Moving from Mumbai (or any other metro city of India) to London is a classic case of Purchasing Power Comparison in action. When I first arrived in London as a student, everyday prices felt staggering: a simple bottle of water went from ~₹15 in Mumbai to £1.39 in London. In this blog, we’ll break down the real-world cost-of-living differences for students and working professionals in both cities. We compare key expenses – rent, food, transportation, lifestyle (utilities, internet, etc.), and entertainment, using verified 2025 data and personal experiences. This deep dive reflects lived experience (mixed with interview insights) and cites official sources, giving you an honest view of living in London from India.
For reference, note that 1 GBP ≈ is 115 INR (mid-2025 average). Throughout, we’ll show costs in both currencies, highlighting how UK incomes and Indian incomes translate into different purchasing power.
Rent & Housing: A Purchasing Power Comparison
Rent is usually the biggest budget item. London rent vs Mumbai is a stark contrast: an Expatistan comparison shows a 1-bed flat (city centre) rents at about £3,500–4,000 (normal vs expensive area) in London, versus roughly ₹50,000–110,000 in Mumbai. In practical terms:
- Student in Mumbai: Often shares a flat or lives in a PG (paying guest). Mumbai student rent might be ₹10,000–25,000 for a single room or sharing a 1BHK (outside prime areas). In contrast, London student accommodation (private halls or shared flat) typically costs £280–£330 per week (~₹32,000–38,000 monthly), with basic student rooms around £1200–1500/month.
- Professional in Mumbai: A lone working professional might rent a 1 BHK or studio. Typical costs are ₹25,000–60,000 depending on the area. Even a nicer flat is rarely above ₹60k. Meanwhile, a London single bedroom for a professional easily runs £1,500–2,000/month (₹173k–230k). For example, Expatistan lists a normal 45m² studio at £2,006 (₹230,000).
- Housing Comparison: Overall rent in London is roughly 5–7 times higher than in Mumbai. Numbeo confirms rent prices in London are about 290% higher than Mumbai’s. Even modest Mumbai rents of ₹30–40k can’t compete with London’s £1.5–2k.
| Expense (Monthly) | Mumbai Student (INR) | London Student (GBP / INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (shared 1BHK/PG) | ~₹20,000 | £1,200 (≈₹138,000) |
| Groceries & Food | ~₹8,000 | £300 (≈₹34,500) |
| Transport (local pass) | ~₹500 | £172 (≈₹19,780) |
| Utilities & Internet | ~₹2,000 | £40 (≈₹4,600) |
| Entertainment & Misc. | ~₹3,000 | £100 (≈₹11,500) |
For a working professional, expenses rise accordingly:
| Expense (Monthly) | Mumbai Professional (INR) | London Professional (GBP / INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (1BHK) | ~₹40,000 | £1,700 (≈₹195,500) |
| Groceries & Food | ~₹12,000 | £400 (≈₹46,000) |
| Transport (monthly) | ~₹500–2,000 | £172 (≈₹19,780) |
| Utilities & Internet | ~₹5,000 | £50 (≈₹5,750) |
| Entertainment & Misc. | ~₹5,000 | £150 (≈₹17,250) |
In summary, London rent is astronomically higher. A Mumbai–London relocation for housing means spending 3–5 times more on rent, even before inflation and currency. For students, sharing or renting far from the center can cut costs, but London’s minimum room rates still tower above typical Mumbai rents
Food & Groceries
Daily food and groceries highlight the gap in purchasing power. Typical food prices from Numbeo/Expatistan reveal:
- Meals: A basic meal in Mumbai’s inexpensive eatery is only about ₹400–450. In London, a comparable meal costs roughly £15–20 (about ₹1,800–2,300), over 4–5 times more. A McDonald’s combo in Mumbai (₹400) runs £7.78 (₹900) in London(+118%). Even a bottle of water jumps from ₹15 to £1.39 (₹160)(+900%).
- Groceries: Staples like bread and eggs are much pricier. A loaf of bread is ~₹40 in Mumbai vs £1.46 (₹168) in London (+323%). A dozen eggs ~₹93 vs £3.35 (₹386)(+318%). Milk (1 gal) ~₹251 vs £4.82 (₹554)(+121%). Overall, Numbeo finds UK groceries ~152% higher than India’s.
