Cost of Living Comparison Between United Kingdom and United States

For major cities in those countries you get more relevant data by specifying cities.

City in United Kingdom:
City in United States:

Indices Difference
Cost of Living in United States is 4.3% higher than in United Kingdom (excluding rent)
Cost of Living Including Rent in United States is 11.6% higher than in United Kingdom
Rent Prices in United States are 30.4% higher than in United Kingdom
Restaurant Prices in United States are 1.2% higher than in United Kingdom
Groceries Prices in United States are 23.5% higher than in United Kingdom
Local Purchasing Power in United States is 21.8% higher than in United Kingdom

Currency: Sticky Currency Switch to metric measurement units

Restaurants	United Kingdom Edit	United States Edit	Difference
Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant	15.00 £ (19.75 $)	15.19 £ (20.00 $)	+1.3 %
Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks)	65.00 £ (85.58 $)	57.72 £ (76.00 $)	-11.2 %
Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal)	8.00 £ (10.53 $)	9.11 £ (12.00 $)	+13.9 %
Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint)	5.00 £ (6.58 $)	4.56 £ (6.00 $)	-8.9 %
Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle)	5.00 £ (6.58 $)	5.70 £ (7.50 $)	+13.9 %
Cappuccino (Regular Size)	3.48 £ (4.58 $)	4.03 £ (5.30 $)	+15.9 %
Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle)	1.83 £ (2.41 $)	1.97 £ (2.60 $)	+7.8 %
Bottled Water (12 oz)	1.30 £ (1.71 $)	1.60 £ (2.11 $)	+23.2 %
Markets	United Kingdom Edit	United States Edit
Milk (Regular, 1 Liter)	1.25 £ (1.64 $)	0.81 £ (1.06 $)	-35.1 %
Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf)	1.12 £ (1.48 $)	2.52 £ (3.32 $)	+124.9 %
White Rice (1 lb)	0.74 £ (0.98 $)	1.58 £ (2.08 $)	+113.1 %
Eggs (12, Large Size)	2.97 £ (3.91 $)	3.35 £ (4.41 $)	+12.7 %
Local Cheese (1 lb)	3.26 £ (4.29 $)	4.48 £ (5.90 $)	+37.6 %
Chicken Fillets (1 lb)	3.03 £ (3.98 $)	4.22 £ (5.56 $)	+39.5 %
Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb)	4.82 £ (6.34 $)	5.70 £ (7.51 $)	+18.4 %
Apples (1 lb)	1.00 £ (1.32 $)	1.81 £ (2.38 $)	+80.3 %
Bananas (1 lb)	0.55 £ (0.73 $)	0.58 £ (0.76 $)	+5.1 %
Oranges (1 lb)	0.95 £ (1.25 $)	1.54 £ (2.03 $)	+61.8 %
Tomatoes (1 lb)	1.16 £ (1.53 $)	1.68 £ (2.22 $)	+44.9 %
Potatoes (1 lb)	0.57 £ (0.75 $)	1.00 £ (1.32 $)	+76.0 %
Onions (1 lb)	0.53 £ (0.70 $)	1.06 £ (1.39 $)	+99.6 %
Lettuce (1 Head)	0.86 £ (1.14 $)	1.68 £ (2.21 $)	+94.5 %
Bottled Water (50 oz)	1.18 £ (1.55 $)	1.71 £ (2.25 $)	+44.7 %
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)	8.00 £ (10.53 $)	11.39 £ (15.00 $)	+42.4 %
Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle)	2.18 £ (2.86 $)	1.53 £ (2.02 $)	-29.6 %
Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle)	2.50 £ (3.29 $)	2.75 £ (3.61 $)	+9.9 %
Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro)	15.00 £ (19.75 $)	7.60 £ (10.00 $)	-49.4 %
Transportation	United Kingdom Edit	United States Edit
One-Way Ticket (Local Transport)	2.50 £ (3.29 $)	1.90 £ (2.50 $)	-24.0 %
Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price)	73.00 £ (96.11 $)	48.61 £ (64.00 $)	-33.4 %
Taxi Start (Standard Tariff)	4.00 £ (5.27 $)	2.70 £ (3.55 $)	-32.6 %
Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff)	2.80 £ (3.69 $)	2.13 £ (2.80 $)	-24.0 %
Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff)	20.00 £ (26.33 $)	22.79 £ (30.00 $)	+13.9 %
Gasoline (1 Liter)	1.43 £ (1.89 $)	0.68 £ (0.89 $)	-52.6 %
Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car)	28,285.00 £ (37,240.53 $)	26,204.82 £ (34,501.73 $)	-7.4 %
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car)	30,167.10 £ (39,718.53 $)	19,784.12 £ (26,048.11 $)	-34.4 %
Utilities (Monthly)	United Kingdom Edit	United States Edit
Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage)	238.58 £ (314.12 $)	159.57 £ (210.09 $)	-33.1 %
Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data)	13.41 £ (17.65 $)	46.12 £ (60.73 $)	+244.0 %
Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher)	31.42 £ (41.36 $)	54.99 £ (72.40 $)	+75.0 %
Sports And Leisure	United Kingdom Edit	United States Edit
Monthly Fitness Club Membership	34.61 £ (45.56 $)	34.56 £ (45.50 $)	-0.1 %
Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend)	11.84 £ (15.59 $)	16.60 £ (21.86 $)	+40.3 %
Cinema Ticket (International Release)	10.00 £ (13.17 $)	11.39 £ (15.00 $)	+13.9 %
Childcare	United Kingdom Edit	United States Edit
Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child	1,251.92 £ (1,648.30 $)	1,041.17 £ (1,370.82 $)	-16.8 %
International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child	15,505.20 £ (20,414.41 $)	17,635.43 £ (23,219.11 $)	+13.7 %
Clothing And Shoes	United Kingdom Edit	United States Edit
Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar)	68.11 £ (89.67 $)	39.76 £ (52.35 $)	-41.6 %
Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M)	33.65 £ (44.31 $)	32.41 £ (42.67 $)	-3.7 %
Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)	75.31 £ (99.15 $)	68.80 £ (90.58 $)	-8.6 %
Men's Leather Business Shoes	75.22 £ (99.04 $)	86.13 £ (113.40 $)	+14.5 %
Rent Per Month	United Kingdom Edit	United States Edit
1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre	1,014.90 £ (1,336.24 $)	1,310.79 £ (1,725.81 $)	+29.2 %
1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre	828.81 £ (1,091.23 $)	1,083.73 £ (1,426.86 $)	+30.8 %
3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre	1,700.18 £ (2,238.49 $)	2,167.03 £ (2,853.14 $)	+27.5 %
3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre	1,342.47 £ (1,767.52 $)	1,810.17 £ (2,383.30 $)	+34.8 %
Buy Apartment Price	United Kingdom Edit	United States Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre	410.94 £ (541.06 $)	227.70 £ (299.80 $)	-44.6 %
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre	331.57 £ (436.55 $)	191.91 £ (252.67 $)	-42.1 %
Salaries And Financing	United Kingdom Edit	United States Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)	2,394.06 £ (3,152.07 $)	3,255.75 £ (4,286.58 $)	+36.0 %
Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %)	5.68	6.47	+14.0 %
Last update:	14 November 2025	14 November 2025
Contributors in the past 12 months:	3593	13181

Moving to United Kingdom? Explore:

Moving to United States? Explore:

Other comparisons United Kingdom vs United States:

About Numbeo in the News Newsletter Advertise Premium API