UK's most expensive city revealed and renting a home costs a mind-boggling £2.3k a month

St Albans has been named the most expensive city outside of London to rent where renting a home on average costs a mind-boggling £2.3k a month, 71 percent above the national average.

Situated in Hertfordshire St Albans is an attractive place to live thanks to it being steeped in history, excellent schools and easy transport links to London and the countryside.

The city is home to the stunning St Albans Cathedral, the oldest site of continuous Christian worship in Britain, and the Roman Verulamium Park, which offers residents and visitors alike a glimpse into the past with its ancient ruins and artefacts.

St Albans' historic city centre is a picturesque mix of medieval and Georgian buildings, bustling markets, and quaint shops.

However, this beauty comes with a significant price tag, making it one of the most expensive places to live in the country.

Oxford came in second place as the most expensive place to rent, with rents averaging £2,237 pcm, while Cambridge is third most expensive, with average advertised rents of £2,072 pcm.

With average monthly rents of £2,049 made Winchester the fourth most expensive and rounding up the top five is Brighton with rents averaging £2,040

Rightmove analysed more than 50 cities across Great Britain, looking at the average rental price across all property sizes and types in August 2024 and August 2019.

Meanwhile, Carlisle is the most affordable city to rent in, with average advertised rents at £791 pcm, 41% below the national average with Hull following closely behind with average advertised rents of £804.

Coming in third cheapest is Sunderland, with rents averaging £807 pcm with Stoke-On-Trent in fourth, with average advertised rents at £863.

Wrexham is the fifth cheapest place to rent in the UK with average monthly rents of £874.

Rightmove’s property expert, Tim Bannister, said: “The rental divide across Great Britain is clear, with an average difference of just over £1,500 between the most expensive and cheapest cities.

“Many of these cities have seen rental growth of over 40% over the past five years, meaning it’s likely to be a significant consideration when students are thinking about where to study, and those who have already graduated working out if they can afford to stay in that city and find a job.”