Report 01 · Monthly
Rent vs. Pay Index
£1,406is the average UK private rent a month, up 3.8% in a year. See how your area compares, and what it means for your budget.
ONS data for the 12 months to September 2026 · Next ONS release 18 November 2026
Rent rises by area
Annual change in average private rent, 12 months to September 2026, %
North West
5.7%
England
4.0%
UK
3.8%
London
3.5%
South East
3.5%
TL;DRRents are still rising everywhere, fastest in the North West. Where you live makes a big difference to what’s left.
Key findings
£1,466average monthly rent in England, up 4.0% on the year.ONS, Oct 2026
50%of a single median full-time take-home (£2,824 a month) if one person paid the average UK rent alone. Sharing changes everything.Our maths on ONS rent and earnings data
79%of full-time take-home on the National Living Wage (£1,780 a month) — sharing splits it.Our maths, 37.5 hours at £12.71
TL;DRPaying an average rent alone would take half or more of a typical take-home. Sharing is what makes the numbers work for most budgets.
Your 5-minute move
See where your pay goes
Put your rent and pay into the calculator to see what’s left in 30 seconds.
Receipts · checked 9 November 2026
- ONS — Private rent and house prices, UK: October 2026 — published 21 October 2026
- ONS — Employee earnings in the UK: 2026 — published 22 October 2026
- GOV.UK — National Living Wage increases to £12.71 per hour — from 1 April 2026
- HMRC — Income tax rates and allowances — 2026/27