Compared to most countries, the UK - especially London, is an expensive place to live.

Living costs will obviously depend on your circumstance and individual tastes but it's important to have an idea of how far your money will stretch, whether you're paying a flying visit or staying for a longer period. An online currency converter will tell you how much your money is worth in the UK.

Accommodation

You can buy or rent a huge range of accommodation in the UK. In general, London and the south-east of England tends to be more expensive than the north of England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

You can find information about some of the rental options that are open to you in the Where to stay section of the VisitBritain website.

If you're thinking about buying property in the UK, the Land Registry provides a comprehensive list of flat and house prices per region.

For more information about buying property in Britain, see the Buying Property section of the British Information website.

Transport costs

Transport costs vary depending on where you are in the UK. However, public transport is fairly reasonably priced.

Public buses - VisitBritain
National Express Brit Xplorer
National Rail - VisitBritain
London transport - VisitBritain
Taxi and Minicab fares - VisitBritain
Car hire in the UK - VisitBritain
Hiring a bicycle - VisitBritain
Eurostar - VisitBritain
Domestic flights - VisitBritain

Entertainment, food and drink

Entertainment, dining out and general costs for food and drink in the UK can vary depending on where you are located and individual tastes. In general, the larger cities, particularly London, tend to be more expensive than smaller towns or villages.

More about the cost of food and drink in the UK
More about the cost of entertainment in the UK

Ways to cut costs - a few helpful tips

Whether you're a tourist, working traveller or student, there are extra steps you can take to reduce expenses. Here are a few:

• stay at shared accommodation - rent a room in a house, flat or hostel
• make good use of public transport, which is both efficient and country-wide
• book in advance for events you wish to attend
• look out for bargains and special promotional offers on goods and services
• if you can, buy groceries and cook your own food instead of eating out every day.
  

Living costs as an overseas student

If you want to study in the UK, the cost of living can also be high, especially with additional expenses to consider, such as course materials. The British Council's studying and living in the UK annual fact sheet provides a realistic account of the average cost of living as an overseas student in Britain.