Cost of living in the UK
The cost of living in the UK varies depending on which area you live in. Generally, London is the most expensive place in the UK. House prices and accommodation costs are also more expensive in the South of England than the North of England. In large cities such as Leeds and Birmingham costs are relatively the same.
As costs vary so much, it may be useful to compare various sources such as workgateways and RSG Australia to get an overall summary of approximately how much it costs to live in the UK. There are also a number of cost of living calculators available such as EasyExpat and Homefair.
If you'd like to compare costs using a currency other than sterling (GBP) then use this online currency converter.
Budgeting
Basic costs
The figures below are based on what the government believes is the very minimum you can live on in the UK for one year. This includes money you require for food, toiletries, clothing and other items, and utilities. You can reduce the cost of grocery shopping by buying fresh food, planning your meals and shopping at local markets.
| Annually | Monthly | Weekly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single person age 18 - 24 | £2436.20 | £203.01 | £46.85 |
| Single person over 25 | £3075.80 | £256.31 | £59.15 |
| Couple over 18 | £4825.60 | £402.13 | £92.80 |
| Lone parent over 18 | £3075.80 | £256.31 | £59.15 |
Extra for each dependent child (add this amount for each child in the family) | £2467.40 | £205.61 | £47.45 |
NOTE
Please remember that these figures are the bare minimum costs and do not include rent, socialising and travel costs.
IN REALITY YOU MAY NEED MORE MONEY
Utilities
These include gas, electricity, water, council tax and the telephone if there is a landline. Check your contract to see if any of these are included in the rent.
The cost of gas and electricity in the UK varies from company to company and is very competitive. You may be able to save a considerable amount of money by changing your gas and electricity supplier. There are a number of websites which allow you to compare prices. These include USwitch, Switch2Save, The Energy Shop and UKPower.
Figures based on an average family home in the UK.
| Utility Bill | Annual Amount | Monthly Amount | Weekly Amount |
| Gas | £440 | £36.70 | £9.20 |
| Electricity | £540 | £45 | £11.25 |
| Water | £400 | £33.40 | £8.40 |
| Council Tax | £1100 | £91.70 | £22.95 |
Please note that these are only approximations and the costs will vary depending on which area of the country you live in, the size of your house and the different appliances you use and to what degree.
Television (TV) licence – You must have a television licence in the UK if you own a television. The current cost of the licence is £135.50 per year (as at April 2007) for a colour television and £45.50 per year for a black and white television. One licence is needed per house and must be renewed anually. If you move house you can take your licence with you to your new address. If you leave the country you can claim back a portion of the fee depending on the length of time remaining on the licence.
Travel costs
It is often cheaper to buy a bus pass, travel card or railcard when travelling in the UK. Please look at the public transport section for more information.
Non-essential costs
Other expenses to consider might be mobile phone costs, buying papers and magazines, and going out. Cigarettes are very expensive in the UK at around £5.50 for a pack of 20. Eating out can also be expensive where a meal for two can cost anything from £10 to over £100.
(Material courtesy of the University of Leeds International Office)