Prices for everything seem like they’re going through the roof, and whilst some of it is just a feeling, there’s a lot to prove us right. Housing is a big part of this, and in Greater Manchester we expect to be able to get things for a bit cheaper than, let’s say, down south or in a capital city like Edinburgh. But, in fact, Rightmove has found that our very own City of Salford is actually one of the most expensive cities to rent in in the whole of the UK.
Rightmove’s latest Rental Trends Tracker broke the news that average rents have fallen for the first time since 2019 – but rental costs remain high, and are still 4.3% higher than they were at this time last year. So, they looked at rental costs across more than 50 cities in Great Britain to find the cheapest (and most expensive) places to rent right now.
As of January 2025, the average advertised rent per calendar month stands at £1,526 – up 4.3% versus this time year last year. But price changes, as well as average rental prices, vary significantly depending on location. In Salford – one of the most expensive cities for renting – the monthly cost of renting has jumped by 30.5% in the last year. In Dundee, meanwhile, prices have dropped 3.7% during the same period.
“We’re seeing rental price growth slowing overall and a better balance between supply and demand,” said Steve Pimblett, Chief Data Officer at Rightmove. “However, as seen by this data, the picture can look quite different depending on where you’re looking to live, and agents tell us the market is still very busy compared with pre-pandemic norms.”
London remains the most expensive place to rent in the country, of course, with average advertised costs of £2,695 per calendar month.
The 10 most expensive UK cities for renters (with average advertised rent per month):
- London – £2,695
- St. Albans – £2,330
- Oxford – £2,041
- Winchester – £1,985
- Brighton – £1,880
- Cambridge – £1,870
- Chelmsford – £1,857
- Salford – £1,739
- Milton Keynes – £1,641
- Edinburgh – £1,620
Although Salford is the only northern city to be named one of the most expensive to rent in, it’s not all doom and gloom, as the North West did score some positions in the cheapest places to rent. The likes of Stoke-on-Trent, Bradford, Lancaster and Preston all made it to the top 10 cheapest places to rent in the UK, and since none of these are too far flung from Greater Manchester, could make an interesting alternative if you’re interested in saving some pennies.