Most and Least Expensive Areas for Council Tax in the UK
Searching for a new property? Here’s how council tax in your chosen location could affect monthly costs.
As the cost of living continues to grow, additional property expenses are increasingly in the spotlight. Google Trends data shows that in the first few months of 2022, searches relating to council tax are the highest they’ve been in five years. And it’s no wonder, virtually every single local council has increased annual council tax in the past year, with the average Band D property rising by around £67.
Areas with the highest council tax
| County | Avg. monthly cost | Annual cost* |
| Rutland | £183 | £2,195 |
| East Sussex | £179 | £2,144 |
| Nottinghamshire | £178 | £2,134 |
| Durham | £173 | £2,075 |
| Devon | £172 | £2,068 |
*Average Council Tax per annum for a Band D property
Areas with the lowest council tax
The most affordable areas for council tax are located in the home counties, while the most expensive can be found in the Midlands and South Coast. Places with the lowest council tax are:
| County | Avg. monthly cost | Annual cost* |
| Greater London | £136 | £1,633 |
| West Midlands | £144 | £1,730 |
| Berkshire | £154 | £1,847 |
| Hampshire | £156 | £1,867 |
| Essex | £156 | £1,870 |
*Average Council Tax per annum for a Band D property
London is the most affordable area to pay council tax in England
Despite being home to some of the most expensive properties in the UK, places like Westminster and Hammersmith & Fulham have some of the lowest council tax rates in the country, primarily due to local councils gaining revenue from other sources, like parking charges or business rates.
In places like Wandsworth, Band D council tax can be as little as £845 a year – only 38% of what residents of Nottingham, the most expensive local council, pay per year.
Although London boroughs have seen significant increases, the capital remains the least expensive place in England for council tax.
Wiltshire and Greater Manchester have seen the highest council tax increase
Last year London council tax increased more than anywhere else, but the story spread over the previous few years is quite different. Since 2015, council tax for the City of London has only increased by 11.2%, while Wiltshire and Greater Manchester have seen a 36.9% and 32.4% increase.
Meaning the average Londoner has paid an average of £1,461 per year since 2015, while those in Greater Manchester paid £1,727. This results in the average Londoner saving £2,128 in council tax since 2015 compared to the average Mancunian.
Which London borough will see the biggest council tax increase in 2022-2023
According to government figures, council tax will rise in the UK by an average of 3.5% in 2022-2023.
While this is a slight downturn on the average increase of 4% per year since 2015, it is still a significant rise considering the overall cost of living, and 22 of London’s 32 boroughs will see a price hike larger than the national average.
| London Borough | Current | Planned Council | Avg. increase |
| Merton | £1,709 | 2.23% | £38 |
| Enfield | £1,795 | 2.58% | £46 |
| Barnet | £1,701 | 2.66% | £45 |
| Hammersmith and Fulham | £1,196 | 2.67% | £32 |
| Bromley | £1,692 | 2.67% | £45 |
| Tower Hamlets | £1,477 | 2.92% | £43 |
| Kingston upon Thames | £2,057 | 3.19% | £66 |
| Wandsworth | £845 | 3.21% | £27 |
| Richmond upon Thames | £1,959 | 3.21% | £63 |
| Hillingdon | £1,603 | 3.46% | £55 |
| Kensington and Chelsea | £1,331 | 3.85% | £51 |
| Harrow | £1,962 | 4.06% | £80 |
| Havering | £1,893 | 4.10% | £78 |
| Croydon | £1,888 | 4.11% | £78 |
| Sutton | £1,857 | 4.12% | £77 |
| Waltham Forest | £1,863 | 4.12% | £77 |
| Bexley | £1,847 | 4.13% | £76 |
| Haringey | £1,805 | 4.16% | £75 |
| Redbridge | £1,789 | 4.17% | £75 |
| Brent | £1,742 | 4.20% | £73 |
| Lewisham | £1,744 | 4.20% | £73 |
| Camden | £1,720 | 4.21% | £72 |
| Barking and Dagenham | £1,713 | 4.22% | £72 |
| Hounslow | £1,702 | 4.23% | £72 |
| Ealing | £1,665 | 4.25% | £70 |
| Islington | £1,640 | 4.27% | £70 |
| Greenwich | £1,640 | 4.27% | £70 |
| Hackney | £1,602 | 4.30% | £69 |
| Lambeth | £1,592 | 4.31% | £69 |
| Southwark | £1,528 | 4.37% | £67 |
| City of Westminster | £829 | 4.40% | £36 |
| Newham | £1,467 | 4.43% | £65 |
Three ways to reduce your council tax
There may be a few ways to manage your council tax more easily, depending on your circumstances.
- Spread the cost: annual council tax payments are typically spread across 10 months, but you can request to have it spread across 12 months, lowering the monthly repayments.
- Apply for a reduction: depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for a discount on your council tax bill – apply here.
- Check your council tax band: if you think your property has been put into the wrong band, you can challenge it with your local council. Check your band here.
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