London is a city with everything to make life exciting – art, music, food, and great job opportunities. Some may get discouraged by how expensive the house rents are. Buying a home is even harder. London’s rent is more than double the average in England, and house prices keep going up. As of 2020, house prices in London had risen by 3.9% in just a year, and median rents soared to £1,400, more than twice the national average.
It’s still possible to find affordable places to live in London, though it’s indeed a challenging task. We’ve taken the time to curate the cheapest places to live in London based on the latest rent prices across the city. Make sure you understand the cheap places to live in and outside of London and get the opportunity to fulfill your academic and business pursuits. Let’s go!
What is the Cost of Living in London?
The cost of living in London is higher than most other parts of the UK. On average, a single person needs about £2,892 per month, while a family of four spends around £4,850 per month. This includes housing, utilities, food, transport, and entertainment. It’s not surprising that rent takes more of the spending with an average cost of £2,219 per month for a flat. However, if you’re a student, renting student accommodation in London is generally cheaper than renting an apartment, especially when you use the uhomes.com rental platform. You’ll get 1-on-1 professional support to ensure that you get a perfect home near major universities in the city.
The Most Affordable Places to Live in London
Havering
- Average Rent Per Month: £1,250
- Zone: 6
Havering is a great choice if you’re looking for the most affordable places to live in London. It is located on the city’s eastern edge and offers cheaper house prices and rents, with an average rent of around £1,250 per month.
You’ll love this area if you’re a fan of countryside living. However, you’d get a little of the city living since you can easily catch the District Line, Overground, or C2C services from Upminster. Nature lovers will also fancy Having because it’s full of green spaces and parks, giving you plenty of free things to do in London at your leisure. You can watch wild deer roam at Bedfords Park, visit the historic village of Havering-atte-Bower, which has been around since Anglo-Saxon times, or even shop at the famous Romford Market, which has been running for 770 years.
The transport within the area and to other places in the city is super easy. Overall, Havering is one of most affordable neighbourhoods in London, and its family-friendly vibe, along with its high life satisfaction ratings, makes it well worth considering.
Croydon
- Average Rent Per Month: £1,250
- Zone: 5
A lot of factors contribute to making Croydon the cheapest part of London to rent. First, there’s a smooth mix of urban and suburban living and the average rent a month is £1,250. Additionally, this area is known for its incredible commuter connections. Trains from East Croydon station can get you to London Victoria in just 15 minutes.
Another interesting thing to note about this borough is that it has undergone a huge £3.5 billion regeneration, bringing in new offices, shops, homes, and facilities to make life better for everyone, including young people and those with disabilities. So, you see, despite all these developments, Croydon has managed to keep rents affordable.
If you ever need a breather, perhaps from work, you can always go to quieter areas like Purley, South Norwood, Coulsdon, and Norbury.
Hillingdon
- Average Rent Per Month: £1,300
- Zone: 6
Apart from being one of the cheapest areas to live in London, Hillingdon naturally has lots of unique attractions. The borough actually stretches along London’s western edge introducing you to highlights like Ruislip Lido’s sandy beach, the peaceful Grand Union Canal, and Ruislip Woods, a stunning 726-acre national nature reserve. No wonder it ranks the second-largest borough by area.
Beyond this, Hillingdon is also home to Heathrow Airport, a major employer, and Brunel University, which adds a lively, student-friendly vibe to the area. The average rent per month here is £1,300 per month, and the best part is that even everyday costs are low. For example, a pint of beer is about £2, much cheaper than in central London.
Overall, you’ve got a lot of things to enjoy here without breaking the bank. In fact, for just £2, you can join a guided bat walk, or check out the annual festival with attractions like birds of prey demonstrations and the thrilling Welsh Axemen lumberjack sports team.
Enfield
- Average Rent Per Month: £1,300
- Zone: 5
Another cheapest area to buy a house in London is Enfield. The average house price there is £403,170 while the rent goes for £1,300 per month. Even though this borough is located further north, it’s well-connected to central London. You’ll have easy access to public transport and major road links, so you’re never more than an hour away from the heart of the city.
One of the coolest perks of living in Enfield is that it sits in Zone 5 for transport. Do you know what this means? You’ll pay cheaper tube fares than in other areas. The borough also boasts plenty of green spaces, including the beautiful Forty Hall estate and Hilly Fields Park. So, there are lots of perfect outdoor activities to keep you engaged.
Bexley
- Average Rent Per Month: £1,250
- Zone: 5
With an average rent of £1,250 per month, Bexley is definitely one of the best affordable places to stay in London. You’ll find this borough between Dartford to the east and Greenwich to the west. Its proximity to areas like Bexleyheath, Sidcup, Erith, and Crayford makes it an ideal spot for those looking for a cheaper option without being too far from central London. You’ll get quick transport links including trains on the North Kent, Bexleyheath, and Dartford Loop lines.
The borough’s crime rate is low, so you can be sure of your safety. There are also lots of parks and green spaces for fun outdoor activities.
