Where are the Most Affordable Places to Move to in The UK 2026?

In this week’s home moving blog, we help you find where you could move to in the UK to get more home for your money and where the quality of life may be far better for you.

To help you choose an ideal place to move to, we have a whole section of guides about moving to the regions and cities of the UK. Be sure to check them out.

So now you can stop dreaming, start reading, and prepare to change your life forever!

Where are the Most Affordable Places to Live in the UK?

Where you live in the UK can have a significant effect on how much home you can get for your money. In this first section, we look at the average price of a home in the UK based on the latest 2025/2026 data.

Choosing to live outside the city often reduces the price of a home even more, but this list will point you to the right geographical area.

Which is the Cheapest City in the UK For First-Time Buyers?

According to 2025 and early 2026 data trends from Rightmove, affordable northern areas continue to dominate. While prices have risen significantly in some bargain spots due to high demand, these cities remain the most accessible:

• Aberdeen – £108,000
• Burnley – £114,000
• Hull – £118,500
• Sunderland – £122,000
• Bradford – £125,000

First-time buyers are increasingly looking at areas like Beeston in Leeds or Seacroft, where connectivity meets affordability.

You may also like to read: How to Find a New Housing Development. Many first-time buyers choose to move into a new-build home. In this guide, we show you some trade websites where you can find new developments before they are built, when the next phase is released, and a really useful website where you can find developments even by independent builders.

What is the Cheapest Region of the UK to Buy Property?

According to data taken from www.gov.uk and www.ons.gov.uk, these are the average costs of homes in the UK by region.

• North East: £168,000
• Northern Ireland: £185,000
• Scotland: £186,000
• Wales: £208,000
• Yorkshire and The Humber: £228,000
• North West: £235,000
• East Midlands: £255,000
• West Midlands: £260,000
• South West: £335,000
• East of England: £365,000
• South East: £395,000
• London: £515,000

You may also like to read: Is Life Better in the Countryside, the Suburbs, or the City? In this guide, we look at the pros and cons of living in different environments.

Where is the Cheapest Place in the UK to Rent a Home?

Renting remains a popular flexible option. According to Zoopla and Rightmove reports for early 2026, the North East and parts of Scotland offer the best value.

• Hartlepool: £578
• East Ayrshire: £602
• County Durham: £632
• Burnley: £642
• Hull: £674

Rental prices in commuter pockets like East Ayrshire are rising fast as people move further out from cities like Glasgow to find better value.

You may also like to read: Things to Know When Moving Into a Rented Property for the First Time. In this guide, we explain everything you need to know about renting a home, from contracts to checklists to questions to ask a landlord. You will find this guide invaluable.

Which are the Most Affordable Universities in the UK?

Based on 2025/2026 tuition and living cost studies by study.eu, these universities offer the best balance of lower tuition fees and affordable local living:

• University of Cumbria
• Teesside University (Middlesbrough)
• University of Bolton
• University of Suffolk
• University of Chester

You may also like to read: Everything You Need to Know About Moving to College or University. From packing tips to settling into college life, this guide will make the transition so much easier and cheaper for you.

Where is the Cheapest Cost of Living in the UK?

When deciding where to move home, the local cost of living is also worth considering.

Whilst homes may be cheap, often the cost of living is higher, especially in more rural areas where the shops have less competition, and it costs more to transport items.

Using 2026 data from Numbeo, we can see that a family of four in the North or Midlands can save roughly 20-30% on daily expenses compared to London.

• Belfast: Family of 4: £2,820 / Single: £815
• Glasgow: Family of 4: £2,855 / Single: £826
• Birmingham: Family of 4: £2,934 / Single: £846
• Manchester: Family of 4: £2,964 / Single: £840
• Cardiff: Family of 4: £2,800 / Single: £810
• Edinburgh: Family of 4: £3,103 / Single: £890
• London: Family of 4: £3,919 / Single: £1,109

(All figures exclude rent/mortgage costs)

You may also like to read: Which is More Important: House or Location? 31 Things to Consider. In this guide, we suggest 31 things to consider when choosing a home over a location or vice versa.

What is the Average Salary by Region In the UK?

