Recent research from Compare the Market has revealed the UK’s cheapest cities and towns. The comparison site looked at household bills in eighty of the most populated towns and cities, including council tax and energy bills.
Surprisingly, London is the 8th cheapest in terms of bills, despite being known for its much higher house prices. Westimenter is the cheapest borough in the capital according to the research, but this is strictly in terms of household costs, and doesn’t factor in house prices or rent.
The average bills in this borough equal around £2,036.54 a year according to the research. However, Harrow’s council tax and bills average around £3,763.87 a year, which makes it the most expensive London borough for bills.
In terms of cities and towns though, the research showed that the most affordable place to live in the UK is Derby. With the city’s total average cost for bills coming in at around £2,868.81 per year. Scotland’s capital city Edinburgh came in at a close second, with bills averaging £2,936.97 a year. Another city that made the top ten overall cheapest areas to live in for household bills was Wigan. See the rest of the top ten below:
Wigan is not only considered a great place to live in terms of bills though, as back in 2017 the city scored very highly in a study on happiness. In fact, many consider it to be one of the happiest places to live in Greater Manchester. The city is full of beautiful green scenery, along with a bustling and vibrant town centre. Plus, it’s ideally located for easy travel to either Liverpool or Manchester. It’s no surprise then that many choose to buy their first home in Wigan.
If you’re considering buying your first home in Wigan, we’re here to help. From your mortgage application right through to completion, our experts at TaylorMade can guide you through the whole process, ensuring you’re supported every step of the way. We can use our years of expertise to get you the loan you need, as we’ve helped hundreds of first time buyers over the years, including those in less-than-perfect financial circumstances.
It’s worth remembering that despite the findings above, home insurance costs, council tax and other household bills are only a small factor that will impact your decision on where to live. House prices, schools, transport connections, flood risks etc will of course all affect your decision. So it’s always worth doing as much research as you can before choosing the right area to buy your first home.
Also, if you’re currently a homeowner looking to cut down on bills in your current property, a remortgage can be a very effective way to free up cash that can then be spent on large life milestones such as weddings or holidays.
For more information, get in touch with us today on 0345 305 2540, or info@taylormade-finance.co.uk
