MigrantoCost of living in the UK
What a month costs, how prices compare with other countries, and where the money goes
Monthly cost in the UK
Spending runs from £862 a month in the poorest fifth to £4,530 in the richest
Per person, whole country
£1,900
what a typical person spends in a month
Spending across the population
£862richest 20%
£4,530
Where people spend money in the UK
One person's out-of-pocket spending, averaged across the whole country
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Key facts
The cost of living in the UK in numbers
Groceries takes an unusual share of the budget
It absorbs 8.7% of spending here, or £166 a month, against 19.7% in a typical country, 11 points less.
Among the most expensive countries in the world
More expensive than 90% of countries. A basket that costs £746 at world-middle prices costs £1,320 here.
Typical spending takes 89% of the average wage
A typical person spends £1,900 a month while the average take-home wage is £2,140, so 11% of an average wage sits above what a typical person spends.
How living costs in the UK compare
Neighbours, region and the world on the same monthly figure
What things cost here
How much the same goods and services cost in the UK against other countries
More expensive than 90% of countries
Where United Kingdom sits when every country is lined up from cheapest to most expensive
Pakistanmost expensive
Bermuda
middle
A basket of goods and services that costs £746 at world-middle prices costs £1,320 here.
Data source: household consumption 2023 (World Bank), International Comparison Program 2021 (World Bank), category breakdown 2024 (United Nations Statistics Division), adjusted to 2026 using IMF GDP-per-capita growth
Living-cost calculator
What it costs to live in the UK
Tell us what you earn and spend today — we'll estimate what the same lifestyle would cost in the UK and how much you could have left each month
- What your lifestyle costs
- How much could be left each month
- How it compares with today
Cost of living in the UK
£862/mo
vs £597 in your country
Take-home
£1,320
vs £895 in your country
Potential savings
£458
more than in your country
Standard of living
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Frequently asked questions
What is the cost of living in the UK?
A typical person in the UK spends about £1,900 a month — around £22,800 a year — on housing, groceries, transport and other everyday costs. It's a nationwide average across different regions, cities and types of housing.
What is the standard of living in the UK?
By spending, The UK ranks #12 of 185 countries. A typical person spends about £1,900 a month, the poorest 20% about £862 and the richest 20% about £4,530. The gap between them shows how unevenly people live.
What is the cost of living in the UK in US dollars?
The cost of living in the UK is about $2,552 a month, or roughly $30,624 a year per person.
How much money do you need to live comfortably in the UK?
It all depends on your standard of living. A modest budget runs about £862 a month per person, a typical one around £1,900, and a comfortable life around £2,600. In big cities and for a family, costs are usually higher.
What do people spend the most on in the UK?
The biggest expense is housing, at about £503 a month (26% of spending). Then come transport (£242, 13%) and dining out (£204, 11%).
Is the average salary in the UK enough to live on?
In most cases yes, but without much of a cushion. Average spending is about £1,900 a month, while the average take-home pay in the UK is about £2,140. For more on incomes, see salaries in the UK.
Is the UK an expensive country to live in?
Yes. The UK is more expensive than 94% of countries worldwide and ranks 7th of 41 in Europe by cost of living.
What currency is used in the UK?
The UK uses the British Pound (GBP). Amounts on this page are shown in it; the currency switcher converts them.
Where to live?
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Living in the UK
See the full country overview