Travel budget and cost of living in United Kingdom how much does a trip cost?

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.

* 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 2025

Cost of living: United Kingdom VS United States

On average, the cost of living in United Kingdom in 2025 is essentially the same as 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:

Local prices in United Kingdom by expense type

United Kingdom: Restaurant budget

Lunch

$ 22/person
($ 6.8 to $ 95)

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3% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 22

3 course dinner

$ 42/person
($ 17 to $ 202)

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5% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 40

McDonald's meal

$ 9.5/person
($ 5.4 to $ 15)

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17% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 12

Local beer

$ 6.2 for 500ml
($ 1.5 to $ 17)

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2% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6.3

Imported beer

$ 3.3 for 330ml
($ 1 to $ 8.1)

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11% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.7

Cappuccino

$ 4.4/cup
($ 2 to $ 9.5)

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19% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.4

Fizzy drink

$ 2.4/can
($ 0.7 to $ 5.4)

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12% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.7

Water bottle

$ 1.7/bottle
($ 0.7 to $ 6.8)

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22% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2

United Kingdom: Hotel and accommodation budget

1-star hotel

$ 132/night
($ 28 to $ 1285)

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22% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 169

2-star hotel

$ 186/night
($ 37 to $ 1098)

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16% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 161

3-star hotel

$ 175/night
($ 41 to $ 1240)

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26% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 238

4-star hotel

$ 211/night
($ 75 to $ 1179)

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37% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 335

5-star hotel

$ 317/night
($ 44 to $ 2073)

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42% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 547

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 139/month
($ 35 to $ 1255)

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19% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 172

Room with kitchen

$ 267/month
($ 49 to $ 1304)

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5% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 255

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 220/month
($ 37 to $ 1532)

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2% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 217

Cottage or guest house

$ 164/month
($ 46 to $ 1035)

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33% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 246

Family room

$ 281/month
($ 56 to $ 1434)

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33% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 211

United Kingdom: Supermarket food budget

Milk

$ 1.6/litre
($ 0.7 to $ 3)

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48% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1

Bread

$ 1.7/500g
($ 0.5 to $ 5.7)

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55% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.8

Rice

$ 2.3/kg
($ 0.6 to $ 11)

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53% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.8

Eggs

$ 3.8/12 eggs
($ 1.6 to $ 9)

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0% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.9

Chicken

$ 8.9/kg
($ 2.7 to $ 33)

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29% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13

Apples

$ 2.9/kg
($ 0.9 to $ 9)

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46% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.5

Tomatoes

$ 3.5/kg
($ 1.2 to $ 9.5)

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31% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1

Potatoes

$ 1.7/kg
($ 0.3 to $ 6.8)

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47% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.1

Water bottle

$ 1.5
($ 0.3 to $ 5.4)

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36% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.3

United Kingdom: Public and private transport budget

Bus ticket

$ 3/ticket
($ 1.7 to $ 11)

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16% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.6

Taxi (per km)

$ 1.9/km
($ 0.8 to $ 6.6)

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4% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.8

Petrol

$ 1.8/litre
($ 0.7 to $ 2.7)

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86% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 4.4
($ 1.4 to $ 13)

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13% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.9

Car hire

$ 46/24hrs
($ 1.1 to $ 1603)

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42% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 78

United Kingdom: Leisure activity budget

Cinema

$ 14/ticket
($ 5.9 to $ 35)

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6% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 15

Tennis

$ 19/hr
($ 3.3 to $ 59)

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

United Kingdom: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes

Cigarettes

$ 20/pack
($ 5.4 to $ 42)

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78% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11

Levi's jeans

$ 84
($ 14 to $ 204)

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50% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 56

Summer dress

$ 43
($ 14 to $ 123)

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6% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 46

Plane ticket budget

Sydney → London

$ 1249
(fair price: $ 1066)

Melbourne → London

$ 1274
(fair price: $ 1082)

New York City → London

$ 599
(fair price: $ 529)

Toronto → London

$ 700
(fair price: $ 631)

Los Angeles → London

$ 827
(fair price: $ 696)

Montreal → London

$ 772
(fair price: $ 721)