Wherever you choose to live your biggest expenses will food, transport, housing and entertainment, and there is no doubt that all of these things cost more in the South-East, in and around London, than anywhere else in the country; unless you make an effort to discover cheap alternatives.

Different regions also have different average salaries, so although London can be much more expensive than many parts of rural England, for example, you can expect to earn more money there to compensate for this fact.

How much you earn will obviously depend on what you do for a living; but as a guide the Office for National Statistics (ONS) stated, in April 2009,  that the average weekly wage in the UK was £489.

Housing

Housing in the UK is amongst the most expensive in Europe, remember that this will be your largest expense. Generally you shouldn’t expect to pay less than £100 per week rent anywhere in the UK, but look at our Housing section for a more detailed guide to current values.

If you do not have bills included in your rent (water, electricity, gas and council tax) then add on about £30 extra per week at least to your weekly expenses.

House prices vary from region to region, so choosing where you live will greatly depend on what your accommodation budget is. As a rule London has the most expensive housing, but all major cities will have wealthy suburbs or surrounding villages where housing will be similar in cost to London. And don’t forget that despite London having a reputation as a global city, it still has some cheap, although not very desirable, areas to live.

Transport

Trains and the London Underground are very expensive, but remember that coaches and buses are quite cheap. The cost of a ticket in the UK always depends on how far you have to travel to reach your destination.

Driving in the UK is a cheaper than the train – for some reason even flying is a cheaper form of transport than the train! In July 2010 petrol has recently risen to over £1.18 per litre, which is very high, but the motorways make getting from one city to another fast and efficient. You can also buy a cheap second-hand car for as little as £300 in the UK, but remember to add road-tax and insurance to your budget.

If you are on a budget, remember that the cheapest way of getting around is by bicycle (it’s free!) and you can buy an old second-hand bike for as little as £25. You’ll also see more of the town where you live, keep yourself fit; it’s also a very fashionable mode of transport these days thanks to its environmental benfits.

Food

Your weekly shopping budget will obviously depend on what you eat and drink, but expect to pay at least £70 per week for groceries for 2 people, including laundry, soap etc. The UK has major supermarkets where most people do their grocery shopping, these tend to be cheaper than shops on the high street, but remember that local street markets will always offer the best deals and the most fun.

Entertainment

Beer & wine costs between £3 to £6 per glass in pubs and clubs; like everywhere there are cheap places and expensive places. Nightclubs charge between £5 and £20 entry.

The cinema costs between £7 - £10 pounds, although remember it is always cheapest on a Monday.

Restaurants cost around £30 - £40 for two people in a modest restaurant, but remember with some of the best restaurants in the world there is no limit to how much you can spend on dinner in the UK!

By John Hillman

USEFUL WORDS

Our basic range of tennis rackets is priced at the bottom end of the market.

For example, our entry level racket for beginners is priced at £20.

Last year the list price for our most expensive model was £250.

But after last week’s price cut it is now £200.

Lots of people start with one of our cheaper rackets and then move up market.

low pricing

retail price

a discount of

loss leader

sold at a loss

to undercut

price war

price boom = when prices are rising quickly

mid-priced = not cheap and not expensive

niche = small, specialised market

mid-range = good between basic and sophisticated

trade up / upgrade = buy a better model than the one you have

Money Idioms

You pick up bargains (find)

Things can cost a bit over the top (too much)

Things can be dirt cheap (very cheap)

Something which is very expensive can set you back a bit (cost a lot)

You can pay through the nose (pay a lot)

Things can cost an arm and a leg (really cost a lot)

You can be ripped off (pay a lot more than necessary)

A shop can knock money off an item (reduce the price/give a discount)

GRAMMAR SPOT

Wish + Past Perfect (Continuous) is used to express regrets in the present about something which happened or didn’t happen in the past:

I wish I had rented a cheaper flat (but I didn’t)

I wish you hadn’t sold my bicycle (but you did)

He wishes he hadn’t been living in the city centre for so long (but he was)

If only expresses a stronger regret in the past:

If only I hadn’t bought that! (but I did)