And if you like a pint, you’ll be happy to know that Bexleyheath offers drinks at an average of £3.03, much cheaper than the £5.19 average for a pint in central London.
Sutton
- Average Rent Per Month: £1,250
- Zone: 5
Another cheapest London borough to rent is Sutton with an average rent of £1,250 per month for a two-bedroom property. Even though the rent price of this area is almost the same as the ones we’ve reviewed above, Sutton stands out due to its lower overall living costs.
Aside from that, this borough is climate-conscious, having declared a climate emergency in 2019 and working toward becoming carbon neutral. You’ll love the beauty of the area and charming places like Cheam and Nonsuch Park, add to the excitement.
Now, if you have a family that prioritizes excellent schools, it might interest you to know that Sutton boasts the best GCSE results in London. To crown it all, commuting is easy with rail connections to central London stations like London Victoria, London Bridge, St Pancras, and Clapham Junction, so you can still work in the city without paying high rents.
Barking & Dagenham
- Average Rent Per Month: £1,400
- Zone: 4
Barking & Dagenham is normally taken as the cheapest places to live in London. It is in East London just nine miles from central London. A two-bedroom here costs about £1,400. Combining the convenience of commuting, it’s definitely one of the best places to stay in London.
What makes this borough stand out is its excellent transport links, including the Hammersmith & City and District lines, as well as National Rail services into Fenchurch Street. Also, with a new connection on the Elizabeth Line at Chadwell Heath, getting into the heart of London takes less than an hour from Barking station, which is in London Zone 4, a cheaper fare zone than some other areas.
So, if you’ve been meaning to live in East London where an ongoing regeneration and strong community spirit thrives, Barking & Dagenham is definitely worth considering.
Redbridge
- Average Rent Per Month: £1,343
- Zone: 4
Redbridge is definitely part of our list of most affordable areas in London to rent because the rent is approximately £1,343 per month. The atmosphere here is so calm and nurturing with the main center being Ilford. Other key areas like Wanstead and Woodford also offer a peaceful atmosphere while still being close to the action.
Another cool fact to note about Redbridge is that it is well connected by the Central Line, with easy access to the Epping Branch and Hainault Loop. This makes commuting into the heart of London fast and convenient.
Bromley
- Average Rent Per Month: £1,350
- Zone: 5
With just £1,350 per month, you’ll get a decent two-bedroom property in Bromley. This borough is located in the southeastern corner of Greater London and is the largest borough in London.
You should also know that although Bromley doesn’t have any London Underground stations, it’s well connected by other transport options. The borough is served by the Overground, as well as Thameslink, Southeastern, and Southern rail services, making it easy to commute into central London and beyond.
Overall, Bromley borough is perfect for those who want a more relaxed lifestyle but still need to stay connected to the hustle and bustle of London.
Waltham Forest
- Average Rent Per Month: £1,694
- Zone: 3
Finally, Waltham Forest is a great option if you’re looking to live near London without the high rent prices. In fact, a two-bedroom flat will cost only £1,694 per month. Plus the good transport links to the Underground and several bus routes will take you to London quickly.
One of the exciting things about this borough is that it is located in the historic county of Essex. Essentially, it was formed in 1965 when four areas, Chingford, Leyton, Leytonstone, and Walthamstow were merged.
One of the highlights of Waltham Forest is the annual Waltham Forest Mela. It’s such a vibrant celebration that brings together the culture, fashion, music, and dance of the South Asian communities living there.
Conclusion
To wrap it up, while living in Central London may seem expensive, there are still plenty of affordable areas where you can enjoy the city’s vibrant lifestyle without breaking the bank. Places like Havering, Croydon, Bromley, Redbridge, and Sutton are some of the top cheapest places to live in London. All these boroughs have a unique offer for all residents, so, feel free to explore them. No matter you are looking for cheap student accommodation in London or low-cost apartments for working professionals, you can always find something at uhomes.com!
FAQ on Cheapest Places to Live in London
How do people afford to live in London?
People can afford to live in London by renting houses in affordable areas outside the city center, sharing accommodation, or benefiting from good transport links that make commuting easier. Others try to be financially responsible with strategic budgeting and prioritized essential spending.
Where to live if you can't afford London?
If you can’t afford to live in London, consider a more affordable place to live in UK or a place outside of London like Havering, Croydon, Hillingdon, Enfield, Bexley, Sutton, Barking & Dagenham, Redbridge and Bromley.
East VS. West London: which is cheaper to live in?
It’s typically cheaper to live in the East London than in the West. As one of the most affordable places in London, East London stands out with a cheaper house price: £518,571, which is lower than the average level of London. While West London is considered more affluent.
Which Zone is the cheapest in London to rent?
London Zone 5 and 6 are normally the cheapest places to live in. Some neighbourhoods in London Zone 3 and 4 are best affordable to rent as well. You can find budget-friendly accommodation in these affordable areas in London to rent: Bexley, Sutton, Barking and Dagenham, Enfield, Hillingdon, and Havering.
