Travel budget in United Kingdom

United Kingdom: calculate your travel budget

United Kingdom: sample budgets by traveller type

These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in United Kingdom for 2 people.

Low budget
(backpacker)

Daily budget:

  • $ 63 for 2 ppl.
  • $ 14 per person
  • $ 13 per person
  • Free activities

Total budget:

$ 1604* (1274 £)

Average budget
(traveller)

Daily budget:

  • $ 132 for 2 ppl.
  • $ 41 per person
  • $ 20 per person
  • $ 14 per person

Total budget:

$ 3877* (3080 £)

High budget
(tourist)

Daily budget:

  • $ 160 for 2 ppl.
  • $ 73 per person
  • $ 33 per person
  • $ 27 per person

Total budget:

$ 5901* (4690 £)

* Estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks. This represents an average across the country (budget may vary depending on the city or region visited).



Cost of living in United Kingdom in 2023

Cost of living: United Kingdom VS United States

Compare with the average cost of living in:

On average, the cost of living in United Kingdom in 2023 is 3% less than in the United States (USA).

The graphic below shows the percentage of variation between prices United States in in the United States (USA) and United States by types of expenses:

Cost of living in United Kingdom by city

See the table below for the variation in the cost of living in different cities in United Kingdom compared to the national average.

Cities /United Kingdom View Details
London 27% moreTravel budget and cost of living in London
Canterbury 26% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Canterbury
Jersey 24% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Jersey
Maidstone 11% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Maidstone
Eastbourne 9% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Eastbourne
Edinburgh 8% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Edinburgh
Oxford 8% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Oxford
Brighton 5% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Brighton
Cambridge 3% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Cambridge
Belfast 2% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Belfast
Glasgow 2% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Glasgow
Plymouth 1% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Plymouth
Manchester 2% lessTravel budget and cost of living in Manchester
Bristol 2% lessTravel budget and cost of living in Bristol
Liverpool 4% lessTravel budget and cost of living in Liverpool
Inverness 11% lessTravel budget and cost of living in Inverness
Cardiff 12% lessTravel budget and cost of living in Cardiff
Aberdeen 13% lessTravel budget and cost of living in Aberdeen

Show all cities (28 more)




Local prices in United Kingdom by expense type

United Kingdom: Restaurant budget

On average, budget for eating in a restaurant in United Kingdom costs 13% less than in the United States (USA).
Lunch
Lunch
$ 19/person
($ 4.7 to $ 83)

8% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 21
3 course dinner
3 course dinner
$ 39/person
($ 16 to $ 114)

2% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 39
McDonald's meal
McDonald's meal
$ 8.2/person
($ 5.6 to $ 13)

18% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11
Local beer
Local beer
$ 5.5 for 500ml
($ 1.4 to $ 15)

8% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6
Imported beer
Imported beer
$ 2.8 for 330ml
($ 0.8 to $ 6.3)

18% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5
Cappuccino
Cappuccino
$ 3.8/cup
($ 1.3 to $ 8.7)

20% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.9
Fizzy drink
Fizzy drink
$ 2.2/can
($ 0.7 to $ 4.4)

10% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.4
Water bottle
Water bottle
$ 1.6/bottle
($ 0.7 to $ 3.8)

23% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.1

United Kingdom: Hotel and accommodation budget

On average, hotel and accommodation budget in United Kingdom costs 16% less than in the United States (USA).
1-star hotel
1-star hotel
$ 111/night
($ 40 to $ 1248)

6% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 118
2-star hotel
2-star hotel
$ 124/night
($ 37 to $ 648)

11% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 140
3-star hotel
3-star hotel
$ 140/night
($ 46 to $ 993)

31% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 203
4-star hotel
4-star hotel
$ 179/night
($ 56 to $ 926)

41% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 301
5-star hotel
5-star hotel
$ 287/night
($ 87 to $ 1143)

52% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 607
Hostel/Youth Hostel
Hostel/Youth Hostel
$ 99/month
($ 28 to $ 851)

25% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 133
Room with kitchen
Room with kitchen
$ 255/month
($ 61 to $ 1185)

26% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 203
Hotel with swimming pool
Hotel with swimming pool
$ 192/month
($ 30 to $ 946)

4% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 185
Cottage or guest house
Cottage or guest house
$ 134/month
($ 46 to $ 872)

47% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 252
Family room
Family room
$ 238/month
($ 70 to $ 1159)

27% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 189

United Kingdom: Supermarket food budget

On average, the price of supermarket food in United Kingdom costs 35% less than in the United States (USA).
Milk
Milk
$ 1.4/litre
($ 0.7 to $ 2.7)

33% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1
Bread
Bread
$ 1.5/500g
($ 0.4 to $ 5.1)

58% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6
Rice
Rice
$ 2.1/kg
($ 0.5 to $ 11)

55% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.6
Eggs
Eggs
$ 3.1/12 eggs
($ 1.1 to $ 7.5)

28% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.3
Chicken
Chicken
$ 8/kg
($ 2.5 to $ 32)

34% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13
Apples
Apples
$ 2.7/kg
($ 0.7 to $ 8.3)

49% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.4
Tomatoes
Tomatoes
$ 2.8/kg
($ 1.1 to $ 8.7)

39% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.7
Potatoes
Potatoes
$ 1.4/kg
($ 0.3 to $ 5)

53% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.1
Water bottle
Water bottle
$ 1.4
($ 0.2 to $ 5)

36% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2

United Kingdom: Public and private transport budget

On average, the price of transport in United Kingdom is 18% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
Bus ticket
Bus ticket
$ 3.1/ticket
($ 1.5 to $ 10)

23% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5
Taxi (per km)
Taxi (per km)
$ 1.6/km
($ 0.8 to $ 7.5)

5% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.7
Petrol
Petrol
$ 1.9/litre
($ 0.7 to $ 2.5)

86% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1
Taxi (initial pick-up charge)
Taxi (initial pick-up charge)
$ 3.8
($ 1.3 to $ 12)

8% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5
Car hire
Car hire
$ 25/24hrs
($ 1.1 to $ 410)

23% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 31

United Kingdom: Leisure activity budget

On average, budget for leisure activities in United Kingdom costs 14% less than in the United States (USA).
Cinema
Cinema
$ 14/ticket
($ 5.7 to $ 32)

0% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 14
Tennis
Tennis
$ 15/hr
($ 3.2 to $ 57)

28% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 21

United Kingdom: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes

On average, shopping budget in United Kingdom is 43% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
Cigarettes
Cigarettes
$ 17/pack
($ 5.2 to $ 39)

79% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 9
Levi's jeans
Levi's jeans
$ 81
($ 13 to $ 151)

53% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 53
Summer dress
Summer dress
$ 42
($ 27 to $ 114)

3% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 43

Plane ticket budget

New York City → London
New York City → London
New York City → London
$ 548
(fair price: $ 473)
Los Angeles → London
Los Angeles  → London
Los Angeles  → London
$ 844
(fair price: $ 697)
Sydney → London
Sydney → London
Sydney → London
$ 1348
(fair price: $ 1123)
Melbourne → London
Melbourne → London
Melbourne → London
$ 1355
(fair price: $ 1161)
Toronto → London
Toronto → London
Toronto → London
$ 651
(fair price: $ 578)
Chicago → London
Chicago → London
Chicago → London
$ 778
(fair price: $ 651)



About the information on the cost of living in United Kingdom

The information about the cost of living in United Kingdom shown on this page comes from multiple sources, including : Numbeo, Skyscanner and Hotels.com.

Information about cost of living in United Kingdom updated on 25-11-2023.

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