The cost of living in the UK varies depending on where you live. Generally, London is the most expensive place in the UK. As of March 2012, London was ranked 25th most expensive city in the world in which to live for expatriates. House prices and accommodation costs are more expensive in the South of England than the North of England. As costs vary so much, it may be useful to compare various sources such as WORKgateways and NRIOL 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 Numbeo.
The median salary for a full-time UK worker was £26,244 in 2011.
The figures below are taken from a 2011 report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. The report provides the ‘Minimum Income Standard’ (MIS) for the UK. The MIS is based on what members of the public think people need to achieve a socially acceptable standard of living in the UK. It takes into consideration both changes in prices and changes in norms about what people consider to be a socially acceptable standard of living. For the full report see the Joseph Rowntree Foundation website.
The 2011 figures reflect price increases and the effect of changing tax and benefit rates.
| Family type | Single working-age person | Couple + 2 children | Lone parent + 1 child |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly budget excluding rent/childcare | £184.68 | £424.65 | £246.37 |
| Percentage inflation rise since 2010 | 5.3% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Weekly budget including rent and childcare | £240.89 | £705.63 | £466.08 |
| Annual earnings required | £15,000 | £36,800** | £18,243 |
Many homes in the UK are heated by gas boilers (gas central heating) or by electric radiators. Due to the often unfavourable weather in Great Britain, heating or gas charges can be the largest utility bill after rent and council tax. The cost of gas and electricity in the UK varies from company to company. Gas and electricity companies are very competitive and you may be able to save a considerable amount of money by changing supplier. There are a number of websites which allow you to compare prices.