If you only look at one number when you're deciding where to move, make it the all-in monthly total: rent, council tax, energy, water, broadband and indicative insurance, added up. Here's the 2026 league table, top and bottom, ranked on that figure for the renter view. It's live, so it reflects the latest data on the site.
The cheapest end of the table
Lower rents do most of the work here, with cheaper council tax and energy regions topping it off. These are the places your money stretches furthest, month to month.
The priciest end of the table
No surprises at the top: central London boroughs, where rent dwarfs every other line on the bill.
The gap is bigger than people expect
The distance between the cheapest and priciest areas runs into the thousands of pounds a month. Where you live genuinely moves the number more than almost any budgeting decision you'll make, which is the whole point of looking at the total rather than the rent alone.
Estimates, not quotes. We show our sources.
This is a within-dataset league table: cheapest and priciest of the areas we cover, ranked on estimated totals. Not a national statistical ranking, and your own costs will vary by property and provider.
Read the table properly
A league table is a conversation starter, not a verdict:
- Cheapest isn't best. Weigh the total against commute, work and the life you want.
- Your band and usage matter. Council tax band and energy use shift your real figure.
- Check the specific places. The averages hide variation within every area.