PRICE GUIDE · MARKETING, DESIGN & TECH · 2026–2027
AI / Machine Learning Consultant cost in the UK
£500–£2,000 per day. Typically £900.
Independent AI and machine learning consultants in the UK charge about £500–£2,000 a day, with £900 typical at mid-tier consultancies. Strategy or hands-on build, data readiness, the consultant's track record and regulated sectors decide the day rate.
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HOW MUCH IT COSTS
How much does an AI / machine learning consultant cost in the UK?
| Low end | £500 | strategy work from an independent consultant |
|---|---|---|
| Typical | £900 | what most people pay |
| High end | £2,000 | senior specialist build work |
Locufy guide prices for 2026–2027. Updated 2026. A national range, not a quote — enter your town above for real prices from the agencies and freelancers near you.
What moves the price
- Strategy or build — an AI strategy workshop is priced differently from building and deploying a model
- Data readiness — messy or scattered data adds days before any AI work can start
- Track record — consultants with delivered machine learning projects charge more
- Sector — finance, health and legal AI work needs extra governance and testing
- Firm size — independents, mid-tier consultancies and large firms charge very different day rates
- London — AI consultants in London sit at the top of the range
WHAT YOU GET
What an AI / machine learning consultant booking includes
Takes: Audits and strategy work take days to a few weeks; builds can take months. Not included: Cloud computing costs, software licences, data labelling, full production builds and ongoing model monitoring are usually priced separately.
WHAT PEOPLE BOOK
Common AI and machine learning consultant jobs
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AI / Machine Learning Consultant near you, with prices shown
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How to pay less
- Start with a fixed-scope AI readiness audit before committing to a build
- Prepare clean, accessible data so the AI consultant spends fewer days on it
- Test an off-the-shelf AI tool before paying for a custom machine learning model
Before you book
- Check the consultant has delivered similar AI projects and ask for references
- Review how personal data will be used, following the ICO's guidance on AI and UK GDPR
- Agree who owns models, code and outputs created during the project
- If the consultant works through their own company, consider whether IR35 applies
AI / Machine Learning Consultant cost: questions people ask
Independent UK AI consultants charge about £500–£2,000 a day, with £900 typical at mid-tier consultancies. Strategy work from a newer independent sits lower; senior specialists sit higher.
An audit or strategy sprint takes days to a few weeks. Building and deploying a model can take several months.
UK GDPR applies whenever AI uses personal data, and the ICO publishes guidance on fairness, transparency and data protection impact assessments for AI systems.
Off-the-shelf tools are cheaper and faster for common tasks. Custom models make sense when your data or problem is specific to your business.
Cloud computing, licences, data labelling, production builds and ongoing monitoring are commonly separate.
They are Locufy guide prices for the UK, based on published UK AI consulting price guides and contract rate data. They show the national range per day, not a quote.
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