The UK is one of the world’s leading industrial, IT, and financial centres, which remains a magnet for qualified expats. But even with a lucrative job offer on the table, it might be a good idea to first calculate your living expenses there. For example, how much does food cost in the UK? Is public transport expensive? Is rent in the UK high? What are a council tax and a TV licence fee? Read on to find answers needed for your relocation there and learn some practical money-saving tips.
Salaries and cost of living in the UK in 2025
The amounts provided in the article are in pounds, the official currency of the UK. To see the exchange rates available for your home currency, check the online currency converter on www.profee.com.
According to the City Outlook 2025, the average weekly wages in the UK stand at £716; in cities, the number is higher at £764. Unsurprisingly, London offers the highest salaries and most of the cities following it are in the Greater South East region where people earn up to 30% more than, for example, in Wales. Overall, the winners and the outsiders on the weekly gross wages list of 63 UK cities are the following:
- London: £950
- Slough: £925
- Crawley: £869
…
- Exeter: £597
- Huddersfield: £583
- Burnley: £568
At the same time, over the last 10 years, substantial growth was recorded in the cost of living in the UK, and in 2025 it is more than 51% higher than it was in 2015 while average wages increased only by 43.2%.
Today, one should consider the following amounts to live comfortably in the UK.
Average living cost in the UK (rent excluded), £. According to Numbeo.
| Family of 4 | Single person | |
|---|---|---|
| UK (average) | 2,808.2 | 824 |
| London | 3,671.2 | 1,040.7 |
| Belfast | 2,699.5 | 751.8 |
| Cardiff | 2,661.4 | 777.6 |
| Edinburgh | 3,147.8 | 925 |
Cost of living payments in the UK in 2025
Inflation slightly slowed down to 2.6% in March 2025. However, many households are still struggling to cope with the increased living expenses in the UK and need assistance. The UK government runs a dedicated scheme under which new cost of living payments are coming to the UK in 2025, distributed through the £742 million Household Support Fund. The next round covers the period between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026, and the exact payout amount depends on the area of residence and particular needs of the household. Compensating for the rising cost of living in the UK in 2025, the funding is aimed at providing wider essentials such as food or electricity and comes as cash, vouchers, or in kind.
It is expected that the applications for the new cost of living payments that are coming to the UK in 2025 will become available in mid-June. The eligible public is advised to check their local council’s website for updates.
How much does food cost in the UK?
Food accounts for about a third of average monthly expenses in the UK, including the money spent on eating out. This share is similar to what the average rent in the UK takes from the budget. The total cost of food, naturally, will vary depending on one’s needs and preferences but where it is bought affects little the average living cost in the UK, as shown in the table below.
Food prices in the UK cities, £. According to Numbeo.
| Grocery type | London | Belfast | Cardiff | Edinburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bread | 1.51 | 1.36 | 1.25 | 1.30 |
| Rice, 1kg | 1.90 | 2.02 | 2.25 | 1.53 |
| Chicken fillets, 1kg | 6.65 | 6.89 | 6.50 | 7.46 |
| Potato, 1kg | 1.25 | 1.16 | 1.28 | 1.31 |
| Milk, 1l | 1.30 | 1.33 | 1.37 | 1.25 |
| Banana, 1kg | 1.33 | 1.24 | 1.20 | 1.14 |
| Apples, 1kg | 2.48 | 2.14 | 2.08 | 2.37 |
| Eggs, 12 | 3.57 | 2.69 | 3.25 | 3.14 |
| Local beer, 0.5l bottle | 2.33 | 1.88 | 2.37 | 1.91 |
| Total | 22.31 | 20.71 | 21.55 | 21.38 |
If you prefer eating out, however, location plays a bigger role in your calculating the cost of living in the UK in 2025. For example, a meal for one in an inexpensive restaurant would cost from £20 in London down to £15 in Cardiff and Edinburgh while for a dinner for two you should expect to pay between £80 in London and £62 in Cardiff.
