Sheffield
Sheffield has been crowned one of the most ‘affordable’ cities in the UK
We'll take that.
A new study has revealed Sheffield to be one of the most 'affordable' cities in the UK.
It seems like prices for everything across the UK are rising at the minute.
And one of the major things that keeps on rising is the cost of groceries in supermarkets, I mean - since when did a block of Lurpak cost £6?
But if you're a Sheffield dweller then you're in luck (and in the money), because according to a September 2026 report on affordability, Sheffield residents pay the least for groceries in the UK.
The new study by the delivery insurance provider Street Cover named UK cities where grocery shopping doesn’t strain budgets just yet, and Sheffield came up trumps.
The study compared the 2026 Grocery Index for the largest UK cities with the UK average, as well as available 2025 Grocery Indices, to track the changes in food affordability.
Compared to the national average, groceries in Sheffield are the easiest to afford and in monetary terms, a basket full of groceries in Sheffield would currently cost £22.41.
Here's the top 10 most 'affordable' cities in the UK:
- Sheffield
- Milton Keynes
- Liverpool
- Reading
- Newcastle Upon Tyne
- Manchester
- Leeds
- Bristol
- Cardiff
- Southampton
Al Taylor, Head of Street Cover, commented on the findings: “Data shows households in the North East of England have the lowest average food spend in the country, around 11% below the UK average, while Yorkshire sits 6.6% below.
"Sheffield's position at the top reflects lower property costs for retailers, less competition from premium chains, and a supermarket landscape dominated by value-led options. The practical implication for household budgets is significant: the difference between budget and premium shopping can easily be £1,000 or more per year for a family, which can be spent on other things or saved for future plans.”
Read more: Crossed Wires festival brings huge £6.6m boost to Sheffield as its impact is revealed
Featured image - The Sheff




