Cost of Living in UK 2025

Rental prices in the UK have risen dramatically over the last year.

Most towns are experiencing prices in the 'bloody stupid' range, big cities in the 'are you serious?' group, and London in the 'WHAT THE HELL' band of total idiocy.

More precise numbers are listed in the link below, but the general climate can be summed up by asking who the merry hell would pay prices that high to live in a drug dealer infested dump with a crackpot cost of living.

https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflatio … k/june2024

I've been recommended to look at Leeds, Liverpool and Newcastle. - @MOjinnaka

I would recommend all of these to people I hate.

To give you an idea, about 13% of Liverpool's population are victims of crime, and there were about 27,000 sex offences in 2023.

Leeds is much better as a little less than 13% of the population are crime victims.

Newcastle is an absolute paradise as only 12 % of its population are victims of crimes.

If I might be so bold as to suggest you never speak to the people who recommended these places ever again. If it was family, make sure they know they aren't named in your will.

https://crimerate.co.uk/tyne-and-wear/n … -upon-tyne

I've researched online, but understand things have changed dramatically over the past year. Any expats recently moved to the UK, what's the rental costs looking like across the UK.
We are open to any city, I've been recommended to look at Leeds, Liverpool and Newcastle. We are looking for budget friendly short or long term accommodation. Any insight or perspective would be greatly appreciated. - @MOjinnaka

Hi and welcome to the Forum.

The advice you've received is all for Northern cities.  It depends on what you want really; you've only mentioned rental costs, so if that's your overriding interest, then the further away from London you are the better.  The Numbeo website has some data you can look at and do some comparisons.  Short-term, my advice would be to use something like AirBnb to find somewhere that you can use as a base for a few months so that you can travel around and see what you like.

Fred's already mentioned issues around Crime; we've never had an issue where we live (a small village), but I agree with him, it's currently a rising problem for many people in the big cities.

Personally, we opted for North Yorkshire when we made the plunge, now been here for 35 years and haven't regretted it.

I hope this helps.

Cynic

Expat Team

Personally, we opted for North Yorkshire when we made the plunge, now been here for 35 years and haven't regretted it.

I hope this helps.

Cynic
Expat Team - @Cynic

Yorkshire is easily the best place in the UK, more so if you live in a village.

The only downside to living in a village, public transport is pretty poor, so you need a car.

The only downside to living in a village, public transport is pretty poor, so you need a car. - @SimCityAT

A motorbike works as well

The only downside to living in a village, public transport is pretty poor, so you need a car. - @SimCityAT

I agree, it's weird to live in a village that has 1 train line running north/south and another separate one running east/west, the train service is diabolical, by the time they get to us, they are rammed full, you can't get on if you want to.  Bus service is equally bad - we have 3 buses that pass through each day, that's it, just 3 buses, none of which are of any use to anybody to get to work or school.  Mrs C had to do jury service; I had to drive her to Leeds and back every day of the trial.  A car is essential here.

The only downside to living in a village, public transport is pretty poor, so you need a car.  - @SimCityAT
A motorbike works as well
- @Fred

True, but not practical if you have been shopping. Then again there is also a 🚕🚖 but that can be pricey,

The only downside to living in a village, public transport is pretty poor, so you need a car. - @SimCityAT
A motorbike works as well
- @Fred
True, but not practical if you have been shopping. Then again there is also a 🚕🚖 but that can be pricey, - @SimCityAT

An interesting stat; last year online grocery shopping in the UK reached 13% of all grocery sales, with 59% shopping only in a physical store, in between are the occasional online shoppers and those who still use pay-and-collect (they order online, then collect from a nominated pickup point, a hangover from Covid days); they're forecasting 3% growth this year with people switching to online.

We've never used online grocery shopping, but I use Amazon for virtually everything else.  Amazon and Morrisons have now got together, and you can get your Morrisons grocery shop delivered by Amazon.  Our nearest town (Pontefract) looks like a bomb has hit it, with the street market practically gone and half the shops/banks/pubs closed.  The forecast demise of WH Smith will probably be the end of Pontefract.

I'm sad to hear about Pontefract; it certainly shows how difficult it's become for town centers all over the United Kingdom. It's true how much online shopping has changed everything.