Commuting is getting pricier across the UK, and some areas are feeling the pinch more than others. New research from price comparison site WhatPrice.co.uk reveals just how much location can affect your travel costs, with fuel prices, journey lengths, and access to petrol stations all playing a role.
East Hertfordshire tops the list, where a combination of high fuel prices and long daily drives makes it the costliest place to commute in the country.
The research analysed commuting expenses across the UK by examining five key factors: E10 petrol prices, B7 diesel prices, average travel distance to work, and the number of fuel stations per 10,000 vehicles.
The UK’s 10 most expensive areas for commuting
| Rank | Area | Index Score | E10 Petrol Price (p) | B7 Diesel Price (p) | Average Travel Distance (km) |
| 1 | East Hertfordshire | 79.85 | 141.98 | 148.23 | 14.36 |
| 2 | West Northamptonshire | 76.05 | 141.02 | 148.49 | 12.86 |
| 3 | Huntingdonshire | 74.95 | 139.66 | 147.1 | 15.86 |
| 4 | Maidstone | 73.96 | 140.31 | 148.08 | 13.85 |
| 5 | South Cambridgeshire | 72.95 | 140.18 | 147.54 | 14.28 |
| 6 | Wiltshire | 71.69 | 139.2 | 146.83 | 15.26 |
| 7 | Dorset | 71.05 | 139.11 | 145.73 | 15.36 |
| 8 | Bedford | 70.61 | 139.25 | 146.15 | 13.04 |
| 9 | Cheshire East | 70.25 | 140.64 | 147.31 | 12.70 |
| 10 | Mid Sussex | 70.09 | 139.95 | 147.2 | 13.32 |
East Hertfordshire is the area with the priciest commute, with an overall index score of 79.85 out of 100. This ranking is primarily driven by its high fuel prices, with E10 petrol costing 141.98p per litre and diesel at 148.23p. Commuters in the area face an average journey of 14.36km (8.9 miles) to work, around 3km (1.86 miles) above the national average.
West Northamptonshire secured second place with a score of 76.05. E10 petrol costs around 141.02p, and diesel is priced at 148.49p. Despite a slightly shorter average commute of 12.86km (around 8 miles), the area still ranks high due to its steep fuel costs.
Huntingdonshire ranked third with a score of 74.95, where residents face some of the longest commutes at 15.86km (9.85 miles) on average. The combination of lengthy journeys and relatively high fuel prices (139.66p for petrol and 147.10p for diesel) places pressure on local commuters’ budgets.
Maidstone and South Cambridgeshire completed the top five with index scores of 73.96 and 72.95, respectively. Both areas show a similar pattern of high fuel prices and longer commuting distances.
The sixth to tenth positions are occupied by Wiltshire at 71.69 points, Dorset at 71.05 points, Bedford at 70.61 points, Cheshire East at 70.25 points, and Mid Sussex with 70.09 points out of 100.
Nationally, the average price for E10 petrol is 136.32p, the price of diesel is 143.25p, and the average commute is 11.25km (around 7 miles).
Belfast emerged as the least expensive area for commuters with a score of just 20.32. The Northern Irish capital benefits from lower fuel prices, with E10 petrol at 127.90p and diesel at 133.15p, and shorter commuting distances averaging only 6.43km (4 miles).
Northern Ireland consistently ranked well for affordability, with all its administrative areas appearing in the bottom 20 of the list, suggesting regional fuel pricing policies may play a role in keeping costs lower for commuters.
The data shows that Wandsworth has the highest average price of E10 petrol at 142.70 pence per litre. It also sees the second-highest price for diesel at 149.76 pence per litre.
Westminster has the highest-priced diesel in the United Kingdom at 150.90 pence per litre.
David Holmes, who is the CEO of WhatPrice.co.uk <https://whatprice.co.uk> , commented on the findings,
“If you live near the border of a neighbouring town, it’s worth looking online to see how much fuel costs differ. For example, in places like Aberdeenshire and Shropshire, people are driving 16-17 kilometres to work each day. And when you’re clocking that kind of distance, even a few pennies difference in fuel prices isn’t just numbers, it could mean you have more money left over after the food shop, energy bills, or even clothes for your kids.
“In rural areas like East Hertfordshire and Huntingdonshire, where people are travelling further for work, fuel can quietly become one of the biggest costs of living. For commuters in these areas, fuel economy and considering different transport options become increasingly important.”
