The real north south divide

By LUCIE MORRIS and CHARLOTTE DOVEY, Daily Mail

The London family

Adam Cain, 40, is a manager for the Citizens' 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 crisis point. We are making plans 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 worth it. We don't want to leave this area and our friends, and it is upsetting because it feels as though we are being driven out.

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

With a weekly shopping budget of £100, our only luxury is two bottles of wine, 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 inspector. They live in a three-bedroom semi 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 forced out of the property market.

Although the North/South divide has reduced in the past few years, you can still purchase a decent home around the Newcastle area for £70,000. Our house in Whitley Bay cost £60,000 several years ago and is now worth around £160,000.

The low cost of living here means we are quite comfortable and able to splash out on luxuries. We holiday abroad regularly and can afford decent meals out and trips to the cinema. Our weekly shopping bill would be around £120 and I easily spend another £100 on clothes.

There is the argument that prices are relative - but the fact that so many people are forced 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 chips, Harry Ramsden's

LONDON: £7.49

NEWCASTLE: £3.30

Adult gym membership, one year, David Lloyd

LONDON: £1,035

NEWCASTLE: £830

Full 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 Belgian Lager, M&S

LONDON: £4.99

NEWCASTLE: £4.49

Toni & Guy men's cut (senior stylist)

LONDON: £39

NEWCASTLE: £28

Cigarettes, B&H, pack of 20, Threshers

LONDON: £4.71

NEWCASTLE: £4.65

Clear Lake Cabernet Sauvignon 2002, M&S

LONDON: £5.49

NEWCASTLE: £4.99

Philadelphia Cheese (standard 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

LONDON: £2.90

NEWCASTLE: £1.90

Women's black poloneck, M&S

LONDON: £29

NEWCASTLE £20

Annual insurance 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

Petrol BP cost per litre

LONDON: 77.9p

NEWCASTLE: 74.9p

Dry cleaning men's shirt, Johnsons's

LONDON: £4.63

NEWCASTLE: £2.20

Sony 32in TV, Dixons

LONDON: £849

NEWCASTLE: £849

Cow & Gate milk formula, large tin, Superdrug

LONDON: £5.89

NEWCASTLE: £5.89

Cinema ticket for Calendar Girls, Odeon

LONDON: £8.90

NEWCASTLE: £5.30

Most watched News videos