What does it actually cost
to live there?
Enter any UK postcode. Get the real monthly cost breakdown: rent, council tax, energy, water, groceries, transport. Official data, not guesswork.
100% free. No sign-up. Powered by ONS, MHCLG, Ofgem, and 8+ government sources.
£1,290
Cheapest region
Northern Ireland
£2,403
Most expensive region
London
£1,113
Monthly difference
Between cheapest and most expensive
Every cost, one page
No more opening 8 different websites. We pull real data from official sources and show you the full picture.
Rent by area
Median rents from ONS data. See what a 1-bed flat or 3-bed house actually costs in that postcode, not a city-wide average.
Council tax
Exact council tax charges by band for your local authority. Band A to Band H. The difference can be over £150/month.
Energy bills
Regional gas and electricity costs from Ofgem price cap data, adjusted by property size. Know your likely bill before you move.
Water bills
Annual water and sewerage charges by water company. Some regions pay over £100/year more than others.
Groceries
Weekly food costs by region from ONS Family Spending data. London pays up to 30% more than the cheapest areas.
Transport & commute
Typical monthly transport costs including season tickets, fuel, and car running costs. The cost nobody budgets for.
Broadband
Average broadband costs from Ofcom data. Check what speeds and prices are available before you sign up.
What's left
Enter your salary and see exactly how much you'll have left each month after all bills. Green means comfortable, red means tight.
Monthly cost of living by region
Average total monthly costs for a couple in a 2-bed property. Includes rent, council tax, energy, water, broadband, groceries, transport, and insurance.
| Region | Rent | Bills | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Ireland | £575 | £715 | £1,290 |
| North East | £550 | £765 | £1,315 |
| Wales | £600 | £780 | £1,380 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | £625 | £785 | £1,410 |
| Scotland | £700 | £745 | £1,445 |
| North West | £650 | £803 | £1,453 |
| East Midlands | £700 | £820 | £1,520 |
| West Midlands | £725 | £800 | £1,525 |
| South West | £850 | £877 | £1,727 |
| East of England | £925 | £898 | £1,823 |
| South East | £1,050 | £935 | £1,985 |
| London | £1,600 | £803 | £2,403 |
Sources: ONS, MHCLG, Ofgem, CCW, DfT. Figures for 2025-26. 2-bed property, couple household.
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View Reports from £2.99Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate the cost of living for each area?▼
We use official government data sources including ONS rental statistics, MHCLG council tax data, Ofgem energy price caps, CCW water charges, ONS Family Spending surveys, and DfT transport data. Every figure is region-specific, not a national average.
How accurate are the rent estimates?▼
Rent figures are median values from the ONS Private Rental Market Statistics, broken down by region and adjusted by property size. They reflect actual rents paid, not asking prices. Individual properties will vary, but these give you a reliable baseline.
Can I compare the cost of living between two areas?▼
Yes. Check two different postcodes and compare the monthly totals side by side. We also show how each area compares to the national average as a percentage, so you can quickly see if an area is cheaper or more expensive than typical.
Does this include mortgage payments instead of rent?▼
Currently the tool shows rental costs. For homeowners, you can toggle off rent to see bills-only costs. Mortgage payments depend on your deposit, interest rate, and term, which vary too much to estimate generically.
What salary do I need to live comfortably in the UK?▼
It depends entirely on where you live. A single person in the North East can live comfortably on around £25,000, while London typically requires £40,000 or more. Enter your postcode and salary on our tool to see your personalised breakdown.
Is PostcodeCheck free to use?▼
Yes. The full cost of living breakdown is completely free. No sign-up required. We also offer premium area reports from £2.99 if you want a downloadable PDF.
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