AS the capital of England, London is naturally amongst the most expensive places to live in the UK.
Housing, food and the average pint will come at a marked up price, which ultimately may deter people from planting their roots there.
COVID-19 has likely added to the appeal of cities outside – but still close – to the capital.
The way to calculate the best possible commuter town is by combining a variety of financial variables.
These include the cost of factors such as rent, mortgages or the ever-important season ticket.
A report by property site Zoopla earlier this year did just that, while also factoring in travel time.
They discovered a total of 10 areas which would give city workers a good bang for their buck.
The cheapest areas to live outside of London are the following:
Grays
Average annual mortgage: £12,492
Season ticket cost: £2,516
Combined cost: £15,008
Travel time: 39 mins
Leagrave
Average annual mortgage: £10,971
Season ticket cost: £4,428
Combined cost: £15,399
Travel time: 55 mins
Crayford
Average annual mortgage: £13,523
Season ticket: £2,140
Combined cost: £15,663
Travel time: 41 mins
Basildon
Average mortgage cost: £12,786
Season ticket cost: £3,020
Combined cost: £15,806
Travel time: 37 mins
Harlow
Average mortgage cost: £12,415
Season ticket cost: £3,544
Combined cost: £15,959
Travel time: 41 mins
