Hull and Sunderland named cheapest cities for student renters
- Hull, Sunderland (both £804 per calendar month), and Carlisle (£828 per calendar month) top the list as the three lowest priced cities in Great Britain to rent
- The cost of renting in Hull & Sunderland is 49% lower than the average across Great Britain, which is currently £1,565 per month
- The data comes as students across the country get ready to either start or return to university:
- The average advertised rent for a two-bedroom flat is now £1,612 per month, while for a four-bedroom house it is now £2,260
- In contrast, St. Albans (£2,359 per month), Oxford (£2,093 per month), and Brighton (£2,031 per month) are the most expensive cities for renters outside of London
- In London, rents have reached a record £2,712 per calendar month
As September begins, students across the country are getting ready to either begin or return to university.
University is where many experience the private rented sector for the first time, and with rents at record high levels and affordability squeezed, some may be factoring in the cost of renting when choosing the location that they want to study.
New data from Rightmove, the UK’s largest property platform, analyses average rents across more than 50 cities in Great Britain. The analysis highlights the stark contrast in advertised rents depending on location.
Hull and Sunderland top the list as the cheapest cities for renters, at £804 per calendar month (pcm). Carlisle ranks third at £828 pcm.
The average advertised rent for a home across Great Britain is now £1,565 pcm, meaning renting a home in Hull or Sunderland is 49% cheaper than the national average.
The average advertised rent for a two-bedroom flat is now £1,612 per month, while for a four-bedroom house it is now £2,260
Meanwhile the most expensive city for renters outside of London is St. Albans. The average advertised rent is St. Albans is £2,359 per month. In second place is Oxford (£2,093 per month), and in third place is Brighton (£2,031 per month).
In London, rents have reached a record £2,712 per calendar month
Even within the lowest priced cities, affordability remains stretched. Rightmove’s data highlights that eight out of the ten lowest priced cities have seen rents rise by over a third compared to five years ago.
Colleen Babcock, property expert at Rightmove says: “Moving to a new city or just out of the family home for the first time is an exciting experience for many students, but trying to find that first place to rent can be hard. To make it easier, deciding on your budget range first can help you narrow the options. If you’re finding it difficult to find a home that ticks all your boxes, consider which areas you’re willing to compromise on. For example, you could move to an area further from transport or outside a city centre to make your budget go further. Another option might be to share with friends and split the rent. Local estate agents will be in the best position to guide you on available places within your budget, that tick most of your boxes.”
10 cheapest cities for renters in Great Britain
| Cities | Region | Average monthly rental payment | Annual change % | 5 year % change |
| Hull | Yorkshire | £804 | 5% | 35% |
| Sunderland | North East | £804 | 5% | 45% |
| Carlisle | North West | £828 | 11% | 51% |
| Stoke-On-Trent | West Midlands | £894 | 5% | 53% |
| Doncaster | Yorkshire and The Humber | £923 | 5% | 50% |
| Bradford | Yorkshire and The Humber | £930 | 3% | 67% |
| Wrexham | Wales | £947 | -5% | 45% |
| Dundee | Scotland | £963 | 0% | 66% |
| Durham | North East | £964 | -8% | 22% |
| Aberdeen | Scotland | £977 | -1% | 24% |
10 most expensive cities for renters in Great Britain outside of London
| Cities | Region | Average monthly rental payment | Annual change % | 5 year % change |
| St. Albans | East of England | £2,359 | 10% | 36% |
| Oxford | South East | £2,093 | 0% | 37% |
| Brighton | South East | £2,031 | 5% | 47% |
| Winchester | South East | £2,008 | -3% | 28% |
| Cambridge | East of England | £1,971 | -3% | 38% |
| Chelmsford | East of England | £1,717 | 1% | 40% |
| Bristol | South West | £1,660 | -1% | 39% |
| Milton Keynes | South East | £1,620 | 4% | 44% |
| Edinburgh | Scotland | £1,594 | -1% | 47% |
| Canterbury | South East | £1,449 | 1% | 36% |
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