Cost of living in England: Food, transport, and more

The cost of living in England is one of the main drawbacks when considering life in this country, whether for studying, working or staying as a long-term visitor. This destination ranks higher than others in southern Europe, such as Spain or Portugal, although it’s more affordable than English-speaking countries like the United States, Australia or Switzerland. In return, the government provides residents with high-quality services that justify the high expenses. But do you want to know if you could live here?

Throughout this article we’ll explore housing in England and rental prices depending on the area. We’ll also tell you how much you’ll spend on groceries in major supermarkets, dining at restaurants, common transport services, healthcare fees, leisure activities and even the cost of internet connection. If you’re moving to England soon, this is for you!

Average cost of housing in England

The housing cost in England depends on the city you choose to live in. London is the most expensive city in the country, while Leeds or Birmingham can be up to 30% cheaper.

Most students who come to learn English choose shared flats to cut costs, and digital nomads often select coliving spaces to work remotely and live in community. On the other hand, furnished flats and hotels are more common among tourists. Let’s see some examples:

• Furnished apartment: a one-bedroom flat in London costs about $2,810 (€2,400) per month, while in Manchester it’s $1,405 (€1,200) and in Leeds $820 (€700), according to Properstar.
• Shared room: renting a room in a shared flat in London is around $900 (€768), in Birmingham $450 (€385) and $430 (€367) in Leeds, from the same Properstar site.
• Coliving: this type of shared housing is cheaper than a flat. For instance, at Gravity Co-Living in London you can live and work remotely from $1,600 (€1,365).
• Hotel: you can stay from $93 (€80) per night in Greenwich at The Argenstein, 10 km from London, $56 (€48) at The Butlers Hotel in Leeds, or from $25 (€22) at Coco Beach Hotel in Blackpool, according to Booking.

Food costs in England

Food also plays an important role in England’s cost of living, especially if you cook at home or eat out regularly. You can shop at reasonable prices in supermarkets like Tesco, Aldi, Lidl or Sainsbury’s, where own brands stand out with good deals and lower prices. Here’s an example of a shopping list in one of these stores:

• Milk (1 litre): $1.30 (€1.15)
• Eggs (12 units): $2.75 (€2.43)
• Bread (500 g): $1.50 (€1.32)
• Pasta (500 g): $1.20 (€1.06)
• Chicken breast (1 kg): $7.00 (€6.18)
• Beef (1 kg): $9.20 (€8.13)
• Cheddar cheese (250 g): $2.90 (€2.56)
• Ground coffee (250 g): $4.00 (€3.53)
• Chocolate bar (100 g): $2.50 (€2.21)

On the other hand, you can also find mid-priced restaurants, especially outside the most touristy areas. You could try this option during the week, but eating out often will significantly increase your budget. For example, here’s a daily menu from a local restaurant called Regency Café in Westminster, London, with moderate prices:

Typical menu of a local restaurant in England.

Transport prices in England

How do you plan to get around the country? The cost of living in England linked to transport also varies between big cities like London and smaller ones. The country has an excellent public transport network with taxi and Uber services, bike rentals and private vehicles. Discover which option best suits your lifestyle in the country.

England’s public transport

England is perfectly connected through an extensive underground, bus and tram network that takes you to every town or city quickly, safely and with wide timetables. In the capital you can take the tube for $3.55 (€3.00) at peak hours, and the tram or bus for $2.22 (€1.90). In other cities like Manchester or Birmingham, fares are slightly lower, about one euro less compared with London.

Taxi or Uber service

In England you can also move around by Taxi or Uber. These services, although faster and more private, have high fares, especially in large cities. If you plan to commute daily using them, England’s cost of living will increase significantly in your monthly budget. Here are some examples:

• Taxi: in London, a 5 km ride may cost around $15 (€12.80), about two euros less in smaller cities like Leeds.
• Uber: the same ride with Uber in the capital costs about $12 (€14), while in Manchester it’s $8.00 (€6.85).

Rent a bike

Do you enjoy cycling? It’s one of the cheapest and most eco-friendly ways to get to work or university. In cities like London, Cambridge, Oxford, Manchester or Bristol, the government has invested in improving cycle lanes with well-marked routes, segregated paths and protection from traffic. In rural areas or smaller towns, shared lanes still dominate. Here are approximate prices for bike rentals in the country:

• Santander Cycles: in London you can rent a bike from $2.54 (€2.36) per day or $114.30 (€104.80) per year.
• Other cities: rentals from $1.27 (€1.18) per day.

