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Whether you live in London or not, you’ll know that it’s an expensive place to exist in. There’s the ever-increasing tube fares, the eye-watering rent and house prices and the pints that now cost up to eight British pounds. But how does the Big Smoke compare to other cities across the globe?
As part of our big best cities survey for 2025, we asked residents of cities across the globe to rate the affordability of various activities in their hometown. They told us how they rate the cost of eating out, seeing a movie, grabbing a coffee, going to see art, watching live theatre or comedy, booking a live gig, getting a drink in a bar and going on a night out.
Then, we crunched the numbers to find out which cities are the most extortionate of them all. The Big Smoke was voted the 13th most expensive city on the planet.
Of all the cities on the list, London was by far the most expensive place for a night out, with just 16 percent of locals agreeing it was affordable (see how the cost has changed over the last 30 years here). When it comes to eating out, only 35 percent of respondents agreed that restaurant prices are reasonable.
Live music in London got a 37 percent affordability rate and just 39 percent said theatre and comedy was comfortably within their means. However, it was redeemed by the fact that locals voted it named one of the cheapest cities to see art. Eighty-three percent of Londoners said art and culture in their city is cheap or free.
They’re right! You can see the work of greats like Monet, Michelangelo, Rembrandt and Rubens, and gaze upon thousands of ancient and historically important artefacts without spending a single penny. See our guide to all of the city’s free galleries and museums here. And there’s loads more things to do across the city that won’t burn a hole in your wallet. From stellar comedy nights to close encounters with goats, pigs and rabbits, these are all the wonderful things you can do in London for free. Granted, it won’t pay the rent, but at least it will take your mind off it.
The capital city was named the fourth most expensive city in the world in another study by Henley & Partners, but that one was based on the average square metre price of a ‘prime’ 100- to 200-square-metre apartment.
See all of the most expensive and most affordable cities in the world here.
Did you see that a London borough that has been named one of the most peaceful places to live in Britain?
Plus: London tube fares are going up massively in 2026 – here’s when they increase and by how much.
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