The real north south divide

The London family

Adam Cain, 40, is a 経営者／支配人 for the 国民s' Advice Bureau. He and his wife Pippa, 37, live in a two-bedroom home in Wimbledon, South-West London, with children Topaz, two, and Merlin, six months.

JOINT INCOME: £30,000

HOUSE VALUE: £200,000

PIPPA SAYS: Before we had children we were struggling with the cost of living in London, but now it's at 危機 point. We are making 計画（する）s to move because we can't afford to live here. We are overdrawn each month after spending on just the basics.

I am not working because childcare costs so much that it's not 価値（がある） it. We don't want to leave this area and our friends, and it is upsetting because it feels as though we are 存在 driven out.

We seem to be having to scrimp and save to live in a house which is ますます too small for our needs, and we can't afford to 昇格 in London.

With a 週刊誌 shopping 予算 of £100, our only 高級な is two 瓶／封じ込めるs of ワイン, and we can rarely afford to go out for dinner or to the cinema. If we move we will be able to get four bedrooms and a big garden. I will be sad to leave but we don't really have a choice.

The Newcastle family

Amanda Whitenstall, 40, is a bank clerk married to Ivan, 40, a market 視察官. They live in a three-bedroom 半分 in Whitley Bay, with their two children Emma, 12, and Richard, seven.

JOINT INCOME: £30,000

HOUSE VALUE: £160,000

AMANDA SAYS: I have no idea how people can afford to live in London. It's disgusting that nurses and teachers are 軍隊d out of the 所有物／資産／財産 market.

Although the North/South divide has 減ずるd in the past few years, you can still 購入（する） a decent home around the Newcastle area for £70,000. Our house in Whitley Bay cost £60,000 several years ago and is now 価値（がある） around £160,000.

The low cost of living here means we are やめる comfortable and able to splash out on 高級なs. We holiday abroad 定期的に and can afford decent meals out and trips to the cinema. Our 週刊誌 shopping 法案 would be around £120 and I easily spend another £100 on 着せる／賦与するs.

There is the argument that prices are 親族 - but the fact that so many people are 軍隊d to rent in London rather disproves it. Thank goodness I live in Newcastle.

HOW PRICES DIFFER BETWEEN THE REGIONS

Johnson's baby lotion, small, Superdrug

CENTRAL LONDON: £2.49

NEWCASTLE: £1.79

Large haddock and 半導体素子s, Harry Ramsden's

LONDON: £7.49

NEWCASTLE: £3.30

Adult gym 会員の地位, one year, David Lloyd

LONDON: £1,035

NEWCASTLE: £830

十分な English breakfast, Little Chef

LONDON: £6.95

NEWCASTLE: £5.25

Loaf, Kingsmill white, Spar

LONDON: 89p

NEWCASTLE: 69p

PG tips tea (small box) Tesco

LONDON: £1.38

NEWCASTLE: £1.09

Pint of Stella lager from Yates's

LONDON: £2.67

NEWCASTLE: £2.40

Four cans of ベルギー Lager, M&S

LONDON: £4.99

NEWCASTLE: £4.49

Toni & Guy men's 削減（する） (上級の stylist)

LONDON: £39

NEWCASTLE: £28

Cigarettes, B&H, pack of 20, Threshers

LONDON: £4.71

NEWCASTLE: £4.65

（疑いを）晴らす Lake Cabernet Sauvignon 2002, M&S

LONDON: £5.49

NEWCASTLE: £4.99

Philadelphia Cheese (基準 size), Asda

LONDON: £1.06

NEWCASTLE: 78p

Milk chocolate digestives (Asda's own make)

LONDON: 78p

NEWCASTLE 48p

1 Litre Gordon's gin, Threshers.

LONDON: £14.49

NEWCASTLE: £11.79

Fairy liquid, small, Spar

LONDON: £1.39p

NEWCASTLE: 99p

Flora margarine, small pack, Spar

LONDON: 79p

NEWCASTLE: 55p

City centre NCP car park, per hour

L ONDON: £2.90

NEWCASTLE: £1.90

Women's 黒人／ボイコット poloneck, M&S

LONDON: £29

NEWCASTLE £20

年次の 保険 for 5-year-old 1.4 VW Polo, Direct Line

LONDON: £400

NEWCASTLE: £230

Childcare, Nanny Bureau (per hour)

LONDON: £9

NEWCASTLE: £6

Pushchair (Citilite Stroller), Mothercare:

LONDON: £80

NEWCASTLE: £80

Developing one-hour medium photographs, Boots

LONDON: £7.99

NEWCASTLE: £6.99

Vine tomatoes, Asda

LONDON: £1.16

NEWCASTLE £1.16

石油 BP cost per litre

LONDON: 77.9p

NEWCASTLE: 74.9p

乾燥した，日照りの きれいにする men's shirt, Johnsons's

LONDON: £4.63

NEWCASTLE: £2.20

Sony 32in TV, Dixons

LONDON: £849

NEWCASTLE: £849

Cow & Gate milk 決まり文句／製法, large tin, Superdrug

LONDON: £5.89

NEWCASTLE: £5.89

Cinema ticket for Calendar Girls, Odeon

LONDON: £8.90

NEWCASTLE: £5.30