September is upon us once more, meaning thousands of students will be packing their lives into boxes and heading off to new cities to start university. But when choosing a new place to study and call home for the next three years (and maybe even beyond that), how much does the cost of renting a home factor into that life step? We’ve taken a look at how average rents compare across more than 50 cities in Great Britain, highlighting where you’ll pay the least and the most to rent a home.
What’s happening in the rental market at the moment?
In recent years, the number of people looking to rent has outstripped the availability of homes, driving rents to record levels. And even though the pace of rent growth has slowed since 2022, when we saw it increase by 12% on average, average asking rents are still climbing. The average advertised rent outside London has grown 5% since last year, to a new record of £1,349.
We have looked back to 2019 to see how rents have grown since then, and we’ve seen the biggest percentage rise in the cheapest cities. Bradford has seen the biggest increase in the last five years, with average rents climbing by 63%.
Our property expert, Tim Bannister, says: “The rental divide across Great Britain is clear, with an average difference of just over £1,500 between the most expensive and cheapest cities. Many of these cities have seen rental growth of over 40% over the past five years, meaning it’s likely to be a significant consideration when students are thinking about where to study, and those who have already graduated working out if they can afford to stay in that city and find a job.”
In the most expensive city for renters outside London, St Albans, average rents are 71% above the current national average. While the cheapest city for renters, Carlisle, has average rents 41% below the national average. Take a look at the 10 cheapest and most expensive cities to rent below:
10 cheapest cities for renters
| Cities | Region | Average monthly rental payment August 2024 | Average monthly rental payment August 2019 | 5 year % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlisle | North West | £791 | £539 | 47% |
| Hull | Yorkshire and The Humber | £804 | £591 | 36% |
| Sunderland | North East | £807 | £591 | 37% |
| Stoke-On-Trent | West Midlands | £863 | £584 | 48% |
| Wrexham | Wales | £874 | £589 | 48% |
| Bradford | Yorkshire and The Humber | £947 | £581 | 63% |
| Preston | North West | £952 | £642 | 48% |
| Doncaster | Yorkshire and The Humber | £974 | £649 | 50% |
| Lancaster | North West | £993 | £723 | 37% |
| Wakefield | Yorkshire and The Humber | £1,030 | £707 | 46% |
10 most expensive cities for renters
| Cities | Region | Average monthly rental payment August 2024 | Average monthly rental payment August 2019 | 5 year % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Albans | East of England | £2,307 | £1,738 | 33% |
| Oxford | South East | £2,237 | £1,588 | 41% |
| Cambridge | East of England | £2,072 | £1,483 | 40% |
| Winchester | South East | £2,049 | £1,565 | 31% |
| Brighton | South East | £2,040 | £1,530 | 33% |
| Edinburgh | Scotland | £1,778 | £1,251 | 42% |
| Bristol | South West | £1,758 | £1,191 | 48% |
| Chelmsford | East of England | £1,686 | £1,204 | 40% |
| Milton Keynes | South East | £1,590 | £1,137 | 40% |
| Southend-On-Sea | East of England | £1,495 | £1,077 | 39% |
If you’re looking to rent a home soon, there are things you can do to put yourself in the best possible position to secure the home you want. Take a look at our tips to boost your chances of getting a viewing.
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