An Indian woman living in the UK shared a detailed breakdown of her monthly expenses. The high cost of living of a family of four near London has now gone viral on social media.
City commuter Shreya Lara says her family pays £1,800 ( ₹2.2 million) as rent for a two-bedroom house. Then commuting into central London adds a lot of cost. Travel costs come to around £800 ( ₹98,000) per month.
According to her, food and catering together cost up to £700 ( ₹86,000). Fees cost about £150 ( ₹18,500). Council Tax adds a further £180 ( ₹22,000) and miscellaneous expenses are around £150 per month.
According to her, the biggest expense is related to children. She says the total cost for two children is around £2,000 ( ₹2.46 million) per month.
Travel is another important factor. A family spends almost £1,000 ( ₹1.23 lakh) per month while traveling in Europe.
In the second part of the video, the mother broke down the cost of their children’s education. Costs vary widely depending on the age of the child, the type of school and eligibility for state aid in the UK.
For children from the age of 4, state schools provide free education. However, parents can still spend around £200 (approx ₹25,000) per month for extracurricular clubs and activities. Private education is much more expensive, with fees reaching around £2,000 ( ₹2.46 million) per month.
The highest costs are seen in early childcare. Daycare for children under two can range from £1,600 ( ₹1.97 lakh) for three days a week at £2,100 ( ₹2.58 lakh) for five days.
Costs decrease as children grow. From the age of two, some families have access to 15 hours of funded childcare. After 3 years, most parents are entitled to 30 hours. This reduces childcare costs by up to £700 ( ₹86,000) per month. Additional benefits may apply depending on residency status.
Together, the family spends around £6,650 (approx ₹8 lakh) per month, excluding purchases.
Reaction on social networks
Many users reacted to the viral video. Many of them found the information “useful”.
“Feeling lucky. Thought I’d spend a fortune traveling. Got a company Lol! I stay out of London too, I travel to London a lot!” one user wrote.
“I’m glad someone is actually telling the truth!” another user commented.
Many users asked in which city the family lived.
“Would you mind telling me which city you leave from within a 20 minute commute to London? Do you have to commute to London 5 days a week?” one of them asked.
“Which area is this? You are currently paying extortionate rent in London,” another user wrote.