- Monthly food spend: A Mumbai student might spend ₹5,000–8,000 on groceries and cheap meals. In London, cooking at home easily runs £200–300 (~₹23,000–34,500) monthly. UK student budget guides suggest £11k–27k INR for food alone. For meals out, a mid-range dinner for two is ~₹1,800 in Mumbai vs ~₹9,200 (£80) in London.
These differences mean student expenses in London vs Mumbai for food can be 3–6×. Even daily snacks: in Mumbai, I’d grab 3 samosas for ₹20, but in London, a similar snack might be £2 (₹230) or more. This lived experience drives home the “purchasing power” gap. Numbeo summarizes that restaurant prices in London are about 280% higher than in Mumbai.
Key Takeaways: Groceries and dining out are dramatically pricier in London. London food costs are roughly 3–5× Mumbai’s.
Transportation
Commuting costs expose one of the biggest disparities. London has world-class transit, but at a high price:
- Public transit passes: In Mumbai, a monthly local train pass (2nd class) can be as low as ₹215 for long routes, or around ₹500–1000, even covering many zones. By contrast, a London Zone 1–2 monthly Travelcard is £171.70 (~₹19,800). In effect, a London pass costs almost 40–100× times a Mumbai equivalent (and we’re comparing the cheapest Mumbai second-class vs London full unlimited).
- Single rides: A Mumbai suburban train or city bus ticket is typically ₹5–15. London’s Tube starts at £2.60 (≈₹300) for a short trip. Meters and taxis are similarly skewed: a short Uber ride ₹100–150 in Mumbai might cost £10–15 (₹1,150–1,700) in London.
- Taxi/Car: Mumbai taxi rates or app rides are fractions of UK rates. Combined with traffic congestion, the overall power to commute cheaply is far higher in Mumbai.
Numbeo data confirms transportation in London is ~19× costlier. In practice, I found that my INR 200 monthly travel budget in Mumbai could get me unlimited bus/train rides, whereas ₹20,000 barely covers one Tube season in London. Such differences make daily commuting much tighter on the wallet in London.
Lifestyle & Utilities
Every day living costs (utilities, internet, clothing, etc.) also tilt in favor of Mumbai:
- Utilities: A small Mumbai apartment’s monthly utilities (electricity, heating, gas, water) might be around ₹4,700–5,100. In London, a similar apartment’s utilities run around £136/month (~₹15,600) – over 3× more.
- Internet/Phone: A basic broadband plan (8 Mbps) in Mumbai costs about ₹737/month. In London, it’s about £27 (~₹3,100) – again 4× higher.
- Clothing and goods: Imported or branded items are much pricier. MyLifeElsewhere notes clothing in London is 2.5× more expensive. Even fast fashion costs more: a T-shirt ~₹500 in Mumbai might be ~£15 (₹1,700) in London.
- Overall lifestyle: A Mumbai professional’s monthly “misc” budget (leisure, gym, small shopping) might be ₹5k–8k, but in London, similar activities easily use £150–£200 (~₹17k–23k). Entertainment and sports are ~3.1× more expensive in London.
An Indian professional in London often remarks how far 50k INR goes in Mumbai versus the struggle with £1,000 in London. Utility bills and household expenses can quickly erode the nominal salary advantage. In short, living costs like bills, data, and clothing are several times higher in London, a clear purchasing power gap.
Entertainment & Leisure: A Purchasing Power Comparison
Leisure activities highlight lifestyle differences:
- Eating out: As mentioned, restaurant dining is ~5× Mumbai prices. A basic coffee (₹50 in Mumbai) costs ~£3.80 (₹440) in London. Going to pubs or clubs is similarly pricier (beer: ₹200 vs ~₹690).
- Movies and sports: A multiplex ticket in Mumbai (₹150) contrasts with £12–15 (₹1,400) in London. Joining a gym or fitness class can be 4–6× more expensive in London.
