What is the cheapest place to run a home in England?

As of June 2026, Dudley is the cheapest included authority at about £4,563 a year (energy £1,862 + water £556 + Band D council tax £2,145). Its Gera Cost-of-Living-at-Home Index is 93, where 100 is the national average.

Why is the cheapest area cheap?

Because energy is the same national figure everywhere, the differences come almost entirely from council tax (which varies a lot between authorities) and the water company. Dudley combines relatively low council tax with the Severn Trent Water water bill (£556/yr).

Does cheapest to run mean cheapest to live?

Not entirely. This ranking covers energy, water and council tax — the recurring cost to run the home itself. It does not include rent, mortgage or house prices. Use it alongside local rent and price data when comparing places to live.

Cheapest places to run a home in England

Top 15 by lowest annual total · June 2026

What are the cheapest places to run a home in England?

As of June 2026, the cheapest English local authority to run a home (energy + water + council tax) is Dudley at about £4,563 a year — a Gera Cost-of-Living-at-Home Index of 93, against a £4,897 national average. The next cheapest are Sunderland, Wigan, Solihull. Sources: Ofgem, Water UK/Ofwat, MHCLG.

Source:Ofgem energy price cap, Water UK / Ofwat water bills, MHCLG council tax (joined by Gera)·as of June 2026updated quarterly (last: 19 June 2026)

Cheapest English local authorities to run a home (June 2026)
Rank	Area	Water company	Total /yr	GCLHI
1	Dudley	Severn Trent Water	£4,563	93
2	Sunderland	Northumbrian Water	£4,565	93
3	Wigan	United Utilities	£4,613	94
4	Solihull	Severn Trent Water	£4,615	94
5	Doncaster	Yorkshire Water	£4,632	95
6	Sandwell	Severn Trent Water	£4,662	95
7	Leeds	Yorkshire Water	£4,748	97
8	York	Yorkshire Water	£4,751	97
9	Trafford	United Utilities	£4,752	97
10	Kingston upon Hull	Yorkshire Water	£4,759	97
11	Wakefield	Yorkshire Water	£4,761	97
12	Manchester	United Utilities	£4,772	97
13	Birmingham	Severn Trent Water	£4,781	98
14	Barnsley	Yorkshire Water	£4,790	98
15	South Tyneside	Northumbrian Water	£4,802	98

Tap an area for its full breakdown, or compare against the most expensive places to run a home. See how each total is built on the methodology page.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest place to run a home in England?: As of June 2026, Dudley is the cheapest included authority at about £4,563 a year (energy £1,862 + water £556 + Band D council tax £2,145). Its Gera Cost-of-Living-at-Home Index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
Why is the cheapest area cheap?: Because energy is the same national figure everywhere, the differences come almost entirely from council tax (which varies a lot between authorities) and the water company. Dudley combines relatively low council tax with the Severn Trent Water water bill (£556/yr).
Does cheapest to run mean cheapest to live?: Not entirely. This ranking covers energy, water and council tax — the recurring cost to run the home itself. It does not include rent, mortgage or house prices. Use it alongside local rent and price data when comparing places to live.

Make any home cheaper to run

Wherever you live, a GeraHome pro can lower your energy and maintenance costs.

Find a home pro near you Full UK rankings

Contains public sector information published by Ofgem · Water UK / Ofwat · MHCLG and licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Ofgem energy price cap, Water UK / Ofwat water bills, MHCLG council tax (joined by Gera) (June 2026).