Cost of Moving to London: Relocation Budget Calculator

Cost of moving to London

How much money to have ready before you move to London: the deposit, first month's rent, living costs until your first pay and a safety buffer, plus your own costs for the journey.

Cost	Amount
Rent deposit2 × monthly rent of £2,251	£4,502
First month's rentUsually paid when you sign	£2,251
Letting agent feeNone	£0
Living costs until your first pay1 month of food, transport and bills	£858
Emergency buffer3 months of all living costs	£9,328
Total	£16,939

Cost

Amount

Rent deposit2 × monthly rent of £2,251

£4,502

First month's rentUsually paid when you sign

£2,251

Letting agent feeNone

£0

Living costs until your first pay1 month of food, transport and bills

£858

Emergency buffer3 months of all living costs

£9,328

Total

£16,939

Where the numbers come from

Rent and living costs for London come from the same prices as its city page.

Starting estimate, no reports yet.

Rent is a 1-bedroom flat in the centre. Living costs cover food, eating out, transport, bills, going out and clothes. Full method

Questions

How much money do I need to move to London?

For one person renting in the city centre, our default plan comes to about £17,000 before travel and moving costs: a two-month deposit, the first month's rent, one month of living costs until your first pay, and a three-month emergency buffer. Change any of these to match your situation.

How big is a rent deposit?

It depends on the country and the landlord. One to three months' rent is common; some places also charge an agent fee or a non-refundable fee to the landlord. Ask for the exact amount before you sign and put it in the calculator.

Why include an emergency buffer?

Moving often costs more than planned: a later start date, a delayed first salary, or a deposit refund that takes months to arrive. A few months of living costs set aside gives you time to sort these out.