Are you on the hunt for an affordable and desirable place to live? There are plenty of cheaper places to live in the UK that have plenty to offer. It just takes a little research. Don’t worry – we’ve done all the hard work for you to help you find a place to live that’s right for you.
The UK housing market is in a state of flux. It’s fair to say that the shocks of Brexit, Covid, the cost of living crisis, and historic underinvestment in housing stock mean prices are high. However, a significant portion of the population can’t afford to get on the housing ladder, making it hard for some sellers to find a buyer.
The UK has always had places that are more desirable (and therefore expensive) to live in, such as London and the South East, big cities, and natural beauty spots – but what about at the other end of the market? What are the most affordable places to live in the UK?
This post explores some of the cheapest places to live in the UK that still offer great, safe surroundings, plenty to do, and a good quality of life. So, let’s get started, shall we?
The cheapest places to live in the UK
Before we start looking at the cheapest places to live, let’s set a benchmark with the most expensive as of April 2024:
| City | Average Monthly Rent | Average House Price |
| London | £2,264 | £501,934 |
| Oxford | £1,561 | £338,085 |
| Cambridge | £1,533 | £361,429 |
| St Albans | £1,533 | £391,964 |
| Brighton | £1,468 | £335,402 |
| Bristol | £1,336 | £280,112 |
| Winchester | £1,332 | £344,638 |
| Edinburgh | £1,310 | £239,028 |
| Chelmsford | £1,300 | £262,522 |
| Milton Keynes | £1,300 | £351,197 |
The 6 most desirable and affordable places to live in the UK
1. Durham
A safe, beautiful, and historic cathedral city on the River Wear, Durham is incredibly popular with students, families, and those settling into retirement. Durham University is ranked in the global Top 100, and the city itself boasts buildings and history back to the Saxons. There are tons of galleries and museums, independent shops and restaurants, and plenty of employment options in various sectors, especially education. What’s more, the stunning landscapes of the Yorkshire Dales and Northumberland National Parks and the North Pennines AONB make getting your fill of fresh air a doddle.
Although not the cheapest in the UK, the cost of living in Durham is very reasonable considering your surroundings, and the average rent for a 1-bedroom flat is £650 per month. In 2024, Durham’s average house price was around £185,000.
2. Liverpool
While the endless march of gentrification and increased cost of living is affecting the city, Liverpool remains one of the most affordable and exciting places to live in the UK. Combining a cosmopolitan vibe with excellent cultural, sporting, and artistic history, it has everything you could need. Residents love the bustling city centre, iconic waterfront, easy access to local beaches, and great transport links to the rest of the country.
It also boasts a cost of living 25% lower than London, and rents a whopping 63% lower! In 2023, the average house price in Liverpool was £164,000.
3. Glasgow
The biggest city in Scotland, and the third biggest city proper in the UK, Glasgow is one of the best cheap(er) places to live outside London. Over 1.1m people live in Greater Glasgow, and it’s incredibly popular with tourists drawn by the rich history, tons of free galleries, museums and attractions, high-end shopping and amazing nightlife. Easy access to Edinburgh, as well as the wilds of the Scottish Highlands, make Glasgow a great choice for people who like the great outdoors too.
While rents are higher than other places on this list, the cost of living in Glasgow is still considered affordable, and the average house price in 2023 was £153,310.
4. Norwich
The jewel of Norfolk’s crown, Norwich is the best-preserved mediaeval city in the UK and offers a fantastic quality of living at a reasonable price. Easily accessible from London and the Midlands, it offers everything you’d expect from a modern city. Perched on the edge of the Norfolk Broads National Park and near the stunning beaches of East Anglia, it’s a great choice for students and young professionals, families, and people looking for a slightly slower pace of life in safe surroundings.
Norwich’s cost of living is quite low, with reasonably priced public transport and average rents for a 1-bedroom bedroom apartment in the city centre hovering around £600 per month. The average property price is higher than many places on this list and sits at £290,000.
5. Belfast
Heading across the Irish Sea, Belfast is an up-and-coming, vibrant city that’s very affordable. A young population with plenty of students and young professionals, and on the doorstep of a stunning landscape that features mountains, hills, loughs and rivers, it also offers plenty of shopping, nightlife, food and drink and cultural activities.
Belfast is one of the least expensive places to live in the UK with average rents for city centre 1-bedroom flats at around £500 per month, and average house prices of £180,000. Monthly travel passes for public transport are £50, while you should expect to pay around £120 per month for utilities.
6. Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough consistently ranks highest among the cheapest places to live in England. Nestled in the North Yorkshire countryside, it has excellent links to the bustling cities of Newcastle, York, and Leeds, as well as the beautiful landscapes of the North Pennines AONB, North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales National Parks.
Middlesbrough has suffered from decades of industrial decline but also has an undeserved bad reputation. There are all the amenities you’d expect from a large town, with good transport links and employment opportunities in the education, healthcare and industrial sectors.
The cost of living in Middlesbrough is low, with average rents around £550 per month and average house prices at just £110,000. Flats and terraced houses can easily be found for under £100,000.
While the disparity in affordability in the UK is quite big, there are plenty of great places to live that won’t break the bank. Many affordable towns and cities in the UK are safe, well-equipped and have good access to the countryside and other cities. If you need to sell your house quickly and would like a cash sale completed within a week, don’t hesitate to contact Zapperty.