived here all my life, in a few places.