As the new academic year begins, students across the UK are preparing for university life — and for many, it’s their first experience navigating the private rental market. With rents at record highs and affordability under pressure, the cost of accommodation is becoming a bigger factor in deciding where to study.
New data from Rightmove analyses average advertised rents across more than 50 cities in Great Britain, revealing sharp regional differences.
Hull and Sunderland are the most affordable cities for renters, with average monthly rents at £804, followed by Carlisle at £828. By contrast, the average rent across Great Britain now stands at £1,565 pcm, making Hull and Sunderland 49% cheaper than the national average.
For students sharing, the average rent for a two-bedroom flat is £1,612 pcm, while a four-bedroom house costs £2,260 pcm.
At the other end of the spectrum, St Albans ranks as the most expensive city outside London, with average advertised rents of £2,359 pcm. Oxford (£2,093) and Brighton (£2,031) follow closely behind. In London, rents have hit a record £2,712 pcm.
Even in the most affordable cities, affordability remains a concern. Rightmove notes that eight of the ten cheapest cities have seen rents increase by more than a third over the past five years.
Colleen Babcock, property spokesperson at Rightmove, said: “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.”
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% |