Wages have seen a nominal increase across the board. Based on the latest ONS data (April 2026), the median gross annual earnings for full-time employees are as follows:

North East: £33,800

London: £48,500

South East: £40,200

Scotland: £38,800

East of England: £37,900

South West: £36,500

North West: £35,800

West Midlands: £35,500

Northern Ireland: £35,200

Wales: £34,900

Yorkshire and The Humber: £34,500

East Midlands: £34,200

You may also like to read: How to Future Proof Your Next Home Move. When everything around us changes so quickly, planning for the future seems almost impossible. In this guide, we suggest things to take into consideration when trying to future-proof your next home move.

What is the Average Disposable Income by Region in the UK?

The Gross Disposable Household Income (GDHI) is a key indicator of how much money you actually have left to spend or save. London remains high due to wages, but the North East and Northern Ireland provide a lower cost of entry for housing.

• London: £35,361
• South East: £26,800
• East of England: £24,200
• South West: £23,100
• Scotland: £21,500
• Northern Ireland: £20,403
• North East: £19,977

You may also like to read: What Type of Property is Right for Me? In this guide, we look at the pros and cons of various home styles and the average cost of each.

Where are the Safest Places to Live in the UK?

There are numerous tools you can use to see how safe a certain part of the country is.

A useful tool that gives you the latest crime figures right down to the postcode area can be found at www.police.uk   

According to 2025/2026 crime statistics and local authority data, these areas consistently rank among the safest:

1. Winchester (Ranked #1 for 2026 safety)
2. Richmond upon Thames (Safest London Borough)
3. York
4. Aberdeen
5. Cambridge
6. St Albans
7. Harrogate
8. Tunbridge Wells
9. Cheltenham
10. Bath

You may also like to read: Choosing Where to Live: Location, Location, Location. Often, where your home is located, even within a postcode area, can affect your quality of life. Here we look at the pros and cons of living on a main road, near shops, schools, parks, open fields, next to a river, or a cul-de-sac.

Things to Consider When Moving Home

Whilst pretty much everything comes down to money, there are sure to be other factors that you will want to take into consideration when moving home based on your personal circumstances.

Here are just a few things that you may want to consider before moving home:

#1 Work – Do you need a job, or will the lower cost of living and cheaper property prices allow you to retire or take a less well-paid job?

You may also like to read: How to Decide Where to Move for a New Job. In this guide, we look at the best places to live for a range of professions.

#2 Schools – If you have children or are planning on having a family, then finding good schools will be important to you.

You may also like to read: Best Places to Move for Your Child’s Education. In this guide, we look at not only the best schools but also where you can sign up for further education and night classes.

#3 Commuting times – If you want to move to a cheaper area but also need to work, then commuting times will be important to you.

www.zoopla.co.uk has a useful tool that allows you to calculate commuting times, whether by foot, bike, bus, train, or car.

#4 Geography – Is the area you are looking to move to prone to flooding? That may make properties cheap, but your household insurance is likely to be astronomical.

You may also like to read: Where to Move in the UK to Avoid Climate Change. This guide includes a useful interactive map that displays how climate change is likely to affect each part of the UK in the coming years.

#5 Tourists – Living in a beautiful part of the country may seem idyllic, but does everyone else in the country think so too, and flock to the village at weekends to go walking or sightseeing?

#6 Development – Is the local area earmarked for development? Major redevelopment or investment can impact not only your quality of life but also property prices, both in a positive and a negative way.

You can check the local council website for information about new housing developments, roads, or reinvestment plans. Find your local council at www.gov.uk

How Much Does it Cost to Move Home?

The final part of your home moving puzzle will be: how much does it cost to move home?

Many elements of a home move will go into determining the final cost:

• How far are you moving?
• How much stuff do you have to move?
• Do you need a packing service?
• Are there any stairs to go up and down?
• Does the lorry need a parking permit?
• How close can the removal van park to your home?
• What time of year or day of the week are you moving?
• Do you have the physical ability to move your things?

Most people would agree that moving home is made so much easier with the help of a good removal company. So in the first instance, you will want to get a quote from a reputable removal firm.

The only way to get an accurate cost for your home move is to request a quote from up to 4 reputable removal companies so that you can compare their prices and services.

Must do: Get a free home moving cost estimate.

Be sure to check out our home moving blog, where you will find a whole library full of essential information and useful home moving tips.

Good luck with your home move, and come back and leave a comment telling us all about the great place you found to live.