Tech · EU Weekly
Soaring rental prices mean British cities are more expensive to live than some of Europe’s most popular destinations – with Manchester now more costly than Milan. London holds top spot for the most expensive place to live in Europe, but new data shows other UK cities are now catching up with the capital and overtaking many European counterparts. Research by European neobank bunq shows the UK remains competitive, or even cheaper, for some areas like groceries, energy, and broadband than European nations.
Figures from the neobank’s 2026 Working Abroad Index suggest someone living in Bristol would be paying £1,614 monthly, which is £298 more than Barcelona, equating to over £3,500 annually more expensive than the Catalan city. Bristol’s average rent cost is £1,109 monthly, while London’s is £1,695. Only New York City, San Francisco, and Boston were more expensive globally among the 75 cities surveyed.
Among European-only cities, Dublin was second and Amsterdam third. However, Bristol (8th), Brighton (10th), Edinburgh (13th), and Manchester (14th) featured highly due to rising rent costs. The index evaluates monthly costs for single digital nomads, including transport, utilities, mobile phone, internet, and rent for a one-bedroom flat.
Joe Wilson, chief evangelist at bunq, noted that while London remains the most expensive city in Europe, cities like Brighton and Bristol, traditionally cheaper alternatives, now cost more than capitals and banking hubs. The real savings opportunities lie further afield.
Source: The Independent
