Just where are the cheapest places to live in the UK? Are you thinking of buying a home but unsure where to start? Want to know where your city appears in our affordability list?
Our latest research has revealed the most and least affordable cities in the UK to buy a home.
Carry on reading and take a look at our chart below.
Where should I buy a house?
If you’re ready to buy a house but wondering where then we’ve got you covered.
It’s no surprise to see that our research shows a clear divide between cheapest places to live in the North and South of the country.
“Everyone knows property costs more in the South than in the North. But homes in the North aren’t just cheaper, they are often more affordable too. Our research shows they can cost as little as three or four times the average salary, even in beautiful cities like Durham.”
Phil Spencer.
Where is the cheapest place to live?
The least affordable towns and cities are all in southern and eastern England, while the most affordable are in the North and Scotland.
If you live in the North of England or looking to buy a home in more northerly counties, then this is good news for you. Our data reveals this is where the average person’s salary can stretch the furthest to afford a home in the local area.
The further south you look, the least affordable houses become based on the average salary in the area and local house prices.
” Not everyone is willing or able to move to the other side of the country, but if you would like to buy and can’t afford to where you are, it’s worth investigating where your money will go further and buy you a better standard of living.”
Phil Spencer.
Burnley revealed as the most cheapest place to live
With homes costing just 3.2 times the average local salary, Burnley takes the enviable top spot as Britain’s cheapest place to live.
In this historic city, the average property costs just over £105,000 while the average resident earns £32,275.
Top 10 cheapest places to buy a home in the UK
As revealed by our research, the second and third most cheapest place to live in the UK is in Hyndburn and Blackpool.
In Hyndburn, average property prices fell -6.00% in the past year to £123,000. These are also good places to look if buying a house alone.
In our research we’ve used UK house price index data running from September 2022 to September 2023.
| Rank | Area | Average House Price | Change Over Past Year |
| 1. | Burnley | £105,000 | -10.90% |
| 2. | Hyndburn | £123,000 | -6.00% |
| 3. | Blackpool | £127,000 | -7.80% |
| 4. | Pendle | £129,000 | -4.60% |
| 5. | County Durham | £130,000 | -0.50% |
| 6. | City of Kingston upon Hull | £135,000 | -1.80% |
| 7. | Hartlepool | £136,000 | 1.00% |
| 8. | Blackburn with Darwen | £138,000 | -5.10% |
| 9. | Middlesborough | £140,000 | -3.80% |
| 10. | Stoke-on-Trent | £141,000 | -1.60% |
Where are the most expensive places to buy a home?
London and it’s boroughs hold the top spot in our table of the least affordable place to buy a home in the UK. Many commuter towns for London are also quite expensive, due to their proximity to the capital.
If you live down South, then this probably won’t come as a big shock to you.
If you’re currently renting in London or looking to buy in the big smoke, you’ll be forgiven for feeling that it’s not very affordable at all – and, you’d be right.
The most expensive places to buy a home in the UK
Check out our chart below to see where your city ranks in our list of most expensive places to buy a home in the UK.
| Rank | Town / City | Average House Price | Change Over Past Year |
| 1. | Kensington and Chelsea | £1,203,000 | -20.60% |
| 2. | City of Westminster | £967,000 | -2.20% |
| 3. | Camden | £811,000 | -5.80% |
| 4. | City of London | £807,000 | -15.70% |
| 5. | Hammersmith and Fulham | £797,000 | -1.80% |
| 6. | Richmond upon Thames | £756,000 | -1.40% |
| 7. | Islington | £719,000 | -2.10% |
| 8. | Elmbridge | £705,000 | -2.50% |
| 9. | Wandsworth | £638,000 | -2.60% |
| 10. | Haringey | £624,000 | 1.90% |
Need help to buy a home?
If you need help to know where to start to buy a house, then we’re here for you.
We can help guide you through the home buying process and decision making with our expert property advice for homebuyers.
We’ve also created handy checklists to guide you through every stage of home buying and ensure you avoid common mistakes. Sign up (it’s free) to access your checklists in the My Move iQ Library.
And if that wasn’t enough, we’ve even created an entire Podcast all focused on helping you to buy a home – listen right here or on your favourite podcast app!
Last Updated: December 11th, 2023
