What is the average monthly cost of living in Cambridge?
Anchored to a £35k salary, essential monthly costs in Cambridge run about £2,458 — split across rent (£1,450), bills (£393), food (£290) and transport (£85).
Cost of living in Cambridge
Cambridge is one of the UK's harder cities to balance on a typical full-time wage — even the local median (£35k) leaves little room. The breakdown below is anchored to £35k — the local median full-time wage — so the outcome (tight: -£65 disposable per month) reflects what most people in Cambridge actually experience.
Take-home on £35k
£2,393
per month
Essentials cost
£2,458
per month
Disposable left
-£65
Reality Score 37/100
Reality verdictTight
£35k runs tight in Cambridge. Costs sit close to take-home, leaving little headroom for savings or surprises.
Based on current UK tax rules and city cost benchmarks. Updated regularly.
What life in Cambridge actually costs
Newnham, Trumpington and central Cambridge top the rents; Cherry Hinton, Arbury and Cottenham (commuter) offer better value.
Rent and the cost of running a car (most jobs are spread across the science parks) are the two main pressure points. On a £35k salary, take-home is about £2,393 per month, with essentials of around £2,458. That leaves -£65 for savings, debt, and discretionary spending. Want a deeper look? See Cambridge on £35k or Cambridge vs London.
Run your own numbers for Cambridge
Plug in your salary and lifestyle to see what's actually left each month.
Monthly cost breakdown for Cambridge
Based on a single renter earning £35k.
- Rent / housing
- £1,450
- Bills (utilities, council tax, internet)
- £393
- Food & groceries
- £290
- Transport
- £85
- Lifestyle & misc
- £240
- Total essentials
- £2,458
37/ 100
Struggling
Reality Score weighs take-home pay against essentials and any savings commitment to gauge how sustainable the setup is.
What this means
Struggling. You may find it difficult to cover costs without reducing expenses or increasing income.
What this actually means
- Housing eats 61% of your take-home in Cambridge — well above the 30% healthy benchmark. A cheaper area or a flatmate would unlock real breathing room.
- You're running a £65/month shortfall on essentials alone. Without changes, debt is likely — prioritise cutting fixed costs or increasing income.
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Take-home / mo
£2,393
Total costs / mo
£2,458
Disposable / mo
-£65
Reality Score for this scenario: 37/100 — Struggling
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Frequently asked questions
How much rent should I budget for Cambridge?
For a single renter in Cambridge, expect rent of around £1,450 per month based on current city averages. Inner-city zones run higher; commuter areas can be 20–30% cheaper.
What salary do I need to live comfortably in Cambridge?
On the modelled defaults, a take-home of about £2,393/month leaves -£65 disposable in Cambridge — a Reality Score of 37/100 (struggling). To run your own numbers, estimate your monthly affordability for any UK city. For a deeper look, see Cambridge on £35k.
How does Cambridge compare to other UK cities?
Rent is the largest single variable. Compare Cambridge vs London side-by-side, or browse all UK cost-of-living guides to see where your salary stretches furthest.
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Last updated: April 2026See how we calculate this
These figures are estimates and may vary based on individual circumstances.
- Based on UK cost benchmarks
- Updated regularly
- Indicative estimates, not financial advice