Just 50 miles south of London on the Sussex Coast, Brighton is a very desirable location for students, families, commuters, and young professionals alike to move to.
With a beautiful coastline to explore, the South Downs on your doorstep, and property prices lower than London, Brighton has much to offer its residents.
In this guide to moving to Brighton, you will find all the information you need to help you choose the ideal part of Brighton to move to.
Should I Move to Brighton?
Living by the sea. Hazy sunsets. Great bars and restaurants, unique shops, and all within commuting distance of London.
There are plenty of reasons why people choose Brighton as their new home, it has much to offer everyone.
And there is no denying that living by the sea is a dream move for many people, but if we had to choose just 6 reasons why you should move to Brighton, these would be them:
The beach. OK, it is not a swathe of endless golden sand, but living near the beach has got to be a plus on anyone’s home moving pros list.
South Downs. What could be better than having all the benefits of living in a city whilst being just 15 minutes from some stunning countryside?
Quality of life. Brighton is about an hour’s commute from London by train. Property is cheaper than in London, so you get far more home for your money. People in Brighton are more active because of the beautiful scenery and the fact that Brighton is so walkable. Throw in some great schools and universities, a thriving local job market, unlimited things to do in your leisure time, and your quality of life is bound to improve when you move to Brighton.
Unique shops. Brighton has every high street brand you can think of, but the real shopping gems are found in the countless number of unique and independent stores that can be found all over the city.
Great transport links. Not so important for residents of Brighton, unless they are commuters, but you will find people queuing up to come to visit you when you move to Brighton. Luckily they are well served by great motorways, and rail links from all parts of the UK.
You may also like to read: The Pros and Cons of Moving to the Southeast. In this guide, we explore all the major towns and cities in the Southeast of England to help you decide where to move to next.
How Much do Movers Cost?
Save up to 40% on your upcoming move and get a quote from reputable moving experts.
To see what the latest crime figures are for the specific area you are moving to in Brighton, visit www.police.uk
You may also like to read: Choosing Where to Live. Location, Location, Location. Now you have decided that Brighton is the place for you, the next consideration is exactly where to live. In this guide, we look at the pros and cons of living near the shops, on a main road, by a park, open fields, a school, or by a river.
What is the Average Property Rental Cost in Brighton?
Brighton is not cheap, but what price do you put on your quality of life?
The average rental cost of a 1-bedroom home in Brighton is £1,051 pcm.
The average rental cost of a 2-bedroom home in Brighton is £1,601 pcm.
The average rental cost of a 3-bedroom home in Brighton is £1,972 pcm.
The average rental cost of a 4-bedroom home in Brighton is £2,366 pcm.
Average rental costs are taken from www.home.co.uk, October 2026
What is the Average Property Price in Brighton?
The average price of a semi-detached home in Brighton is £531,241.
The average price of a terraced home in Brighton is £540,249.
The average price of a flat in Brighton is £311,355.
The overall average property price in Brighton is approximately £479,210.
The latest average home costs are taken from www.rightmove.co.uk, October 2026
Is Brighton an Expensive Place to Live?
Numbeo’s most recently indexed Brighton figures estimate that, excluding rent or mortgage repayments:
A single person will need approximately £880 per month to cover living costs in Brighton. A family of four will need approximately £2,973 per month to cover living costs in Brighton. As with all crowdsourced cost-of-living databases, these figures should be regarded as estimates and can change frequently.
Cost of Living in Brighton vs Major UK Cities
According to data from www.expatisan.com, here is a comparison of the cost of living in Brighton with other major UK cities
The cost of living in Brighton and Hove is around 39% cheaper than in London.
Brighton and Hove is around 4% more expensive than Birmingham.
The cost of living in Brighton and Hove and Leeds is currently about the same.
Brighton and Hove is around 6% more expensive than Liverpool.
The cost of living in Brighton and Hove and Edinburgh is about the same.
Brighton and Hove is approximately 10% cheaper than Bristol.
You can check out how the cost of living compares in Brighton with your current hometown at www.expatistan.com
You may also like to read: Is Life Better in the Countryside, the Suburbs, or the City? Brighton has some wonderful properties in some stunning locations. In this guide, we look at the pros and cons of living in the heart of the action, in the suburbs, or the countryside, to help you choose which is the best location for you.
How Much Does it Cost to Move to Brighton?
How much does it cost to move a 1-2 Bedroom home to Brighton?
Obviously, each home move is different, and the only way to get an accurate removal cost estimate is to request an in-home survey from a reputable removal company.
