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GeraCash / UK cost of living / West Midlands

Cost of Living — West MidlandsSingle adult household · 2024 prices

The Gera Monthly Outgoing Index (GMOI) for a single adult household in West Midlands is £826 per month in 2024, covering rent, energy, food, transport and council tax — computed from ONS regional household spending data adjusted to 2024 prices.

Reference periodONS A35: FYE 2016–2018 · CPIH-adjusted ×1.2828 to 2024 prices · Council tax: 2024-25 · Updated: as of 2024updated annually (last: )

How much does it cost to live in West Midlands as a single adult per month?

The Gera Monthly Outgoing Index (GMOI) for a single adult household in West Midlands is £826 per month in 2024, covering rent (£162), energy (£81), food (£204), transport (£245) and council tax (£136). Computed from ONS regional household spending data (A35, FYE 2016–2018) adjusted to 2024 prices using the ONS CPIH index (factor 1.2828).

Source:ONS — Detailed household expenditure by countries and regions (Table A35, FYE 2016–2018)·as of Financial year ending 2016 to 2018 (3-year pooled)updated annually (last: )
Gera Monthly Outgoing Index (GMOI)£826 / monthWest Midlands · Single adult · 2024 pricesHow this index is calculated

Monthly outgoings breakdown — West Midlands, Single adult

Basket componentMonthly (est.)Notes
Rent / housing (ONS A35 cat. 4.1)£162Actual rental payments, regional average
Energy — gas & electricity (ONS A35 cat. 4.4)£81Electricity, gas and other fuels
Food & non-alcoholic drinks (ONS A35 cat. 1)£204Includes groceries and takeaway food purchases
Transport (ONS A35 cat. 7)£245Private + public transport combined
Council tax (2024-25 Band D average)£13625% single-person discount applied
Gera Monthly Outgoing Index (GMOI)£826Total essential monthly outgoings

ONS A35 (FYE 2016–2018) weekly figures × 4.333 weeks/month × 1.2828 CPIH inflation adjustment (ONS L522: 2017 index 103.6, 2024 index 132.9) × household scale factor (0.65). Council tax uses 2024-25 average Band D equivalent for West Midlands with 25% single-person discount. OGL v3.0.

GMOI for West Midlands by household type

Single adult

£826/mo

Current view

Couple (no children)

£1,244/mo

See breakdown →

Family (2 adults + 2 children)

£1,722/mo

See breakdown →

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West Midlands cost of living: frequently asked questions

How much is rent in West Midlands per month?
For a single adult household, estimated rent in West Midlands is £162 per month based on ONS A35 regional household expenditure data (category 4.1: Actual rentals for housing), adjusted from the 2016–2018 ONS survey average to 2024 prices using CPIH (factor 1.2828). This represents average rental payments — actual rent varies significantly by property size, location within the region, and tenure type.
What are typical energy bills in West Midlands?
For a single adult household in West Midlands, estimated monthly energy costs (electricity, gas and other fuels) are £81 per month, based on ONS A35 category 4.4 regional average adjusted to 2024 prices using CPIH.
How much do households spend on food in West Midlands per month?
A single adult household in West Midlands spends an estimated £204 per month on food and non-alcoholic drinks, based on ONS A35 category 1 regional average adjusted to 2024 prices using CPIH.
How much is council tax in West Midlands?
The 2024-25 average Band D council tax in West Midlands is £2,168 per year (£181 per month). Single-adult households qualify for a 25% discount, reducing this to approximately £136 per month. Source: DLUHC 2024-25 council tax statistics.
What is the Gera Monthly Outgoing Index for West Midlands?
The GMOI for a single adult in West Midlands is £826/month. The GMOI is computed by Gera Systems as: (weekly ONS A35 rent + energy + food + transport) × 4.333 weeks/month × CPIH adjustment factor (1.2828) × household scale factor (0.65) + monthly council tax. All source data is from official UK government publications under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Compare cost of living in other UK regions

Contains public sector information published by Office for National Statistics and licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: ONS — Detailed household expenditure by countries and regions (Table A35, FYE 2016–2018) (Financial year ending 2016 to 2018 (3-year pooled)).