Is the cost of living (except housing, of course) in the commuting belt cheaper than London?

[bergh39]

I have never lived outside London and I am looking to move to somewhere in the commuter belt. Apart from housing, mortgages, rents, etc, are the other costs lower than London, things like bus fares, supermarket, council taxes (comparing to equivalent properties in a London Borough), etc.

Here in London people say state schools in those areas tend to be better than London as does the quality of living. I am not British, but I have noticed, anywhere I have worked in London, (banks mainly), nearly all British nationals were commuters and nearly all foreigners, lived in London.

So, is it right to say that living outside London is also an option for many (nationals, mainly) and not just due to property prices?

[dacy17]

It rather depends which part of the commuter belt you choose.Most of rural Surrey and Sussex have property prices as least as high as London; my council tax in Surrey is double what I used to pay in London. However most of Essex and Hertfordshire have far lower property prices and schools tend to be better outside London

[mads]

Maybe but areas vary enormously and every borough has areas you would want to avoid and areas you would choose to live in.

Yes the good areas have very good schools, a pleasant environment and have what you are looking for.