Capital city in Greater London, United Kingdom
Cost of living in London
How much a month costs in London
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $4,360–6,350 (£3,300–4,800).
Prices in London
Typical 2026 ranges in GBP, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | GBP | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (month) | £2,000–3,200 | $2,640–4,230 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside center (month) | £1,400–2,000 | $1,850–2,640 |
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | £25–55 | $33–73 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | £130–230 | $172–304 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | £8–14 | $10.6–18.5 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | £22–40 | $29–53 |
| Cappuccino | £3–4.5 | $4.0–5.9 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | £6–8 | $7.9–10.6 |
| Getting around | ||
| Public transport, one ride | £1.75–3.5 | $2.3–4.6 |
| Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km | £10–20 | $13–26 |
| Work and life | ||
| Coworking day pass | £25–50 | $33–66 |
| Gym membership (month) | £30–90 | $40–119 |
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | £10–20 | $13–26 |
Value for money: 3/100
A value score of 3/100 means London gives more quality of life per dollar than 2% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 76/100. It's the 22nd most affordable of 22 places we cover in United Kingdom.
| Quality factor | Score |
|---|---|
| Safety | |
| Air quality | |
| Internet | |
| Healthcare | |
| Weather | |
| Friendly locals | |
| English |
Cost of living across United Kingdom
One person, comfortable lifestyle, including rent.
| Place | Comfortable month | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Snowdonia | $2,640–3,700 | 28/100 |
| Newcastle | $2,640–3,830 | 22/100 |
| Liverpool | $2,780–3,970 | 20/100 |
| Belfast | $2,780–3,970 | 19/100 |
| Scottish Highlands | $2,910–4,100 | 23/100 |
| Cardiff | $2,910–4,100 | 19/100 |
| Leeds | $2,910–4,100 | 17/100 |
| Glasgow | $2,910–4,230 | 17/100 |
| York | $3,040–4,230 | 20/100 |
| Birmingham | $3,040–4,360 | 10/100 |
| Manchester | $3,170–4,500 | 12/100 |
| Lake District | $3,310–4,630 | 13/100 |
| Cornwall | $3,310–4,630 | 15/100 |
| Edinburgh | $3,310–4,760 | 14/100 |
| Brighton | $3,440–4,760 | 10/100 |
| Isle of Skye | $3,440–4,760 | 13/100 |
| Bath | $3,570–4,890 | 12/100 |
| Bristol | $3,570–5,020 | 8/100 |
| Oxford | $3,700–5,020 | 11/100 |
| Cambridge | $3,700–5,020 | 11/100 |
| Cotswolds | $3,700–5,290 | 10/100 |
| London | $4,360–6,350 | 3/100 |
Cheaper alternatives to London
Similar safety, lower cost, in Europe.
Quick answers
How much money do you need per month in London?
About $2,910–3,970 on a lean budget, $4,360–6,350 for a comfortable month and $8,590–13,220 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much is rent in London?
A furnished 1-bedroom apartment costs £2,000–3,200 ($2,640–4,230) a month in the center and £1,400–2,000 ($1,850–2,640) outside it.
How much does food cost in London?
A local meal is £8–14 ($10.6–18.5); a mid-range restaurant is £22–40 ($29–53) per person.
Is United Kingdom expensive?
Prices in United Kingdom are about 89% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about London
Going to London solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in London meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- World Bank: PPP conversion factor
- Transport for London
- Heathrow Airport
- Visit London
- NHS 111
Prices are SoloSquare estimates for 2026, reviewed against official and operator prices where available. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.