🇺🇸 San Francisco vs 🇬🇧 London
Cost of Living Comparison (2026)
London is 18% cheaper than San Francisco
Quick answer
Comparing San Francisco, United States and London, United Kingdom: a moderate single-person monthly budget is approximately $5,475 in San Francisco versus $4,506 in London. London is roughly 18% cheaper overall. Central 1-bed rent: $3,200/mo (San Francisco) vs $2,783/mo (London). The totals use the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
Key facts
- Moderate budget: $5,475/mo in San Francisco single person — city-centre rent + modeled non-housing categories.
- Moderate budget: $4,506/mo in London single person — like-for-like city-centre basket.
- Central 1-bed rent $3,200/mo in San Francisco · $2,783/mo in London.
- Cheaper overall: London ~18% cheaper than San Francisco.
- Source World Bank ICP + national statistics · CC BY 4.0.
Monthly Budget Comparison
| Lifestyle | 🇺🇸 San Francisco | 🇬🇧 London | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $3,850/mo | $3,150/mo | -18% |
| Moderate | $5,475/mo | $4,506/mo | -18% |
| Comfortable | $8,200/mo | $6,750/mo | -18% |
The Moderate row equals the category table below: single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending. Budget and Comfortable scale that same basket.
Cost Breakdown by Category
| Category | 🇺🇸 San Francisco | 🇬🇧 London | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1-bed, center) | $3,200/mo | $2,783/mo | -13% |
| Groceries & Food | $700/mo | $530/mo | -24% |
| Dining Out | $350/mo | $265/mo | -24% |
| Transport | $350/mo | $265/mo | -24% |
| Utilities & Internet | $350/mo | $265/mo | -24% |
| Healthcare | $280/mo | $212/mo | -24% |
| Leisure & Personal | $245/mo | $186/mo | -24% |
Category sum = Moderate budget. Basis: single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
Quick Facts
🇺🇸 San Francisco
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $5,475
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $3,200/mo
- Cappuccino
- $5.50
- Inexpensive meal
- $20.00
- Monthly transit pass
- $80
- Internet speed
- 200 Mbps
- Safety index
- 62/100(moderately safe)
- Healthcare index
- 83/100
- Country
- United States
🇬🇧 London
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $4,506
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $2,783/mo
- Cappuccino
- $4.20
- Inexpensive meal
- $15.00
- Monthly transit pass
- $227
- Internet speed
- 120 Mbps
- Safety index
- 68/100(moderately safe)
- Healthcare index
- 91/100
- Country
- United Kingdom
Explore more: San Francisco city guide | London city guide | United States | United Kingdom