Commuters, who spend hours on trains, may be better off living in London when fares increase next year

by Beth Robson

Quality of life for Kent's commuters will take another blow in 2012 with 8% fare hikes making living in London cheaper than some towns.

Couples from Sevenoaks will pay almost £100 more a month than people living in Greenwich in mortgage repayments and travel costs.

The statistics were compiled by County Homesearch and include what will be a triple-whammy for commuters when car parking fees at train stations and the cost of monthly Oyster Card season tickets also rise.

Kim O'Farrell of West Malling said she and her husband pay as much to get to get to work as they do for their mortgage.

"Luckily both of us get paid above the average salary but there's no way you could commute on the minimum wage or on the 25 grand mark," she said.

Mrs O'Farrell, who works in Chelsea, pays £336 per month for a 55-minute train ride, covering just 30 miles from West Malling to London Victoria.

She parts with an extra £4 each day for parking at West Malling station, although this will rise by another 8% in the New Year.

Jonathan Haward, director of County Homesearch, said: "The squeeze on disposable income by the rail companies will limit the quality of life, possibly forcing families to weigh up whether they want to spend such a high proportion of their income on travel."

In Maidstone, mortgage repayments of £1,130 combined with travel costs of £735 for two people will cost the same as living in Greenwich in a similar home.

The Greenwich figures are based on a home value of £341,000, monthly mortgage repayments of £1,694 and commuting costs of £197 for two people, totaling £1,891 each month.

Jon Hay-Campbell, media relations manager at Southeastern, said the increases are set by the Government to reduce the amount the tax-payer pays, moving the cost to the rail users.