Cost of living comparison
United States is 10.1% more expensive than United Kingdom overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 12.4% more in United States
- Groceries
-
pay 55.5% more in United States
- Transportation
-
pay 22.0% less in United States
- Housing
-
pay 27.1% more in United States
- Childcare
-
pay 4.9% more in United States
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 0.8% less in United States
- Clothing
-
pay 6.3% less in United States
The cost of groceries, housing, restaurants, and childcare in United States are more expensive than in United Kingdom. Expenses including transportation, clothing, and entertainment and sports are lower in United States.
If you lived in United States instead of United Kingdom, you would:
pay 12.4% more for restaurants
|
United Kingdom
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$18.70
£13.82
|
$18.59
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.25
£6.84
|
$10.47
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.23
£1.65
|
$2.50
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.57
£1.16
|
$1.96
|
|
pay 55.5% more for groceries
|
United Kingdom
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.53
£1.13
|
$3.49
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$4.35
£3.22
|
$6.33
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$5.92
£4.38
|
$3.91
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.77
£2.78
|
$3.56
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$3.70
£2.73
|
$5.16
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.23
£0.91
|
$2.33
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.67
£0.49
|
$0.78
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.26
£0.93
|
$2.00
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.42
£1.05
|
$2.16
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.65
£0.48
|
$1.34
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.65
£0.48
|
$1.38
|
|
pay 22.0% less for transportation
|
United Kingdom
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$7.07
£5.23
|
$3.61
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$98.23
£72.61
|
$65.15
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$34,832.80
£25,748.68
|
$31,583.67
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$17.15
£12.68
|
$17.81
|
|
pay 27.1% more for housing
|
United Kingdom
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$39.40
£29.13
|
$67.50
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,243.58
£919.26
|
$1,655.99
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,020.84
£754.61
|
$1,423.40
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$229.21
£169.43
|
$148.34
|
|
pay 4.9% more for childcare
|
United Kingdom
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,497.56
£1,107.01
|
$1,351.84
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$18,629.32
£13,770.95
|
$22,265.44
|
|
pay 0.8% less for entertainment and sports
|
United Kingdom
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.63
£4.16
|
$5.78
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$4.12
£3.05
|
$5.04
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$17.47
£12.91
|
$9.68
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$45.31
£33.50
|
$50.84
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$12.89
£9.53
|
$13.30
|
|
pay 6.3% less for clothing
|
United Kingdom
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$78.43
£57.98
|
$50.38
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$40.13
£29.66
|
$40.66
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$90.36
£66.79
|
$85.52
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$96.72
£71.50
|
$111.08
|
|
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