Most Expensive & Cheapest Council Tax in the UK 2026-27
For 2026-27, the most expensive Band D council tax in the UK is in Dorset at £2,765 a year, and the cheapest is Wandsworth at £1,028, a difference of £1,737. Across all 765 councils the average Band D bill is £2,337.
15 most expensive councils (Band D, 2026-27)
| # | Council | Region | Band D |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dorset | South West | £2,765 |
| 2 | Lewes | South East | £2,756 |
| 3 | Nottingham | East Midlands | £2,755 |
| 4 | Rutland | East Midlands | £2,738 |
| 5 | Wealden | South East | £2,728 |
| 6 | Gateshead | North East | £2,716 |
| 7 | Bristol | South West | £2,714 |
| 8 | West Devon | South West | £2,705 |
| 9 | Rother | South East | £2,701 |
| 10 | Newark & Sherwood | East Midlands | £2,682 |
| 11 | Oxford | South East | £2,678 |
| 12 | Hastings | South East | £2,677 |
| 13 | Liverpool | North West | £2,674 |
| 14 | Mid Devon | South West | £2,656 |
| 15 | Eastbourne | South East | £2,654 |
15 cheapest councils (Band D, 2026-27)
| # | Council | Region | Band D |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wandsworth | London | £1,028 |
| 2 | Westminster | London | £1,050 |
| 3 | City of London | London | £1,330 |
| 4 | South Lanarkshire | Scotland | £1,468 |
| 5 | Shetland Islands | Scotland | £1,488 |
| 6 | Western Isles | Scotland | £1,506 |
| 7 | Hammersmith & Fulham | London | £1,520 |
| 8 | North Lanarkshire | Scotland | £1,555 |
| 9 | Fife | Scotland | £1,574 |
| 10 | Dumfries & Galloway | Scotland | £1,579 |
| 11 | Angus | Scotland | £1,599 |
| 12 | Scottish Borders | Scotland | £1,619 |
| 13 | East Renfrewshire | Scotland | £1,620 |
| 14 | Edinburgh | Scotland | £1,626 |
| 15 | West Lothian | Scotland | £1,628 |
Average Band D council tax by region
| Region / nation | Average Band D | Councils |
|---|---|---|
| North East | £2,526 | 12 |
| South West | £2,507 | 28 |
| North West | £2,478 | 36 |
| South East | £2,475 | 65 |
| East Midlands | £2,449 | 36 |
| West Midlands | £2,400 | 30 |
| East of England | £2,393 | 44 |
| Yorkshire | £2,374 | 15 |
| Wales | £2,326 | 22 |
| London | £2,090 | 33 |
| Scotland | £1,662 | 32 |
FAQ
Which UK area has the most expensive council tax?
Dorset has the highest Band D council tax in this dataset at £2,765 for 2026-27, including county, police, fire and average parish precepts.
Where is council tax cheapest in the UK?
Wandsworth has the cheapest Band D council tax at £1,028 for 2026-27. The full list of the 15 cheapest councils is below.
What is the average Band D council tax in the UK?
The official averages are £2,392 in England, £1,653 in Scotland and £2,283 in Wales. Across the 353 councils listed here the median is £2,410. Scottish figures exclude water and waste water charges.
Why does council tax vary so much between areas?
The gap from £1,028 to £2,765 (a spread of £1,737) comes down to each council's budget, the size of its tax base, adult social care and police/fire precepts, and central government funding. Two identical homes in different areas can have very different bills.
Method & source
Figures are the official 2026-27 Band D council tax for 353 billing authorities, before any discount. England: MHCLG, Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England 2026 to 2027, area Band D including county, police, fire and average parish precepts. Scotland: Scottish Government, Council Tax by band 2026-27, excluding water and waste water. Wales: Welsh Government, Council Tax levels: April 2026 to March 2027, including police and community council precepts. Rankings are free to cite with a link to this page.