Are you looking for the most expensive places to live in the UK? Whether you come to the UK for study, work or immigration, accommodation is one of the most urgent things you need to consider. This article lists UK the most expensive places to live according to the data from the Office for National Statistics.
Top 10 Most Expensive Places to Live in the UK
Industries related to studying abroad in the UK, including rentals, were affected by COVID-19 and experienced a lean period. But now there has been a full economic recovery and the UK rental prices have risen again. Besides, the Bank of England has raised interest rates further for concerning about inflation. This will not only increase the cost necessities for the British people, but also cause the rental to rise.
London, undoubtedly, is still the most expensive city to rent in the UK. According to the Office for National Statistics, the following table lists the top 10 most expensive places to rent in the UK, with the average advertised rent per month.
| Rank | City | Average Rental Per Month |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London | ￡2,264 |
| 2 | Bristol | ￡1,759 |
| 3 | Brighton | ￡1,733 |
| 4 | St Albans | ￡1,719 |
| 5 | Oxford | ￡1,659 |
| 6 | Cambridge | ￡1,647 |
| 7 | Winchester | ￡1,338 |
| 8 | Edinburgh | ￡1,343 |
| 9 | Portsmouth | ￡1,265 |
| 10 | Chelmsford | ￡1,252 |
Most Expensive Cities to Live in UK
1. London: ￡2,264
- Average rent: ￡2,264
- Universities included:
Imperial College London; University College London; King’s College London; London School of Economics and Political Science
London has always been the most expensive place to live in the UK. As the capital of the UK, London is famous for its prosperity, long history and diverse cultures. Moreover, London is quite secure, with police and fire stations located nearby. Besides, residents here are generally friendly and are willing to help you if you need. With plenty of universities everywhere, there are diverse communities, including modern apartments and antique buildings. Whether you like the hustle and bustle of city life or favour a quieter suburban environment, you can find satisfying student accommodation in London. No matter what type of transport you choose, it is easy to reach your destination. In summary, while the rental here may be more expensive than in other places, you can enjoy more amenities and a better location.
2. Bristol: ￡1,759
- Average rent: ￡1,759
- Universities included:
University of Bristol; University of the West of England
Bristol, with the River Avon running through the city, is the largest city in southwest England and the second most expensive place to live in the UK. As a vibrant centre of commerce, education and culture in the southwest of England, the rent of Bristol accommodation is pretty high. Bristol has been an important commercial port since the Middle Ages. Although its status as an external port has declined later, Bristol has transformed into an industrial centre, and is now even the space centre of the UK.
3. Brighton: ￡1,733
- Average rent: ￡1,733
- Universities included:
University of Brighton; University of Sussex
Brighton is a seaside city in the south of England and the third most expensive place in the UK. While most British cities tend to regard a cathedral as the city’s centre, Brighton is not like that, with its landmark being the Royal Pavilion. Brighton is also known for its pebble-strewn beaches, dotted with white Georgian villas facing the sea. Brighton is also the place where many celebrities choose to buy properties. If you want to live like a superstar, it is a good choice for you to choose Brighton accommodation.
4. St. Albans: ￡1,719
- Average rent: ￡1,719
- Universities included:
almost no prestigious universites, but more quiality secondary schools
Although there are a few universities in St. Albans, the rent in this place is pretty high for its secondary schools and beautiful scenery. St. Albans was a major town during the Roman Empire’s occupation of Britain (at that time, this place was known as “Verulamium”), so there are a lot of historical attractions, such as Verulamium Museum and St. Albans Museum. The Bell Tower, built in 1403-1412, is the only medieval bell tower in England, and the original bell “Gabriel” is still intact. And you can see the whole town from the top of the building. St. Albans is where the great physicist Stephen Hawking went to secondary school. It is a very convenient place to commute to London, and is also close to the sea, which is why many of the elite of London who are married and have children choose to settle down here, and makes this city one of the most expensive cities to live in the UK.
