Plymouth vs London

Cost of living, weather and lifestyle comparison.

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Cheaper: Plymouth
Better Weather: London
Lifestyle: London
Overall: Plymouth

Cost of Living (2025 data) Plymouth

Plymouth London
Average Rent £985 £2,286
Average House Price £217,671 £542,304
Average Monthly Energy Bill £102.30 £163.60
Average Monthly Food Cost £68.80 £63.50
Average Salary £3,453 £4,641

Living in Plymouth is dramatically more affordable than London. The difference extends well beyond just rent; energy costs, food bills and general day-to-day expenses are all considerably lower. It is worth noting that average salaries in London are around 29% higher, which partially offsets the difference in living costs. This kind of gap can fundamentally alter your standard of living and saving potential.

Weather (2025 data) London

Plymouth London
Sunshine Hours 1656 1533
Rainfall 881mm 604mm
Average Temperature 14.64°C 15.00°C

London has a slight edge over Plymouth in terms of overall weather. London receives around 123 more hours of sunshine per year and it is also drier, with roughly 277 mm less rainfall annually. The difference is modest, but over the course of a year it contributes to a marginally more pleasant climate.

Want to know more about the weather and weather history? Then visit our sister site https://uk-historic-weather.co.uk

Lifestyle & Location London

London comes out just ahead on lifestyle factors. Its advantages include Major Airport Nearby, Strong Rail Links, Large City. However, the margin is slim and the other city is far from lacking — it simply has a slightly different mix of strengths.

Plymouth
  • City is located on the coast (location)
  • Close to parks, countryside or national parks (environment)
  • Population 272,067
London
  • Within close distance of a major airport (transport)
  • Good rail connectivity to major cities (transport)
  • Above average salaries (economic)
  • Major UK city (size)
  • Population 9,089,736

Nearest Premier League Football Clubs

Plymouth

No nearby club found.

London
  • Chelsea — 3.3 miles away
  • Arsenal — 3.4 miles away
  • Fulham — 4.6 miles away
  • West Ham United — 5.3 miles away
  • Brentford — 7.0 miles away
  • Tottenham Hotspur — 7.2 miles away
  • Crystal Palace — 7.8 miles away

Location

Plymouth
London

Who Should Choose Each?

Choose Plymouth if:
  • More affordable overall (salary-adjusted)
  • Lower rent costs
  • More affordable house prices
  • More sunshine
  • Coastal Location
  • Access to Nature
Choose London if:
  • Higher average salaries
  • Less rainfall
  • Major Airport Nearby
  • Strong Rail Links
  • Large City
  • High Salaries

Overall Score

Plymouth
London

Final Verdict

Plymouth comes out ahead overall.

Taking everything into account, Plymouth has a clear but not overwhelming advantage over London. The biggest factor is affordability, supported by a positive showing in lifestyle. London remains a perfectly viable option, particularly if your personal priorities differ from the weighted criteria used here.