Cost of Living Calculator
Add up your monthly and yearly living costs, see what share of your income each one takes, and find out what is left over or how big the shortfall is.
Your income
What reaches your bank account each month.
Your monthly costs
Your results
Costs per month
£1,780.00
£21,360 a year
Share of income
81%
Left over
£420.00
Per month
Left over a year
£5,040
| Cost | Month | Year | % of income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent or mortgage | £900.00 | £10,800 | 40.9% |
| Food and household | £320.00 | £3,840 | 14.5% |
| Council tax | £150.00 | £1,800 | 6.8% |
| Transport | £120.00 | £1,440 | 5.5% |
| Gas and electricity | £110.00 | £1,320 | 5.0% |
| Subscriptions and leisure | £60.00 | £720 | 2.7% |
| Phone and broadband | £45.00 | £540 | 2.0% |
| Insurance | £40.00 | £480 | 1.8% |
| Water | £35.00 | £420 | 1.6% |
Your figures stay in this browser tab and are not sent anywhere.
Know where your money goes
Most people underestimate how much their regular costs add up to. Writing every cost down gives you a clear figure for what you need each month and shows which costs are worth looking at first.
This calculator is deliberately simple: list your costs, compare them with your income and see the result. For a fuller plan with savings goals, use the Monthly Budget Planner.
If costs are higher than income
A shortfall is a warning sign, not a failure. Start with the biggest costs, check you are on the best deals and claiming everything you are entitled to. If you are falling behind on bills or debts, free help is available from MoneyHelper, Citizens Advice, StepChange and National Debtline.
How to use this calculator
- Enter your monthly take-home pay. You can send it over from the Take-Home Pay Calculator.
- Fill in your usual monthly costs and add any that are missing.
- Read the total, your surplus or shortfall, and which costs take the biggest share of your income.
How it is calculated
Total costs = the sum of everything you enter. Left over = take-home pay − total costs. Each cost is also shown as a percentage of your income.
Worked example
With £2,200 a month of take-home pay and costs of £1,780 (rent £900, council tax £150, energy £110, water £35, food £320, transport £120, phone £45, insurance £40 and leisure £60), you have £420 a month left over. That is £5,040 a year, and costs take 80.9% of income.
Assumptions and limits
- Uses only the figures you enter. It does not compare you with national averages or predict price changes.
- Annual costs, such as car tax or insurance, are best divided by 12 before entering them.
Common questions
What should I include?
Everything you pay regularly: housing, bills, food, transport, insurance, subscriptions, childcare, debt payments and spending money. Divide yearly bills by 12.
Is there a typical figure I should aim for?
No. Costs vary widely with where you live and your circumstances, so this tool compares your costs with your own income rather than an average.
How is this different from the Budget Planner?
This one shows your costs and what is left. The Budget Planner also sets out a plan for splitting your income between needs, wants and savings.
Does it include debts?
Add your monthly debt payments as a cost line to see the full picture.
Related guides
Related calculators
- UK Take-Home Pay CalculatorYour salary after tax, National Insurance, pension and student loan, per year, month and week.
- Monthly Budget PlannerAdd your income and spending to see exactly what is left each month.
- Emergency Fund CalculatorHow much to save for emergencies and how long it will take.
- Debt-to-Income Ratio CalculatorYour monthly debt payments as a percentage of your gross income.
These calculators give estimates based on the figures you enter and the assumptions listed above. They are not financial advice. Your numbers are worked out in your browser and are not sent to us.
This page provides general information only. It is not personalised financial, legal or tax advice, and rules and figures can change. Your situation is unique — please check official sources such as GOV.UK and MoneyHelper, and speak to a qualified, FCA-authorised adviser before making important decisions about your money.