5. Oxford: ￡1,659
- Average rent: ￡1,659
- Universities included:
University of Oxford; Oxford Brookes University
As the only city in Oxfordshire, located in the southeast of England, Oxford is also the birthplace of the University of Oxford — the oldest university in the English-speaking world. Choosing Oxford accommodation allows you to experience the strong academic atmosphere of one of the world’s leading universities. There are also plenty of historic buildings, including the quadrangles, gothic spires and listed buildings, as well as vast tracts of greenery with fresh air and beautiful views.
6. Cambridge: ￡1,647
- Average rent: ￡1,647
- Universities included:
University of Cambridge
There is a river called River Cam, over which many bridges have been built, hence the city has been named Cambridge. Like Oxford, Cambridge is a fascinating university city, but the atmosphere is quite different. While Oxford is known as the “city within the university”, Cambridge is the “university within the city”. Although many medieval architectures have been preserved, Cambridge’s architectural style, as a whole, is vibrant and modern. Many theaters, galleries and other facilities in Cambridge, which do not seem to match this city, make this university city exude a strong literary atmosphere. It only takes about an hour to get to London by train, thus many people choose accommodation in Cambridge, even though they work or study in London. All of these make Cambridge one of the most expensive places to live in the UK.
7. Winchester: ￡1,338
- Average rent: ￡1,338
- Universities included:
University of Winchester
Located on the edge of the South Downs, Winchester is an original cathedral city just an hour driving from London, even closer than Cambridge! If you have to study or work in London, you can choose a proper accommodation in Winchester, for its convenient transport and relatively lower rent. There are many charming attractions here, you can stroll down High Street and get a taste of England, or visit the City Museum and learn about the city’s rich history. The best place to visit is Winchester Cathedral, which is the longest medieval church in Europe. As the former capital of England, it’s an ancient city that gives you an insight into the development of England.
8. Edinburgh: ￡1,343
- Average rent: ￡1,343
- Universities included:
University of Edinburgh
Located on the southern shore of the Firth of Forth, Edinburgh has always been the capital of Scotland and one of the most expensive cities to live in the UK. Economically, Edinburgh now relies heavily on the financial industry and is the largest financial centre in the UK outside of London. Culturally, Edinburgh has a long history, and many of its historical buildings have survived. Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace, St. Giles Cathedral and other famous places are located here. Edinburgh’s Old Town and New Town are listed as World Heritage Sites by the UNESCO. Education in Edinburgh is also well-developed, and one of the oldest universities in the UK, the University of Edinburgh, is located here and is still one of the top universities in the world. All of these reasons cause a relatively high rent cost. But living in Edinburgh accommodation will make you feel quite unforgettable.
9. Portsmouth: ￡1,265
- Average rent: ￡1,265
- Universities included:
University of Portsmouth
Portsmouth is ideally located, with railways directly linking to major cities in the south of the UK and London Waterloo Station. Portsmouth possesses commercial piers and international ferry terminals to France and Spain, making it the UK’s second busiest international passenger terminal. Once an important military pier in the United Kingdom, the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is a major attraction for visiting magnificent warships. The prices of accommodation in Portsmouth are also high due to its important location, which gives you easy access to most UK cities, as well as the surrounding European countries.
10. Chelmsford: ￡1,252
- Average rent: ￡1,252
- Universities included:
Anglia Ruskin University
Chelmsford is 32 miles northeast of London. And as it is easy to get to London, around 10,000 people travel to London by train everyday, making the Chelmsford Railway the busiest in the UK. This leads to the expensive Chelmsford accommodation cost,
Other Most Expensive Cities to Live in the UK
1. Milton Keynes: ￡1,218
- Average rent: ￡1,218
- Universities included:
The Open University
Milton Keynes is located in the centre of England. It is not only a vital economic city of the United Kingdom, but also a successful example of the UK’s new-built towns and cities. Milton Keynes is Britain’s first satellite city and is only 45 minutes from central London. The town is surrounded by dense forests and has more than 10 man-made lakes, making it a beautiful landscape. Its urbanization and charming landscape make Milton Keynes’ accommodation cost higher than other places.
