Living in London
Your salary, your household, and what life in London costs for it. Every figure says where it comes from; replace any of ours with your own.
What London costs a month
£2,579
for 1 adult: a home, everyday costs and getting around, before eating out and holidays
Add your salary above to see what is left each month.
What a month in London costs
Each month in London
- Rent£1,752
- Groceries£273
- Energy, phone, clothing, care and insurance£383
- Public transport£172
See the full breakdown
What leaves each month
- Rentofficial− £1,752
You should probably rent a one-bedroom home: it fits your household without overcrowding, by Eurostat’s definition. This rent is an average over existing tenancies; someone moving in usually pays more. If you have a quote, enter it.
- Groceriesestimated− £273
The same basket as everywhere, at the United Kingdom’s prices, for your household.
- Energy, phone, clothing, care and insuranceestimated− £383
Energy and water, phone and internet, clothing, personal care, health costs you pay yourself and home insurance: the same basket as everywhere, at the United Kingdom’s prices.
- Public transportofficial− £172
One monthly pass.
- A month in London£2,579
What this does not include
Tax is worked out for one earner: joint taxation and married bands are not modelled. Child benefit is counted where the country pays a standard amount. Buying a car, school fees, eating out, holidays and recreation are not in the expenses.
Where these figures come from
Questions about living in this city
What does rent cost in London?
About £1,752 a month for a one-bedroom home, the size one person needs, at the average rent from Office for National Statistics, Price Index of Private Rents, UK: monthly price statistics (2026-07). This rent is an average over existing tenancies; someone moving in usually pays more. If you have a quote, enter it.
How much is a monthly public transport pass in London?
About £172 a month for an adult, from Transport for London, Adult fares. Children’s fares and free travel ages are shown in the breakdown above.
How is what is left each month worked out?
We take your net pay under the United Kingdom’s tax rules, add child benefit where it is paid, and subtract rent for a home your household fits in, the United Kingdom’s prices for everyday essentials, transport, and childcare, a car and pets where you have them. Eating out, holidays and savings are left for you to decide.
Where do these figures come from?
From national statistics offices, housing ministries, Eurostat and the public transport operators, each named with its date in the list of sources on this page. Where no official figure exists, the page says so and asks for your own.
Found something wrong?
Tell us which number and we will check it against the source.