As you can see, when it comes to grocery shopping, the living expenses in the UK do not vary much between cities. However, the situation looks very different when rent in the UK is taken into account.
How much is rent in the UK?
Another larger item for many households, rent takes up around 30% of monthly expenses in the UK. However, contrary to the case of food, location is crucial in understanding how much rent in the UK is.
According to official data, in February 2025 the average rent in the UK rose by more than 8% compared to a year ago. The highest increase was recorded in Wales, 8.5%, to £785, which still offers the cheapest rent in the UK. England had the highest average rent of £1,381, 8.3% higher than a year earlier. For Scotland and Northern Ireland the numbers are £998/5.8% and £832/8.1% respectively. The table below demonstrates the variety of average rents in the UK depending on the city and the type of property.
Average rent in the UK, £/month. According to Numbeo.
| Location / Flat | London | Belfast | Cardiff | Edinburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central | ||||
| 1-bedroom | 2,211 | 910 | 988.46 | 1,193.15 |
| 3-bedroom | 4,182.89 | 1,387.50 | 1,864.29 | 2,248.08 |
| Suburban | ||||
| 1-bedroom | 1,637.04 | 697.27 | 806.25 | 894.23 |
| 3-bedroom | 2,728.57 | 1,018.75 | 1,225 | 1,625 |
Across the UK, the most expensive properties in February 2025 were let in Kensington and Chelsea, London. The cheapest rent in the UK was recorded in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.
Utilities
Monthly expenses in the UK include a standard set of utility bills such as for electricity (and gas for dual-fuel households) and water supply. How much you pay depends on your consumption but also on many other factors such as tariff, location, payment method, and so on. For example, if you pay by direct debit, electricity rates until 30 June 2025 are capped at 27.03p per kWh plus a standing charge of 53.80p per day on average.
There is also an annual council tax which covers municipal expenses on garbage collection, street cleaning, and such; its amount depends on the location and cost of the property. The City of London charges between £849.38 and £2,548.14 per year and for Edinburgh the numbers are £1,042.34 and £3,830.60 – not the amounts to ignore when calculating your living expenses in the UK.
A monthly mobile phone plan with data costs between £10 and £30, and the broadband connection with TV service between £25 and £50. Keep in mind that if you watch broadcast TV, including via platforms like YouTube, Netflix, or BBC iPlayer, you need a TV licence added to your cost of living in the UK. In 2025, the fee is £174.50 per household a year. Interestingly, this is the price for full colour TV, and a black and white TV licence is also available for £58.50. If you do not pay the fee but still watch live programmes, you might face a fine of up to £1,000.
Cost of public transport in the UK
Unlike many other European countries such as Germany or Italy, the UK is notorious for its expensive commuting which accounts for more than 10% of the average living cost in the UK. Research shows that over the last 10 years bus and coach fares grew by nearly 73% and rail fares by over 36%. Last year the Government even introduced a national £2 bus fare cap to help with the rising cost of living in the UK, but in 2025 it has been increased to £3 (the list of covered routes can be found here).
The cost of public transport in the UK’s capital, London, is regulated locally and was revised in early March. The updated fares are presented below.
Bus and tram:
- Single journey or hopping for 1 hour: £1.75
- Daily pass: £5.25
- Weekly pass: £24.70
- Monthly pass: £94.90
- Annual pass: £988
The prices on Tube, DLR, London Overground, and Elizabeth line depend on the distance and time of travel. For example, a single trip costs between £1.80 and £2.90 and a weekly limit is set in the range from £44.70 to £81.60. The price of a monthly Travelcard pass varies between £171.70 and £313.40, and an annual one between £1,788 and £3,264.
As you can see, the cost of living in the UK in 2025 is not the lowest, but the country surely offers many exciting employment and business opportunities. As an expat employee or entrepreneur there, you will be able to ensure your financial independence, work towards your future, and help your loved ones.
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