What home improvements cost across the UK
The same home improvement does not cost the same everywhere. This map shows the typical price of a job across 12 major UK cities, from Belfast, Glasgow and Newcastle at the lower end to London at the top. Pick a job to see how far the price moves by location. Journalists and researchers are welcome to cite this map with a link to https://costwiseuk.co.uk.
The same three-bed refresh (six jobs) costs about £9,000 more in London than in Belfast.
| City | vs UK average | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| London | +20% | £43,000 |
| Bristol | +5% | £37,500 |
| Birmingham | 0% | £35,500 |
| Cardiff | -3% | £34,500 |
| Edinburgh | -3% | £34,500 |
| Glasgow | -3% | £34,500 |
| Leeds | -3% | £34,500 |
| Liverpool | -3% | £34,500 |
| Manchester | -3% | £34,500 |
| Newcastle | -3% | £34,500 |
| Sheffield | -3% | £34,500 |
| Belfast | -5% | £34,000 |
Why location changes the price
Materials cost much the same wherever you are, but labour does not. Rates are highest in London and the South East and lowest in the North, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, which is why the same job can swing by a third or more depending on the postcode. The figures here scale Costwise's UK guide prices by the local labour difference, so treat them as a guide for comparison, not a fixed quote.
These are independent guide prices based on typical UK jobs in 2026. Your actual cost depends on your property, spec, access and where you live. Always get at least three written quotes before committing. These are independent Costwise guide prices, reviewed June to October 2026, scaled by region. Free to cite with a link to https://costwiseuk.co.uk. For the full job-by-job figures see the cost index and the cost report.