Right. There is virtually no difference here. I can get a 1BR flat around the corner for 15K GBP or a 1BR flat 1.5 hours away via metro for 10K GBP + 3K GBP tr

Right. There is virtually no difference here. I can get a 1BR flat around the corner for 15K GBP or a 1BR flat 1.5 hours away via metro for 10K GBP + 3K GBP travel costs. 3 hours commuting daily for 2K GBP saved? Not even minimum wage. (Driving is impossible, by the way. Parking costs would be 20GBP a day or more. A motorcycle could possibly work.) I actually think that commuting is broken as a concept, at least considering cost savings. It's likely easier for me to find a way to stuff in an extra hour of work, freelance or whatever, and do that instead of commuting.