Renting in the United Kingdom
A national snapshot — what rent costs across the country, who lives here, and the cities that stand out for affordability, safety and value.
35,672 sub-areas · 335 cities · 10 regions
Who lives in the UK
Population-weighted shares from the 2021 Census, rolled up across every neighbourhood. Each block sums to ~100%.
- Median rent£1,204/mo
- Median annual salary£33,383
- Rent / take-home55%
ONS Census 2021 (TS021 ethnicity · TS030 religion · TS004 country of birth · TS001 age · TS054 tenure). Mortgage estimate: 25-year, 5%.
Top cities by lens
Each list uses one filter; the basis is stated above the list. Click any city to see the full city profile.
Lowest median monthly rent (ONS PIPR). Cheapest cities in the UK.
Crime rate furthest below the national average (data.police.uk, 12-month rolling, normalised by ONS resident population).
Highest median monthly rent. The opposite end of the affordability scale.
Highest liveability per pound of rent (composite of safety + transport + schools + affordability vs national rent).
Where to live if you're a…
Five renter archetypes — each card opens a dedicated page ranking UK cities for that life stage.
Young professionals
Strong income-to-rent ratios, fast public transport, social density.
Ranked by: Salary, transport, jobs density
See top cities →Families
Top-decile schools, low crime, larger 3-bed stock at sensible rents.
Ranked by: Schools, safety, 3-bed rent
See top cities →Retirees
Lower air pollution, NHS access within walking distance, settled tenure mix.
Ranked by: Air quality, healthcare, tenure stability
See top cities →Remote workers
Gigabit broadband, low rent, decent rail link to a major city for office days.
Ranked by: Broadband, rent, rail access
See top cities →Students
Highest stock of HMOs and 1-bed flats, cheapest rents near campus.
Ranked by: 1-bed rent, transport, jobs density
See top cities →Regional breakdown
The UK at a glance — 10 regions, ordered by median rent.
| Region | Population | Cities | Median rent | Median salary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North East | 2,760,678 | 12 | £695/mo | £29,718 | View → |
| Wales | 3,186,581 | 22 | £744/mo | £30,854 | View → |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 5,672,962 | 15 | £759/mo | £30,683 | View → |
| North West | 7,737,414 | 35 | £878/mo | £31,443 | View → |
| East Midlands | 5,063,164 | 35 | £900/mo | £30,621 | View → |
| West Midlands | 6,187,204 | 30 | £938/mo | £30,180 | View → |
| South West | 5,889,695 | 27 | £1,037/mo | £31,848 | View → |
| East of England | 6,576,306 | 45 | £1,227/mo | £34,133 | View → |
| South East | 9,642,942 | 64 | £1,332/mo | £35,341 | View → |
| London | 9,089,736 | 33 | £1,928/mo | £39,239 | View → |
Rent: ONS PIPR. Salary: ONS ASHE. Population: ONS mid-year estimates.