The cost of living in countryside areas has been rising almost twice as fast as in the UK as a whole, according to a new study.
An analysis of spending on items including fuel, electricity, food and drink showed that "rural inflation" increased by 7.7% over the past year, compared to the national average of 4.3%.
The report, by rural insurer NFU Mutual, said the difference was driven by increased fuel and electricity prices, which had a bigger impact on people living in the countryside.
The difference means that countryside dwellers pay £2,000 a year more for goods and services than the national average, said the report.
Richard Percy, chairman of NFU Mutual, said: "Our findings show that, on the whole, people living in the countryside have a better quality of life than their urban counterparts, but that costs associated with this are becoming increasingly difficult to bear for families on lower incomes.
"While there are clearly lots of people who pay this countryside premium willingly, and can well afford to do so, we cannot lose sight of the fact that there are also many others in rural areas who don't enjoy the luxury of being able to move to cheaper areas and are struggling to make ends meet."
The study was based on a survey of 1,300 people living in countryside areas.