How expensive is London?

4/ About clubs/restaurants, yes there is a varying price range. I am sure there are restaurants up north that cost as much, or even more than some down south. But its the quality etc. also varies. If you compare something of the same quality up north to something in London. Prices are much higher generally in London.

5/ H&M is an exception again.

We should keep in mind though, salaries/wages are higher in London too than up north - so it kinda works out. I can understand a northerner finding it expensive if he/she went to London for a weekend or short break. But if you live in London, it works out all the same in the end.

Everyone moans about how expensive it is - how? Obvs I've always lived here, so I don't get how we're more expensive?

Everything is in chains, right? Well shampoo costs the same in Boots all over the country - from London to some non-town like Northampton; right?

Um, everything in chains costs the same yar? So how is London more expensive? Petrol costs the same wherever you drive, admittedly congestion charge is bitchin but that's only Central.

Rent is more expensive, yus, but Westminster has the second lowest council tax in the country, and Westminster covers most of Central London (even the queen lives in Westminster).

So, I figure clubbing and restaurants is more expensive - how so? You can get grimy clubs here like Cheap$kates or Egg or something which aren't really 'pricey'. Pubs - I dunno, how much are normal drinks up North? Restaurants - most aren't really that expensive; there's loads of price ranges.

Clothes - well we have H&M and all that. There's market stalls and loads of places which aren't expensive tbh. We have as many Primarks as you do.

Public transport - okay, the Tube is kinda expensive but hey aren't we the only city with one? And you're free to catch a bus and with Oysters they're not bad. For a student it's pretty standard £1 a journey - not gonna break the bank tbh. Plus I went to my grandparents near a potato farm in the Midlands and it was much more expensive then £1 a way. I was shocked.

So wtf really is *so* much more expensive in London?

You ever buy a drink in Egg? $$$

Its things like travel, council tax and general cost of living that make london quite an expensive place to live. Do you pay rent in London?

LOL, no, I've never drunk at Egg..

And tbh, no, I still live with my family, so I know I don't have the best perspective on rent and living in London.

Its costly stuff.

Cinema prices in Leicester Square are extortionate, £13 each last time I checked. In the suburbs/outskirts of London its more reasonable. And elsewhere its probably cheaper.

I live a cheap lifestyle. I never buy anything when I am out, no food and no drinks - because it's just too ridiculously expensive. I just eat from the weekly supermarket shop in the suburbs. I wouldn't even get a snack in Tescos in central London.
I get into clubs free, being a girl and getting there fairly early usually ensures free entry. Then once inside I don't drink, the prices are far too high. I just have tap water...
I also go to the cinema for free, thanks to a friend who somehow always hooks me up with free tickets. If I had to pay, I would almost never go. It's ridiculous, it costs £8-10 now - I seem to remember it was around £5 for adults just 10 years ago.

So, I don't spend much.. but I have really wanted to get food while I was out before, it's just not worth it. When I visit random other places outside London, it always seems much cheaper somehow. Taxis are a good example, anywhere in London is much more expensive than elsewhere.
With moderate traffic, on a Saturday:
4 mile journey, in Burley-in-Wharfedale/Otley, Ilkley = £6
4.8 mile journey, in Sudbury, Suffolk = £8
With no traffic, on a Saturday:
0.6 mile journey, in Croydon, London (zone 5!) = £7
The journey was literally 30 seconds long.

I don't normally get Taxis, obviously, being as cheap as I am. Those are the only 3 ocassions that I have. Never again in London, that's for sure.

It just reminds me of a cheap, grimy, rubbish Fabric tbh, with really shady people.

aw you live in nice areas! i love camden!

Yeah. Egg is crud. Especially in the winter, that ****** marquee makes it feel like a maze. It doesn't help being in the middle of nowhere either.

I met the scariest ever group of guys outside Egg at like 7AM on a Sat morning when I was coming down and wanted to die. Honestly the crowd there is so iffy. It's right near to where my best friend used to live though (it's only a 10 minute walk to King's X station).

I've never been in winter, sounds grim.