Which UK city is top Trump?

June 24, 2019

This press release contains no presidential suits, blonde wigs or fake tan we’re afraid. Leading room share platform, ideal flatmate, has reproduced their own version of the classic card game, Top Trumps, pitting UK cities head to head on a range of criteria that appeal or relate to those living in room shares across the UK.

ideal flatmate took 22 major UK cities and looked at how they compared when it came to: –

  • The average rent for a room in that city.
  • The average take-home salary after tax.
  • The cost of a pint, although other alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are available.
  • The cost of a meal out for two people.
  • The cost of a gym membership.
  • The percentage of singles in the city.

The cities included are: –

  • London, Belfast, Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Oxford, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Southampton and Swansea.

You can see some of the best for each category below but you can also see them all at: https://www.idealflatmate.co.uk/flatmate-HQ/which-uk-city-is-top-trump/ 

For your city or any others in a high-res format please get in touch.

When it comes to scoring, it’s pretty straight forward.

The lower the rent, the cost of a pint, the cost of a meal and the cost of a gym membership the better. The higher the salary and the percentage of singles, the better. Easy.

So, Belfast comes out top when it comes to the cost of renting a room in the city, while London is predictably home to the highest room rental cost, although it does trump the rest where salary is concerned.

Sheffield and Liverpool tie for the honour of cheapest pint, while Manchester is home to the highest number of single people within its population and Swansea boasts the cheapest gym membership costs.

Tom Gatzen, co-founder of ideal flatmate, commented:

“As we’ve launched the ideal flatmate platform across more and more cities in the UK we wanted to do something to celebrate the diversity of these cities and we wanted to do it in a way that wouldn’t just focus on one aspect, but a number of areas that we know are important to those that rent rooms.

Everyone likes to show their hometown pride and what better way to do it then going head to head with other major UK cities.”  

Location
Average Room Rent
Average Monthly Salary
Average Cost of a Pint
Average Meal for Two
Average  Gym Membership
Singles %
Aberdeen
£266
£1,852
£3.60
£56
£34
42.70%
Belfast
£270
£1,566
£4.00
£40
£24
46.60%
Swansea
£286
£1,675
£3.50
£48
£21
36.70%
Newcastle
£350
£1,661
£3.50
£40
£23
46.50%
Birmingham
£364
£1,661
£3.62
£50
£22
41.60%
Cardiff
£399
£1,780
£3.50
£40
£24
45.00%
Plymouth
£401
£1,654
£3.50
£45
£28
37.10%
Nottingham
£412
£1,448
£3.15
£40
£26
51.30%
Sheffield
£428
£1,675
£3.00
£40
£26
41.20%
Liverpool
£438
£1,803
£3.00
£40
£25
49.70%
Leicester
£441
£1,727
£3.50
£45
£28
41.50%
Manchester
£464
£1,750
£4.00
£50
£25
54.90%
Portsmouth
£515
£1,585
£4.00
£45
£25
43.50%
Edinburgh
£525
£1,922
£4.00
£58
£32
45.30%
Bristol
£534
£2,032
£4.20
£50
£33
47.00%
Oxford
£544
£1,816
£4.00
£50
£35
53.80%
Southampton
£546
£2,070
£3.50
£40
£25
45.30%
Leeds
£548
£1,918
£3.50
£40
£26
40.80%
Cambridge
£562
£1,885
£4.00
£50
£34
52.60%
Bournemouth
£575
£1,635
£3.75
£45
£32
40.80%
Glasgow
£588
£1,729
£3.50
£50
£24
49.20%
London
£745
£2,305
£5.00
£63
£43
44.10%

 

Properganda PR

National and local media coverage for property businesses. Journo quotes delivered in minutes.

You May Also Enjoy

Estate Agent Talk

How to Pick the Ideal Utilities for your Business

Sorting out utilities might not be the most exciting part of running a business, but it is one of those things that quietly affects everything else. Whether it is your electricity, gas, water or internet, these services keep your business moving day to day. Getting them right can help you stay in control of costs…
Read More →
Letting Agent Talk

Advice for London landlords and tenants ahead of the Renters’ Rights Act implementation

Phase one of the Renters’ Rights Act (RRA) comes into force on 1 May 2026, and with it brings about the most significant overhaul of the private rental sector in a generation. While the Act will see new responsibilities introduced, it will also offer an opportunity for landlords to strengthen their practices with a clear…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

Budget-friendly ways to boost your chances of a successful spring house sale

With many households feeling the pressure of changing global economic conditions, tighter finances, and the high costs associated with moving, such as Stamp Duty, legal fees and removals, selling a home can currently feel like challenge. At the same time, spring traditionally brings a surge in buyer activity. Longer days and better weather tend to encourage more viewings,…
Read More →
Letting Agent Talk

Expert Reacts To Renters’ Rights Act Ahead of Changes This Week

The Renters’ Rights Act comes into force this week (1st May), introducing major reforms to tenancy structures, eviction rules, and tenant protections across England. The changes will reshape how landlords manage properties and how tenants experience private renting, with significant implications for student private rentals and the wider rental market. Ahead of implementation, Owen Dixon,…
Read More →
Breaking News

52% of buyers are cash purchasers – and they’re ready to move

New research from LRG reveals that sellers entering the spring market are meeting an unusually large pool of cash-ready buyers, many of whom aren’t constrained by affordability, but by a lack of suitable homes. According to LRG’s Spring 2026 Sales Report, based on a survey of 307 buyers and sellers across England and Wales, more than…
Read More →
for sale sign london
Breaking News

Landlords sell up as Renters’ Rights prove final straw

Leading Kent and London law firm Thackray Williams have had a wave of last-minute instructions from landlords looking to sell their portfolios ahead of the Renters’ Rights Act coming into force this Friday. The litigation team has been instructed to seek possession by landlords wishing to sell their entire buy-to-let portfolios, as well as last-minute…
Read More →