How much does a trip to London cost?
A day in London, United Kingdom, costs roughly $154 per person on a budget, $334 mid-range, or $598 in comfort. These are estimates for a room, food and small daily costs, not counting flights.
Budget
$154 per day
Hostel or simple room, cheap eats, public transport
Mid-range
$334 per day
Private room or 3-star hotel, mix of cafes and restaurants
Comfort
$598 per day
Business-class hotel, restaurant meals
Estimates only, per person per day, in US dollars. Not financial advice. How we got them.
What does a day in London cost by travel style?
The table splits each style into a room and everything else. "Food and daily costs" is meals plus small costs like local transport and tips.
| Style | Room / night | Food and daily costs | Per day | 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $85 | $70 | $154 | $1,081 |
| Mid-range | $212 | $122 | $334 | $2,337 |
| Comfort | $424 | $174 | $598 | $4,186 |
If two people share a room, the room cost per person drops, often by almost half. Food does not.
What drives costs in London?
London is expensive to sleep in, but many of its biggest museums are free. Paying for the Tube and buses with a contactless card caps what you pay per day. Supermarket meal deals are a common way to keep lunch cheap.
How were these numbers worked out?
The comfort figure is the official US government per diem for London: up to $424 a night for lodging and $174 a day for meals and incidentals (effective June 1, 2025). It is what the government allows its staff on business trips, so it reflects a good hotel and restaurant meals.
Most travellers spend less, so we derive two more styles with a fixed rule: budget is 20% of the lodging rate plus 40% of the meals rate, and mid-range is 50% of lodging plus 70% of meals. This rule is the same for every city. In cheap countries it can overstate what backpackers really spend, so treat the budget figure as an upper limit there.
How do I plan my own London budget?
- Pick your style and multiply the daily figure by the number of nights.
- Add flights, tours, travel insurance and anything you plan to buy.
- Add a buffer of 10 to 15 percent for surprises.
- Track what you really spend each day, so you can correct early.
The trip budget calculator does these steps for you, starting from the London numbers. For a full method, read the travel budget guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a day in London cost?
As a rough estimate, about $154 per person on a budget, $334 mid-range and $598 in comfort. That covers a room and food and small daily costs, not flights or tours.
How much should I budget for a week in London?
For 7 nights, plan around $1,081 on a budget, $2,337 mid-range or $4,186 in comfort, per person, before flights. Add 10 to 15 percent for surprises.
Where do these numbers come from?
The comfort figure is the US State Department per diem for London: $424 for lodging and $174 for meals and incidentals per day. The budget and mid-range figures are fixed shares of it, so they are a rule of thumb, not measured prices.