- Social life: Even a casual evening out – say, ₹1000 in Mumbai – might easily be £20–30 in London. According to MyLifeElsewhere, overall entertainment costs in London run about 3× those in Mumbai.
In effect, daily comforts and fun cost much more in London. When I moved, I noticed that what I used to consider “little treats” in Mumbai (e.g., evening snacks or a movie) felt like luxury purchases in London.
Income & Purchasing Power: UK Salary vs Indian Salary
All of the above costs must be weighed against income. The average salary differences partly explain relocation interest:
- In India, the average annual wage is only about ₹358,000 (₹29,800/month). Even for Mumbai professionals, it might be ₹6–10 lakhs/year (₹50–80k/month) in IT/finance.
- In the UK, the average full-time salary is around £37,430/year (≈₹4,300,000, about ₹358k/month). Fresh UK graduates might start at £20k–30k (₹20–30 lakhs/year).
Nominally, UK salaries are 8–10× higher in INR terms. However, because London’s cost of living is ~3–4× higher (excluding rent), actual purchasing power gains are far smaller. Numbeo finds you’d need about ₹765,000 in London to match a ₹220,000 lifestyle in Mumbai. This means an average London income only slightly edges an average Mumbai income when inflated prices are considered.
A personal illustration: I had a salary of ₹70k in Mumbai, which covered a comfortable life there. Moving to London on a salary of £3,000 (~₹345k) looked huge numerically, but after rent and bills, I often felt poorer. That is the essence of a Purchasing Power Comparison; it’s not just income, but how much you can actually buy.
Personal Reflection: Shifting Purchasing Power
Living through this shift underscores the concept of purchasing power. Mumbai to London relocation isn’t just a currency conversion; it’s a lifestyle recalibration. A ₹500 cup of filter coffee in Mumbai is a normal treat, but £3.00 (₹345) coffee in London feels like a splurge. Ordering dinner out for ₹800 (two dishes) in Mumbai vs £20 (₹2,300) in London made me painfully aware of the price gap.
On the positive side, UK salaries do go further in many modern conveniences (for example, imported cars, electronics), but day-to-day living requires much tighter budgeting. Every rupee (or pound) must be weighed. After years in London, I often reflect: Mumbai’s cheaper rents and food meant I saved far more of my salary there. In London, even a higher paycheck may not buy as many real-life comforts. This concrete experience of purchasing power disparity – how far money actually goes – only becomes evident after moving.
Conclusion
In summary, London is dramatically more expensive than Mumbai for both students and working professionals. This Purchasing Power Comparison makes clear that, despite higher UK salaries, the cost-of-living gap is so large that everyday expenses (rent, food, transport, utilities, entertainment) run several times higher in London.
For anyone considering a move, students comparing Mumbai vs London, or Indian professionals eyeing UK offers, it’s crucial to factor in these realities. Our tables and data above show typical monthly budgets, adjusted for currency and inflation, underscoring that living in London from India means spending far more of your income. In short, is London more expensive than Mumbai? Yes, by a wide margin. Understanding these differences is key to realistic budgeting and appreciating the concept of purchasing power when making that big move. But it is worth living in London, especially in summer. If I were not talking about Purchasing Power Comparison, then I would say London is more fun and gives you world-class experiences in everything. So now it is your take, whether you want to move to London or the UK with a strong side hustle, or just want to survive on your salary. To know more, keep an eye on our other blogs too.
References & Sources (2025 Updated)
All data in this blog is based on a mix of personal experience, interviews, and current 2025 stats from trusted platforms:
- Mumbai Cost of Living: MyGate, Digit Insurance, Numbeo, LivingCost.org, and Economic Times gave insights into rent, food, and salary trends in Mumbai.
- London Living Costs: Numbeo, Expatistan, The Luxury Playbook, uhomes, and Profee provided up-to-date data on housing, groceries, and transport in London.
- Currency & Inflation: Data from The Guardian and Numbeo helped highlight 2025 exchange rates and purchasing power parity between INR and GBP.
These sources helped bring clarity to the real cost of living in both cities. Always double-check rates before you move; prices change fast, especially in global cities like London!
