Wondering how far your salary goes in London? Here’s what everyday life costs, in local prices — the numbers that matter when you’re deciding to move or negotiating a package.
What things cost
1-bed apartment (centre)£2,100–2,400 / mo
Meal, mid-range restaurant£18–30
Pint of beer£5.50–7
Monthly travelcard (zones 1–2)£171.70
Est. single-person monthly~£1,000 (excl. rent)
Electricity and gas, Ofgem price capGBP 1,862 / year for a typical dual-fuel household paying by Direct Debit — electricity 26.11p per kWh and gas 7.33p per kWh, plus standing charges. This is the national cap for 1 July to 30 September 2026, reset quarterly, not a London tariff; Ofgem also publishes a lower figure for the same period on its revised 2026 typical-consumption basis
Good to know
Population
~9 million (Greater London)
Languages
English
Currency
Pound sterling (GBP, £)
Time zone
GMT / BST (UTC+0, +1 in summer)
Power plug
Type G, 230V
Climate
Temperate maritime — mild, grey, wet year-round
Driving side
Left
Work week
Monday–Friday
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.
A note on budgeting
Rent is usually the swing factor — location and whether bills are included move the number most. Build your estimate from the rent band above, add a monthly living figure, and keep a buffer for one-off setup costs (deposits, a residence permit, a local SIM, first-month transport). Globe Quest turns this into a personalized London checklist so nothing setup-related catches you off guard.