According to RemovalReviews’ latest 2026 research, hiring a professional removal company to move the contents of a 1-2 bedroom property typically costs around £950-£1,800 plus VAT, depending on the distance, amount being moved, access to the properties, and number of movers required.
For longer-distance moves, RemovalReviews suggests typical starting costs of around:
1-bedroom home: £1,200+
2-bedroom home: £1,700+
As an example, its current London-to-Brighton data estimates that moving costs can range from approximately £804 to £2,298, depending on the size of the move. For that route, a studio or 1-bedroom move is estimated at £603-£925, while moving a 2-3 bedroom home is estimated at £1,163-£1,939.
On average, expect to pay approximately £380-£600 for a professional packing service for a 1-2 bedroom home.
How much does it cost to move a 3-bedroom home to Brighton?
RemovalReviews’ latest 2026 research puts the average cost of professional removals for a 3-4 bedroom home at around £1,600-£4,500 plus VAT.
For a long-distance 3-bedroom move, costs typically start from around £2,100, although the final price will depend heavily on the distance travelled, access, volume of belongings, moving date, and any additional services required.
Current RemovalReviews research suggests that professional packing for an average 3-bedroom home costs approximately £500-£1,050.
You may also like to read: How much is the average cost to move a 3-bedroom home? In this guide, we look at the average cost of all the various moving options to Brighton so that you can choose the best for your budget.
Where are the Best Areas to Live in Brighton?
Thinking of moving to the Brighton area?
Here is a Brighton neighbourhood guide with the best places to rent or buy a home in the Brighton area.
Preston Park for commuters. Just 1 mile from the city centre, and home to the largest park and festival venue in Brighton. Preston Park has a train station for commuters, some great schools, and many beautiful large Victorian homes.
Hove Park for families. There is a fine range of homes here, including large detached, semis, and bungalows. In Hove Park, you will find some of the best primary schools in the city, easy access to the A23 and A27, and you are just minutes from the city centre. Hove Park is home to a 20-ton Druidic stone, tennis courts, a miniature railway, a bowling green, a cycle track, a play area, and a café. It is also one of the most sought-after places to live in Brighton.
Hanover for families and students. A more affordable part of Brighton but still less than a mile from Brighton train station. There are some excellent primary schools in the area as well as a broad range of homes. Hanover has more of a community feel than many areas in Brighton, with lots of local events, some great local pubs, and plenty of restaurants.
Kemp Town for young professionals. This area is also popular with students as there are plenty of rentals and flats here. Kemp Town has some great bars and clubs, is right on the beach, and has a great range of local shops.
Brighton has a thriving cafe culture. Perfect for relaxing and watching the world go by.
Are you thinking of moving to Brighton alone, perhaps as a student or for work? Is Brighton a good place to live for single people?
Here are some essential things to know when moving to Brighton as a single person.
Consider renting a room in a shared house, or flat sharing, if you want to save some money, get to know the area, and make instant friends in Brighton. Useful websites for finding rooms to rent in Brighton include: gumtree.co.uk, www.spareroom.co.uk, or www.nestpick.com
Join local social media groups to find out all the best places to go and discover more about life in Brighton.
meetup.com has plenty of local groups to join so that you can quickly find new friends and get to know all about living in Brighton.
Consider volunteering in your spare time; it is a great way to meet new people and help the local community at the same time. www.bhcommunityworks.org.uk will give you some great ideas.
You may also like to read: Can I Move to A New City Alone? In this guide, we offer some tips about moving to a new city alone to make your move easier and cheaper, and settling in easier as well.
Living in Brighton as a Student
The University of Brighton Art Faculty
If you have been accepted as a student in Brighton or are considering becoming one, then you will find plenty of essential information in this section.
According to QS rankings, Brighton is in the top 10 of the best cities to study in the UK and the top 100 worldwide.
How many universities are in Brighton? In Brighton, there are 2 universities and 6 colleges.
How many students are in Brighton? There are over 21,000 students who study at the University of Brighton and over 17,000 at the University of Sussex.
Click on the links below for lots of useful advice about living in Brighton as a student.
Brighton is a great place to raise a family with so many exciting and interesting things to do, being so close to some stunning countryside, and having all the support and amenities that a city can offer a family.
Brighton offers the best of both worlds, easy access to London for commuters, whilst being far enough away that property is more affordable.
You will also want to know about healthcare in Brighton, so visit www.nhs.co.uk to find local doctors, dentists, healthcare specialists, and hospitals.
Which are the best areas of Brighton for families?
Queens Park has plenty of large 3-bedroom plus-sized homes with a great community feel to the area. Tarnerland and Royal Spa are well-regarded state nurseries in this area. Queens Park, St. Luke’s, and Elm Grove are popular infant and junior schools in Queens Park.
