Considering this, CIA Landlord Insurance has conducted a study on the most affordable cities in the UK for grocery shopping. The analysis focused on the prices of essential items such as bread, milk, cheese, wine, and eggs, and compared them with rental prices in each city to provide a comprehensive understanding of renters’ expenses.
Stoke-on-Trent emerged as the city with the cheapest food shopping, with a basic supermarket trip costing only £17.06.
The research reveals that residents of Stoke-on-Trent benefit from highly affordable essential items. For instance, a loaf of bread costs a mere £0.81, and eggs are available at an average price of £1.69. Moreover, monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center is relatively low, with fees amounting to £662.50.
Following closely, Swansea takes the second spot as one of the most economical cities for essential items, with residents spending just 1p more on their food shopping compared to Stoke-on-Trent. Rent in Swansea is even cheaper than in Stoke-on-Trent, averaging at £630 per month for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center.
Leicester (£17.49), Kingston-upon-Hull (£17.82), and Birmingham (£18.12) complete the list of the top five cities offering the most affordable grocery shopping experiences.
| Index | City | Total Cost of Shop | Average Monthly Rent for 1 Bed in City Centre |
| 1 | Stoke-on-Trent | £17.06 | £662.50 |
| 2 | Swansea | £17.07 | £630.00 |
| 3 | Leicester | £17.49 | £760.00 |
| 4 | Kingston upon Hull | £17.82 | £452.50 |
| 5 | Birmingham | £18.12 | £822.12 |
Unsurprisingly, London takes the crown for the most expensive place to shop for essential items, with the total cost of groceries averaging around £22.50. Rental prices in the city are also significantly higher compared to other cities, with monthly fees for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center reaching £2,081.
Bristol claims the second spot as the most expensive city for grocery shopping, with essential items costing an average of £20.31. Moreover, monthly rent in Bristol can be quite steep, amounting to £1,137.
Rounding off the top five most expensive cities for groceries are Glasgow (£19.96), Manchester (£19.94), and Newport (£19.88).
| Index | City | Total Cost of Shop | Average Monthly Rent for 1 Bed in City Centre |
| 1 | London | £22.50 | £2,080.65 |
| 2 | Bristol | £20.31 | £1,136.67 |
| 3 | Glasgow | £19.96 | £790.00 |
| 4 | Manchester | £19.94 | £938.06 |
| 5 | Newport | £19.88 | £700.00 |