2. Glasgow: ￡1,187
- Average rent: ￡1,252
- Universities included:
University of Glasgow; Glasgow School of Art
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland, located at the mouth of the River Clyde in the west of Scotland. Glasgow is not only Scotland’s largest city and largest commercial port, but also the third largest city in the United Kingdom. In recent years, Glasgow has gradually developed into one of the top ten financial centres in Europe, and many Scottish companies have set their headquarters here. Thus, there are more job opportunities. In 2011, Glasgow was voted the 3rd most liveable city in the UK and the 57th most liveable city globally. As a result, living in Glasgow accommodation gradually becomes the perfect choice for many.
3. York: ￡1,103
- Average rent: ￡1,103
- Universities included:
University of York
Nowadays, York is not only a tourist attraction, but also a transport hub, education and business centre. It is a major rail transit station and is the meeting point between the Pennines and the east coast of England. York’s fertile land once made it a thriving wool market. Many people choose York accommodation to enjoy the beautiful scenery and farm life.
4. Leeds: ￡1,095
- Average rent: ￡1,095
- Universities included:
University of Leeds
Leeds is the third largest city in the United Kingdom, as well as the second largest financial and legal centre in the United Kingdom. As an international metropolis with complete infrastructure and convenient transport, Leeds is one of the cities where many people aspire to live. It is also located in the geographical centre of the UK, between London and Edinburgh, and is an important transport hub in the UK. If you work or study in London or Edinburgh, you can also choose to live in Leeds accommodation for spending slightly less money than in either city, and the living experience will not be worse.
5. Birmingham: ￡990
- Average rent: ￡990
- Universities included:
University of Birmingham; Birmingham City University
As the second largest international city in the UK after London, rental prices of Birmingham accommodation are relatively low compared to other major cities. Second only to London in terms of population and area, it is located in the middle of England, on the main rail line from London to Liverpool, and has extensive transport networks. With world-class companies, research and development centres, world-renowned universities and innovative entrepreneurs, Greater Birmingham is a vibrant and thriving business region with more than 1,900 international companies. And it is one of the UK’s major manufacturing centres, where many people choose to seek work opportunities.
Choose the Most Expensive Places to Live in the UK
The latest top 10 most expensive places to live in the UK are listed. Regardless of price, these places each have their own advantages and disadvantages. When you arrive in one of the above cities for the first time, the first thing you need to address is housing. However, facing a completely new environment, you may feel confused. It is really challenging to find an apartment that can be rented at a lower price, and equipped with better facilities and better services. We have a large number of properties available in the above cities, which can be found on uhomes.com. We will offer a professional and high-quality service until you find your own home in this new place.
FAQ
When you move to a totally new place, the first and most critical thing to do is find an apartment to live. Don’t worry. You can follow these 10 steps.
- Get information about the city
- Determine the region you will stay in
- Calculate your budget
- Search for apartments
- Make an appointment to see the apartments
- Conduct a background investigation
- Pay earnest money
- Sign a contract
- Get the key
- Pay the retainage
The whole process of renting an apartment is complicated and requires strong information searching and organizing skills. If you want to make renting an apartment in a foreign place more convenient, you can make inquiries and reservations on uhomes.com. We have a wide selection of properties, and our professional team will work out a suitable plan for you. It is also ensured that your money is safe and the information is transparent during the rental process. We sincerely hope you will have a satisfying start in a new place.
| Types of property | Detached | Semi-detached | Terraced | Flats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average sold price | ￡1,274,789 | ￡780,526 | ￡798,774 | ￡510,030 |
Here are the cheapest cities to rent, according to the Office for National Statistics, with the average advertised rent per month:
- Hull: ￡589
- Stoke-On-Trent: ￡598
- Carlisle: ￡607
- Doncaster: ￡611
- Sunderland: ￡618
- Preston: ￡670
- Bradford: ￡672
- Wrexham: ￡688
- Lancaster: ￡701
- Aberdeen: ￡808