Drive your own vehicle

If you need to travel by car across several cities, either for work or to explore every corner of the country, you can buy a new vehicle and add mandatory insurance and fuel expenses to England’s cost of living. The most popular cars in the country include the following, with approximate prices depending on extras:

• Ford Puma / VW Polo: $23,495–$33,475 (€20,055–€28,575).
• VW Golf / Ford Focus: $32,070–$36,195 (€27,375–€30,896).
• SUV (Kia Sportage, Nissan Qashqai): $38,000–$57,150 (€32,437–€48,783).
• Petrol: in England, May 2025, prices are about $1.70 (€1.55), similar to the EU average.
• Electric charging: a fast charge costs about $0.98/kWh (€0.84/kWh).
• Mandatory insurance: in London an insurance policy can reach $1,757 (€1,500) yearly, while in smaller cities it’s around $585 (€500) annually.

Healthcare costs in Denmark

In this country, if you work and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), you can access most services from the National Health Service (NHS). It offers free medical care, hospitalisation and operations for all residents, plus reduced costs for those who live legally in the UK.

If you don’t have access to either option, then you must purchase health insurance to cover your stay. England’s cost of living regarding healthcare fees without insurance is very high, so we strongly recommend not travelling without one. Here’s what you may pay for different medical services without insurance:

Healthcare service fees in England.

Internet and call plan prices

England has one of the most advanced digital infrastructures in Europe, with nationwide 4G coverage and 5G in major cities like London, Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool. You can contract fibre optics with top providers like BT (British Telecom), Virgin Media, Sky, Vodafone, EE and O2, with the following rates:

• BT: from $34.30 (€29.28) for 900 Mbps.
• Vodafone: $26.80 (€22.88) for 2.2 Gbps and $9.00 (€21 GB for mobile).
• Sky: $30.00 (€25.61) for 4.7 Gbps.
• iD Mobile: from $19.05 (€16.25) with unlimited data.
• EE: from $25.40 (€21.68) with 100 GB and 4G coverage.

For travellers who need 5G coverage in any city, a stable, safe connection without disconnections and no extra roaming charges, the Holafly monthly plans offer packages tailored to your needs, from 10 GB up to unlimited data.

You can also travel to over 170 destinations without changing your SIM card, as it’s valid in other countries. To activate it quickly and easily, download the app once you land in England and start using one of its plans within minutes:

Features of Holafly’s monthly plans

Important: If you are a frequent traveler and want to stay connected without worrying about expensive roaming or looking for a new SIM at every destination, Holafly’s subscription plans are for you. With a single eSIM, enjoy internet in more than 160 countries for a fixed price and no surprises on your bill. Travel without limits and connect easily and securely! 🚀🌍

Cost of living in England: Leisure activity cost

Let’s talk about the leisure activities you can enjoy in this country, which also affect the cost of living in England. Although you’ll find plans for all budgets, ticket prices are higher than in many other European countries.

However, England also offers free or low-cost entry to many of its parks and historic gardens for both residents and visitors. Let’s take a look at how you can have fun in England:

• Cinema: an adult ticket costs $14.00 (€13.00)
  Theater: watching a play in London costs from $42.00 (€39.00).
  ZSL London Zoo: the ticket price is $37.00 (€31.58).
  Museum: if you want to visit Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in London, the ticket costs $57.78 (€49.32)
  Stonehenge: to enter and see this Neolithic monument, you will have to pay about $39.22 (€25.80).
• Chatsworth House: this countryside palace in Derbyshire costs $30.00 (€25.60) to visit.
• York Minster: entry to this Gothic cathedral in York is about $20.00 (€17.05).
• Railway Museum: in York, it’s free.
• Botanical Gardens: free entry in Sheffield.
• Streaming platforms: Netflix subscription costs $6.99 (€5.96), while Amazon Prime is $12.33 (€10.52).

So, what do you think of England’s cost of living? As you’ve seen, the budget you’ll need ranges between $2,300 and $3,500 (€1,960–€2,985), including housing, transport, food, healthcare, leisure and basic services like internet.

The most expensive cities are London, Oxford and Cambridge. You could save more if you live in Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle, Manchester or Leicester, so prices vary significantly depending on where you live, especially for rent. Even though it’s a pricey country, the job opportunities, companies and educational institutions make it a worthwhile investment for a temporary life experience. Are you ready to come?

Frequently asked questions about the cost of living in England

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