Revealed: 15 most expensive UK cities to raise a family - is yours on the list?
New research has revealed the most expensive (as well as the most affordable) cities in which to raise a family


Parenting advice, hot topics, best buys and family finance tips delivered straight to your inbox.
Thank you for signing up to GoodTo. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
The 15 most expensive cities in which to raise a child have been named, with annual costs ranging from £44,692 up to a whopping £80,416.
Raising a family is an expensive endeavour, when you consider how much it costs to raise a child and rising average childcare costs. But it turns out that where you live can be a big influencing factor too.
The study from OutdoorToys looked at a range of costs, including the average costs of childcare, rent, utilities and broadband in different cities, in order to find out which locations were the most expensive to raise a family.
Most expensive UK cities to raise a family in
Unsurprisingly, the research found that London was the most expensive city to raise a family in, costing a sky-high £80,416 per year. This figure includes an average nursery place for two children costing just under £38,000 a year, average annual rent costing only slightly more at £38,650, as well as average annual utility bills of £3,661 per year.
Second place on the list went to Westminster, with annual costs of £59,757, more than £20,000 cheaper than in the City of London.
Cambridge ranked a very close third, with average annual nursery costs of around £8,000 more than rent.
Other cities that made the list of the top 15 most expensive cities to raise a family in, with annual costs between £58,390 and £44,692, include:
- St Albans
- Winchester
- Oxford
- Brighton & Hove
- Southend-on-Sea
- Bristol
- York
- Birmingham
- Edinburgh
- Manchester
- Milton Keynes
- Canterbury
Most expensive cities for childcare
- London - £37,740
- St Albans - £34,162
- Cambridge - £32,430
- Oxford - £30,300
- Birmingham - £29,069
Most expensive cities for rent
- London - £38,650
- Westminster - £31,500
- Winchester - £30,000
- Oxford - £24,990
- Brighton & Hove - £24,805
Most expensive cities for utility bills
- London - £3,661
- Canterbury - £3,461
- Southend-on-Sea - £3,300
- Milton Keynes - £2,824
- Westminster - £2,778
Most affordable UK cities to raise a family in
The research also found the most affordable cities in which to raise a family, with annual costs ranging from £14,220 up to £36,969.
The top spot for most affordable city went to Derry in Northern Ireland, with average nursery costs of £4,554 per year, average rents of £7,626 per year, and average utility bills of £1,454 - less than half of the price families in London pay for their utilities.
Second place went to Wakefield, with average annual costs of £22,520, while in third place Doncaster it costs £27,518 per year to raise a family.
Other affordable cities that rounded out the list included:
- Carlisle
- Gloucester
- Preston
- Swansea
- Stoke-on-Trent
- Lancaster
- Kingston upon Hull
- Plymouth
- Dundee
- Leicester
- Salford
- Belfast
Cheapest cities for childcare
- Derry - £4,554
- Wakefield- £11,520
- Preston - £12,000
- Gloucester - £14,400
- Swansea - £14,712
Cheapest cities for rent
- Derry - £7,626
- Doncaster - £7,901
- Wakefield - £8,400
- Kingston upon Hull - £8,715
- Carlisle - £8,835
Cheapest cities for utility bills
- Portsmouth - £1,424
- Derry - £1,454
- Belfast - £1,478
- Carlisle - £1,560
- Swansea - £1,593
If you've found that you live in one of the most expensive cities, then make sure you follow these family-friendly ways to save money, and think about how you can save money for your child's future.
Goodto Newsletter
Parenting advice, hot topics, best buys and family finance tips delivered straight to your inbox.

Sarah is Goodto.com's Money Editor. After segueing into the world of personal finance from the Homes sector, and acting as launch editor of Goodto's sister brand TheMoneyEdit.com, Sarah now focuses on family finance. She is passionate about cutting through confusing jargon to help people make sound financial decisions, avoid overspending and set themselves and their families up for a financially-stable future.
-
-
Are mobile phones being banned in schools in England? Here's what the Department for Education has said, plus a parenting expert's verdict
New guidance recommends a ban on mobile phone use in schools.
By Ellie Hutchings Published
-
King Charles reveals his hopes that granddaughter Princess Charlotte will ‘look after him’ when he is ‘very old’
The monarch was 'thrilled' when his granddaughter was born
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse Published
-
How to make money as a teenager: 9 ideas from a money expert
If you want to help your teen understand how to make money as a teenager in a way that's legal and suitable, our money expert shares her tips
By Rachel Lacey Published
-
Nintendo Switch vs OLED - which is better value for money and the best option for your child?
If you're confused by the whole Nintendo Switch vs OLED debate, worry not. We explain what you need to know - without the technical jargon
By Sarah Handley Published
-
Is Tesco cheaper than Tesco Express? We did the same shop at each to find out
We find out whether Tesco is really cheaper than Tesco Express by comparing two like-for-like baskets, as well as analysing whether Clubcard prices are cheapest prices available
By Rachel Lacey Published
-
Cheapest online food shopping: delivery costs compared, plus are online grocery orders more expensive?
We explain how to get the cheapest online food shopping, compare supermarket delivery charges and reveal whether supermarkets really charge more for online orders
By Sarah Handley Published
-
LEGO discount codes for September 2023 and how to find LEGO promo codes
Spend wisely by using these LEGO discount codes and promotions to save money on gifts for the kids (or yourself)
By Rachel Lacey Published
-
Savvy mum shares how to save £10 a week on packed lunches (and we're converted!)
If you're getting into the swing of making packed lunches again, and want to keep costs low, then follow these easy tips
By Sarah Handley Published
-
Cheap LEGO: where to find it and 12 unmissable deals to grab right now
If you're looking for cheap LEGO, we've got you covered
By Rachel Wait Published
-
15 most expensive private schools in the UK, and the famous names that attended them
With the start of a new school year upon us, we list the most expensive private schools in the country and the notable alumni that attended
By Sarah Handley Published