Cornish beach town is 2nd most expensive in country in 2025
St Ives is often ranked among the most beautiful coastal towns in the UK – but a new report suggests it’s also one of the priciest places for a traditional day at the beach.
Research by NoDepositRewards.org compared the costs of a classic seaside experience across 20 popular coastal destinations, and St Ives ranked second most expensive in the country, just behind Brighton.
What £100 gets you in St Ives
The research broke down a typical beach day into four categories:
- All-day parking
- A large fish and chips
- A ’99’ ice cream
- Deckchair hire
In St Ives, the total cost for these came to £25.30 per person, per day. That means a £100 budget would only stretch to just under four days – assuming you spend the same amount daily.
The estimated breakdown is:
- Parking: £10
- Fish and chips: £12.50
- Ice cream: £2.80 (personally I think this is quite cheap!)
- Deckchair hire: For some reason this wasn’t specified in the breakdown for St Ives!
Prices reflect what many locals and visitors have already noticed. One commenter pointed out that £12.50 for fish and chips was “cheap” compared to what they’d paid in places like Mawgan Porth (£23) and Falmouth (£19) – the figure may in fact be conservative!
While this total might not seem huge for a day at the beach, it’s highly likely you’ll end up spending more – any drinks, dinner or activities will set you back. And generally, St Ives is higher than elsewhere too.
How St Ives compares to other UK beach towns
St Ives came second in the rankings, with only Brighton surpassing it at £38.20 per day. On the other end of the scale, Swansea was listed as the most affordable seaside destination, where the same four items totalled £16.71 per day.
Here’s how a £100 budget would stretch in each:
- Brighton: ~2.6 days
- St Ives: ~4 days
- Swansea: ~6 days
The difference comes down largely to parking and food prices, both of which are significantly lower in towns across Wales and the north of England.
The report noted that “with parking now topping local cost charts, the North and Wales clearly win on value.”
Is St Ives worth the cost?
Despite the higher price tag, St Ives continues to attract visitors in large numbers – especially in summer. The town’s cobbled streets, whitewashed cottages, art galleries and scenic beaches like Porthmeor and Porthminster draw families, day-trippers and international tourists alike.
But the popularity comes with challenges. Parking is limited and expensive, restaurant reservations often require advance planning, and during the school holidays, even the quieter corners of town can feel packed.
If you’re set on visiting St Ives, it’s worth budgeting realistically. Expect to pay more than in neighbouring towns – and book ahead for parking or consider park-and-ride options where available.
Take a look at the things you should NEVER do in St Ives here.
Better value elsewhere in Cornwall?
For travellers seeking a more affordable Cornish beach break, it might be worth looking beyond the region’s headline destinations. Towns like Perranporth, Bude, or Penzance still offer sandy beaches and a local feel, but with less pressure on infrastructure and often lower prices.
Final thoughts from the data
Mason Jones, the spokesperson for NoDepositRewards, commented: “Families are budgeting harder than ever for summer 2025. Our Seaside Index shows you can triple the number of beach days simply by choosing a different stretch of coast.”
With the cost of day trips creeping up across the board, especially in the South West, small price differences quickly add up. But for many, the setting of St Ives – with its turquoise waters, golden beaches and artist heritage – remains worth the extra spend.
