This ‘scenic’ yet ‘vibrant’ location is the UK’s cheapest place to rent

It’s no secret that the state of the British rental market is dire.

In August 2024, data from the Office for National Statistics found the Big Smoke to be the most expensive place for tenants in the UK, with the average rent coming in at a whopping £2,129.

The situation is relatively grim everywhere, as rents increased by 8.4% between August 2023 and 2024 — the only small saving grace is that it was down from 8.6% in the same year prior.

But there are some pockets of the country where you’ll get more bang for your buck. So if you’re looking to shave a few coins off your monthly rent payment, relocating could be a decent option.

Now, new data has revealed the ‘scenic’ and ‘vibrant’ location with the cheapest rents, and the winner is so charming that the price is just one factor in its appeal.

Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland was found to offer the lowest average monthly rent prices at £483 on average, coming in at £5,796 per year.

The study by Go.Compare found that living comfortably in the county requires an annual salary of £19,320 — a fair chunk lower than the ONS national average of £35,830.

In second and third place were Hartlepool and Burnley with monthly costs of £534 and £573 respectively, requiring salaries of £21,360 and £22,920.

Alongside the top 10 locations offering the cheapest rent, researchers assessed the top five most affordable regions, with North East England coming out on top with an average yearly rental price of £8,184 (necessitating a salary of £27,280).

London was nowhere to be seen, as next up was Wales (£9,024), followed by Yorkshire and the Humber (£9,564), East Midlands (£10,032) and North West England (£10,206).

Things to do in Dumfries and Galloway

Known for its stunning coastline and bountiful forest space, Dumfries and Galloway is inundated with beauty.

Undoubtedly, the local area offers plenty of opportunities to get active outdoors, offering cycling trails across the region spanning mountain biking, gravel and road biking.

There’s also the Galloway Forest Park, which is an International Dark Sky Park situated amid 300 square miles of beautiful woodland. Here, Bruce’s Stone offers picturesque, 360 views over Loch Trool, while the skies over Clatteringshaws Loch are particularly striking.

Into history? Caerlaverock Castle is one of Scotland’s most famous medieval fortresses, featuring a moat, twin-towered gatehouse and looming battlements. Though it’s technically in ruins, much of it is still in one piece – and tickets start at £3.50 per person.

If you’ve got a slightly more adventurous streak, Galloway Canyoning provides the opportunity to try hiking, climbing, and river tubing.

Fancy a tipple? Ninefold Distillery, found in Lockerbie, is the only rum distillery in the south of Scotland. The company makes rum from scratch in what used to be a cattle byre on the Dormont Estate, producing unaged rums, spiced rums and barrel-aged rums.

This article was first published on October 11, 2024.

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