Cost of living in Devon?

Looking for cost of living information for North Devon, especially Barnstaple area.
We're family of three looking for 3-bedroom home in the 230,000 pound area.

What can we get for that amount?
Does the Council  tax replace the property tax?
Closing costs on housing?
Child care after school and before dinner?
School year start and end?
Utilities
Car/homeowner insurance
Meal /drinks in a pub --

cheers,
andy

www.rightmove.co.uk

type in the postcode and you'll see what £230,000 buys you.

council tax is kind of like property tax.  you pay the council £ for trash collection, police service, etc.  you pay this even if you're renting.

i purchased a house in the UK 18 months ago.  slightly less than what you're looking to buy.  my total costs (without deposit) was £4200.  this includes stamp duty (tax you pay the govt), searches, lawyer fees, bank transfer fees, etc. 

i use a cost comparison site www.uswitch.com to get the best deal on house insurance, utilites.  another great consumer website here is http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/

cant help on anything else.

Meggles info is a good start, obiously the figures will vary to an extent depending on the house, area, solicitors used, how much deposit you have etc etc.

School year is relatively easy to find out, email some of the schools in the area - but generally UK school year is 1st/2nd week of september to mid/late july

All the 'disposable' income costs you mention will vary, childcare costs, meals out, drinks out, car home insurance all will vary, so best to ring around various insurance companies to get an idea of your particular situation. The links meggles gave are great to start your research.

As an aside, Devon is one of those counties that has experienced a relatively rapid increase in property prices. Alot of people fed up of the constant rat race in London have moved to devon and accordingly prices have risen. In conjuction, as it's a scenic type county, that attractiion has added to values - on top of that, many of the newcomers have been retiree's and the surplus in wealth by moving to Devon means there's been a corresponding apparent 'increase' in desiribility over the last few years.

Good luck !

DtM! West London & Slough UK!

What he said.

Devon can be rather expensive. But it is a largish county so it depends upon where you are. Barnstaple is pretty rural so you should get a bit more for your money but you'll lack the close amenities of Exeter/Plymouth.

Apparently Barnstaple has a lot of it's own amenities and nine, count 'em, nine primary schools!

Doesn't sound like a little town to me. I will have to go there sometime myself - it's only up the coast a bit.
As for Plymouth, the place is a zoo.