Fiveways / Preston Park has many Victorian / Edwardian properties. Downs Infants and Junior, Balfour Infants and Juniors, Dorothy Stringer, and Varndean are popular schools in this area. There are plenty of local shops, and Preston Park is local too. The London mainline station at Preston Park is within walking distance.
Withdean / Westdean is an up-and-coming area, and prices tend to be slightly lower here than the more fashionable areas.
Hove is also very popular for families, with a great seafront and slightly cheaper properties.
Read on to find out which are the best-rated schools in Brighton
You may also like to read: How to Decide Where to Live Next. In this guide, we suggest 12 things to take into consideration when choosing where your new home will be.
Best Performing ‘A’ Level Schools for 16-18 year olds
Brighton Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College BN3
Roedean School BN2
Brighton College BN2
Cardinal Newman Catholic School BN3
Varndean College BN1
Is There Much Employment in Brighton?
With so many amazing tourist attractions, the hospitality business is thriving in Brighton
Not only is Brighton a great place to live, but it offers some great employment opportunities, as well as being a commutable distance from London.
So who are the biggest employers in Brighton?
Domestic and General
American Express
Lloyds Bank
There is a thriving creative and digital media industry in Brighton, with some of the top tech companies making Brighton their base, such as I Crossing and Madgex. In fact, www.cbronline.com likens Brighton to the UK’s Tech Hub.
Here are some websites which will help you find employment in Brighton and Hove.
What are the Best Ways of Getting Around Brighton?
Walking. Brighton is a very easy city to get around on foot, with the main central areas within an easy 15-minute walk. You can download free walking maps of Brighton at www.visitbrighton.com
Bicycle. Brighton and Hove are great to cycle around, and the seafront is even part of the National Cycle Network. There are plenty of free spaces to leave your bike at too. You can download a free cycle map of Brighton and Hove at www.brightonandhovecyclemap.co.uk
Bus. To find out local bus times, plan a journey, or buy tickets, visit www.buses.co.uk
Car. There are a several parking zones, including Park & Ride, within Brighton, which can be viewed here.
Many residential areas operate a resident’s parking permit scheme, more of which you can learn about here.
Train. Commuters and travelers alike will find lots of useful information about trains from and to Brighton at www.thetrainline.com
You may also like to read: Is Retiring to the City a Good Idea? Brighton offers easy access to all the amenities that you would find in the best large towns and cities in the UK. In this guide, we look at the pros and cons of moving to the city in retirement.
What is There to do in Brighton for Free?
There is always something exciting going on in Brighton.
There is so much to see and do in Brighton.
But it is even better when you get to experience parts of Brighton for free, so what does Brighton have to offer you for a free day out?
Well, apart from wonderful strolls and days out on the beach, or along the marina watching the boats come and go, here are our top 5 things to do in Brighton for free.
What can you do for free in Brighton?
South Downs National Park. Walk the South Downs Way, see the White Cliffs at Seven Sisters, or enjoy Devil’s Dyke. It is a stunning part of the country and will be right on your doorstep when you move to Brighton.
Pavilion Gardens. Enjoy listening to a live band, or just admire the fauna of the park whilst relaxing in this fully restored Regency garden.
Hove Museum and Art Gallery. Visit the Wizard’s attic to see toys of bygone times, and learn about Hove’s role in the birth of cinema as well as two contemporary craft galleries.
North Laine. Wander around the unique and independent shops in North Laine.
Stamner Park. Just on the outskirts of Brighton, this is a lovely place for a stroll with the dog or a walk through the beautiful woodland. Stanmer Village, an 18th-century working village, with Stanmer House as its focal point, is well worth a visit too.
You may also like to read: Choosing Where to Live in the UK to Avoid Climate Change. One of your concerns about moving to Brighton may be how the area will be affected by climate change. In this guide, we share an interactive map of how climate change is expected to affect certain parts of the UK over the next 20 years.
The Best of Brighton
If you are moving to Brighton, you will probably be overwhelmed with the number of things to do, the great restaurants, bars, and clubs. So here is our top 5 of the best of Brighton.
Luckily, there are some great removal companies that can help you with your home move to Brighton.
Finding top-rated local removal companies to move you to Brighton is an important step to experiencing a stress-free home move. It is vitally important to choose your removal company wisely, as not all removal firms are equal, unfortunately.
Find a local removal company to move you to Brighton here.
You will likely have many more questions regarding your home move, so be sure to visit our resources section, where you will find a wealth of useful information to make your home move easier, cheaper, and safer.
Brighton is clearly a very desirable place to move to, so good luck in your new home.
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