Cost of Living in the United Kingdom
As with anywhere else, the cost of living in the UK will vary depending on lifestyle choices and location. Generally you will find that the major cities like London are more expensive to live in while some provinces and countryside areas are far more reasonable.
Property in London is very expensive although prices have dropped in recent years. The average national house price is around £230,000 – but close to £380,000 in metropolitan London. A two-bedroom flat will cost between £300 and £600 per week to rent in London. Rental varies in the UK and depends on where you live and the type of apartment you are looking for. Be warned that cheaper accommodation generally doesn’t include your utilities.
When moving to the UK, if you decide on shared housing and use the excellent public transport, you will be able to reduce your costs quite significantly.
With regards to shopping, the average UK resident will spend about £40 per week on groceries. Shopping in London for clothes and accessories can be pricey; home appliances and electronic gadgets are generally imported from Japan and are thus taxed accordingly, making them expensive too.
In general, cars are good value; it is possible to buy a new mid-size family car for under £10,000. Petrol prices, however, are among the highest in the world.
Property in London is very expensive although prices have dropped in recent years. The average national house price is around £230,000 – but close to £380,000 in metropolitan London. A two-bedroom flat will cost between £300 and £600 per week to rent in London. Rental varies in the UK and depends on where you live and the type of apartment you are looking for. Be warned that cheaper accommodation generally doesn’t include your utilities.
When moving to the UK, if you decide on shared housing and use the excellent public transport, you will be able to reduce your costs quite significantly.
With regards to shopping, the average UK resident will spend about £40 per week on groceries. Shopping in London for clothes and accessories can be pricey; home appliances and electronic gadgets are generally imported from Japan and are thus taxed accordingly, making them expensive too.
In general, cars are good value; it is possible to buy a new mid-size family car for under £10,000. Petrol prices, however, are among the highest in the world.
| Accommodation (monthly rent in good area) | |
| Furnished 2 bedroom house | £775.00 |
| Unfurnished 2 bedroom house | £625.00 |
| Furnished 2 bedroom apartment | £750.00 |
| Unfurnished 2 bedroom apartment | £616.67 |
| Room in shared apartment | £306.67 |
| Food and drink | |
| Average weekly grocery bill | £50.00 |
| McDonalds meal | £5.00 |
| Pub meal | £8.00 |
| Restaurant meal | £15 - £25 |
| Pint of beer | £4.00 |
| Average bottle of wine | £9.00 |
| Public transportation (approximate values) | |
| Single bus journey | £2 |
| Zone 1-2 day travelcard (peak) | £7.50 |
| Weekly Zone 1-6 Travelcard | £45 |
| Single train trip to Cambridge / Brighton | £17 - £20 |
| Entertainment | |
| Movie ticket | £7-£15 |
| Entry to clubs, pubs or gigs | £10 - £30 |
| New release DVD rental | £4 |
Cost of living estimator: www.pagepersonnel.co.uk/living-in-the-uk.html
Rental prices: www.lettingsearch.co.uk
Home buyers and rental aggregator: www.rightmove.co.uk
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