Accommodation and Living Costs

Some overseas travelers will book some form of temporary accommodation for a short time after arrival until they can find a suitable accommodation alternative.  Below is an outline of accommodation and living costs that you can expect to pay while living in the UK.

Accommodation Costs (London) - Weekly

 

Area	Living alone (One bed flat)	Shared Accomm Single person	Shared Accomm Double person
East London	165-190 GBP	75-100 GBP	110-150 GBP
West London	175-200 GBP	70-110 GBP	115-175 GBP
South London	150-175 GBP	70-125 GBP	90-165 GBP
North London	165-190 GBP	80-100 GBP	110-140 GBP

 

Rental properties do vary in cost and standard so it is advisable to view these beforehand.  See Accommodation websites.

Cost of Living

The cost of living in the UK, especially in London, can be expensive compared to other countries around the world, however at the moment the Australian dollar is very strong against a weaker pound.  In the main some of these costs are relative given that you will be earning and spending British currency.  If you work in and around London you will earn extra money (compared to teachers working outside of London) which does help to bridge the gap between the cost of living in the capital city compared to the rest of the country.

It is difficult in some respects to advise on cost of living as this does depend on your individual situation and tastes!  It is important to ensure that upon arrival to the UK you have sufficient funds for the following:

• Accommodation and related costs
• Food & Beverages
• Transport
• Entertainment

While it is important to be aware of costs and plan accordingly don’t let these considerations put you off!  There are many ways to cut the cost of living in the UK and the choice and range of facilities and services available to you in the UK are vast, thus helping to keep costs down.

Whilst your expenses will be determined in part by where you live, how many people you live with and how far you travel to work,  a rough estimate for a weekly budget is likely to be between 150-250 GBP or the equivalent of one-two days work.

Taxes/Utilities

In the UK some accommodation includes the cost of the water supply, although not always.  In addition to rent, you will be expected to pay for electricity, gas and telephone.

In the UK you are also liable to pay Council Tax which is charged to each household. The more people living in the property the less money paid by each person.  For house share situations the cost will be very low.  If you are living in a property alone you will be liable for the full tax but this will be discounted by 25% for single persons.  The cost of this tax does depend largely on the area you live and the size of the property.

In the UK if you own a TV you will be expected to have a licence for this.  Licenses are held per household not for each set owned.  If you purchase a TV you will be given the appropriate licence forms at the time of purchase but you must ensure there is a valid licence for the address you reside.

Food & Drink

An average weekly grocery bill including food, basic laundry & toiletries for 2 people is likely to cost between 60-100GBP. 

The following list gives an approximate guide to the cost of food although it is important to remember that supermarkets do differ in price and also cater for many tastes/budgets, it is quite possible to buy budget items for less than standard items and to also buy luxury versions of items for a little more money.

A general guide is that ASDA supermarkets are generally affordable to all with many low prices and multi-buy deals.  Both Sainsbury’s and Tesco supermarkets offer an extensive range of foods and are both of good value.  Stores like Waitrose and Marks & Spencer are more expensive and tend to specialize in luxury food items.

Basic Food Items

 

Items	Price
Loaf of Bread	75p
Cheese (200g)	1.80GBP
6 Eggs	1.20GBP
1kg Potatoes	85p
1kg Rice	1.20GBP
500g Pasta	90p
Pint of Milk	30p
1 jar Instant Coffee	2.00GBP
1 packet of Teabags	1.50GBP
1l of Orange Juice	1.50GBP
1kg Apples	1.40GBP
1kg Bananas	75p
500g Minced Beef	1.50GBP
Packet of Sausages	1.00GBP

 

Eating Out

 

Items	Price
Average Pub Meal	6-10GBP
Average Restaurant Meal	12-20GBP
Average Meal for 2 middle of the range restaurant	40GBP
Average Bottle of Wine	6-10GBP
Average Pint of beer	2.50-3.00GBP

 

Other Basic Items

 

Items	Price
Shampoo	2.00GBP
Soap	80p
Launderette	3.50GBP
Newspaper	65p
Magazine	2.50+GBP
Postage Stamp for letter abroad	40-70p
Phone Call from Public Phone	20p min
Mobile Phone Call	0.05p min
Mobile Phone Text Message	0.08p
Internet Access	1.00+GBP p/hr
T-Shirt	10.00+GBP
Sweater/Jumper	25.00+GBP
Jeans	30.00+GBP
Socks	3.50+ GBP
Hosiery	4.00+GBP
Shoes	40.00+GBP

 

Transportation

London Underground (Tube) Travel

 

	Daily Peak/Off Peak	Weekly	Monthly
Travel Card Zone 1-2	6.60/5.10GBP	-	86GBP
Travel Card Zone 1-4	9.00/5.70GBP	-	-
Travel Card Zone 1-6	13.20/6.70GBP	43GBP	-

 

London Buses

 

One Day Travel Card	3.50GBP
One Week Travel Card	14.00GBP
One Month Travel Card	53.80GBP
Taxis	1 mile = approx 5.00GBP
Car Hire	From 35GBP per day

 

 

Train

 

Train trip to Cambridge/Brighton	17-20GBP Single fare
Train trip to Edinburgh	110GBP Standard Single

 

Flights/Eurostar

 

Flight to Ireland	50-60GBP Budget Return
Eurostar ticket to Paris	125GBP Standard Return

 

Entertainment

 

Cinema/Movie Ticket	7-10GBP
West End Theatre	25+GBP
Museums/Historical Landmarks	4+GBP
Club/Pub Entry	5-20GBP
Live Concerts	10+GBP
New Release DVD Rental	3.50GBP
DVD to buy	8-20GBP
Chart CD to buy	8-12GBP