With over 8.3 million Brits currently living alone and the number set to hit 10 million by 2039, a rising number of UK residents are enjoying their own personal space.
For those seeking a stronger sense of independence, solo living can often come with a hefty price tag. With this in mind, chartered surveyors Stokemont have analysed the rent and utility costs of the 20 biggest cities in the UK to find out how much your personal space is valued at in 2023.
Top 10 most expensive cities to live alone in the UK
|
Rank |
City |
Monthly rent of one bedroom apartment in the city centre |
Estimated monthly costs of one person (excluding rent) |
Estimated monthly living cost for one person in the city centre (including rent) |
|
1 |
London |
£2,087 |
£989 |
£3,075 |
|
2 |
Bristol |
£1,147 |
£767 |
£1,914 |
|
3 |
Edinburgh |
£1,005 |
£731 |
£1,736 |
|
4 |
Manchester |
£930 |
£752 |
£1,683 |
|
5 |
Leeds |
£831 |
£774 |
£1,605 |
|
6 |
Belfast |
£868 |
£699 |
£1,567 |
|
7 |
Newcastle |
£818 |
£740 |
£1,558 |
|
8 |
Southampton |
£810 |
£738 |
£1,548 |
|
9 |
Glasgow |
£786 |
£754 |
£1,539 |
|
10 |
Liverpool |
£784 |
£749 |
£1,533 |
The study found that the most expensive city to live alone in the UK is London, with a monthly living cost of £3,075. Over £1,000 more than any other city in the country. Central areas are particularly pricey, as the average monthly rent for a one bedroom flat will cost an average £2,087.
Bristol is the second most expensive city to live alone in, where the estimated monthly living cost is £1,914. Students and workers returning to the city after COVID has generated an imbalance in the housing demand-to-supply ratio, leading to higher rental costs. It was reported by Zoopla that many renters are paying up to 35% of their income towards rent, a figure which could increase further if the crisis continues.
The high rental costs in Edinburgh bring the city to third place. As it stands, the estimated monthly living cost for a single person is £1,736. The cost-of-living crisis prompted the Scottish government to introduce emergency measures to ease the blow of spiralling costs in September 2022, including a rent freeze and eviction ban, with London Mayor Sadiq Khan suggesting the approach could be effective in the English capital, too.
With an estimated monthly living cost of £1,683, Manchester follows in fourth. This is once again linked to what Zoopla labels the ‘chronic imbalance’ between supply and demand in the rental market. The situation is made worse by rising mortgage rates, which leave those looking to become first-time buyers in a position where their only option is to rent.
Leeds rounds off the top five. The estimated monthly cost of living alone in the city is £1,605. House price inflation in the northern city saw a growth of 13.6% last year, which is notably higher than the UK average of 9.2%.
Featured Photo by Lucas Davies on Unsplash.