Home United Kingdom Top 10 Cheapest places to live in the UK with the Best quality of life – 2023

Top 10 Cheapest places to live in the UK with the Best quality of life – 2023

Last updated on: February 3, 2023

The United Kingdom is home to some of the world’s most beautiful towns and an island country with a rich history and culture. It is one of the most developed nations in the world, with an excellent health care system and abundant employment, educational, recreational options, and safe places to live in. If moving to London is not affordable to you and you’re looking for a budget-friendly town yet with an excellent standard of living, here are the top 10 cheapest places to live in the UK, from the least costly to the most.

Methodology

We thought it would be useful to compare the statistics of the places concerned with the rates in the UK to support our ranking of the cheapest places to live in the UK. According to the Office for National Statistics for data collected last August 2022, the average price to buy a property in the UK is £295,903, while the average rental price is £1,171 for data collected last October of the same year. We used the two-bedroom rental average, which was the most common type of rental.

We’ve used this data to rank the 10 cheapest places to live in the UK while also considering their quality of life (health, pollution, recreation, climate, education, and employment opportunities).

MovingWaldo's list of the Cheapest places to live in the UK

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1. Shildon

Low housing prices

Shildon is a town and civil parish located in County Durham. The fact that it was the birthplace of the first steam-powered public railway in the world and the primary reason for the area’s popularity. Cradle is well known for its kind and welcoming residents as well as its many locally owned and operated businesses. The place has been named the top-cheapest place to live in the UK: you can buy a property in Shildon for £71,000 and rent a two-bedroom property for £418 per month.

(*ONS, Zoopla & Locomotion)

Shildon, Englandland

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2. Ferryhill

Best for art lovers

In the English county of County Durham, you’ll find the town of Ferryhill. The community has numerous different activities throughout the year, such as an annual summer gala, a Christmas market, the parading of miners’ flags, a vintage automobile rally, art and photography exhibitions, and more. Residents are enthusiastic about these activities, especially those who love the arts. Moreover, if you’re on a tight budget, it is possible to purchase a home in Ferryhill for the price of £80,400, and it will cost you only £430 a month to rent a home with two bedrooms there, which helps it rank among the cheapest places to live in the UK.

(*ONS, Zoopla & Chroniclelive)

Ferryhill, Englandland

3. Peterlee

Best for young families

The legendary “Peter Lee” is a well-known character in Durham, which gained its name from the coal mining community. Local families with young children frequently visit The Play Place, Castle Eden Dene, and Little Land Play. Peterlee is a small town, but it’s an excellent place to live because of its convenient location and low cost of living! Peterlee is described as a “town situated on undulating hills overlooking the Durham limestone coast to our east and surrounded by rural farmland to our north, west, and south” by the local council. Peterlee is also a reasonably priced town to live in, with an average purchase price of £84,200 and a monthly rental price for a two-bedroom of roughly £463.

(*ONS, Zoopla & Tripadvisor)

Peterlee, County Durham

4. Stevenston

Awesome beach view

Stenvenston is located in North Ayrshire, Scotland, and is well known because it was the birthplace of the first commercial canal in Scotland. Residents like spending quality time at Stevenston Beach with their family and friends. The cost of living in Stevenston is significantly lower than the national average, which makes it one of the cheapest places to live in the UK. The average cost to buy a house in Stevenston is around £88,800, and the average monthly price to rent an flat with two bedrooms is around £500.

(*ONS, Zoopla & VisitScotland)

Stevenston, Scotland

5. Cumnock

Best for nature lovers

Cumnock is a town in East Ayrshire, Scotland, where the Glaisnock Water and the Lugar Water meet in the middle of the town. With a strong industrial past, Cumnock is known because of its beautiful Old Church and the Mercat Cross, these two are both in the centre of the town. Cumnock has always been a wonderful place to work, live, and raise kids. This city has great schools, great parks, shops, and restaurants, and the sea is just a short drive away. You can start looking for a home for around £89,400, or you can rent a two-bedroom place for about £455 per month.

(*ONS, Zoopla & VisitScotland)

Cumnock, Scotland

6. Irvine

Near Ayr

Irvine is another one of Ayrshire’s picture-perfect seaside towns, and it is one of the county’s largest towns. It is located around 20 kilometres (13 miles) north of Ayr. Maritime and historical connections make Irvine a busy town and its harbour became a major west coast seaport. A beautiful golden sand beach can be found at Irvine Beach, where locals love to spend their time. On the edge of the beach, Irvine Beach Park offers beautiful views of Arran and Ailsa Craig from sand dunes and grass on the edge of Irvine Beach. Irvine has access to a wide variety of transportation options. The average house price in Irvine is £102,100, and the average rate for renting a residence with two bedrooms is £598 per month.

(*ONS, Zoopla & VisitScotland)

Irvine, Scotland

7. Girvan

Harbour town

Located near Carrick, South Ayrshire, Scotland, Girvan is a burgh and harbour town. The town is located on the eastern shore of the Firth of Clyde. You may spend some time with your family at Girvan Beach, one of Ayrshire’s most popular beaches, where you can enjoy the sand, water sports, and other classic seaside attractions. The beach is located near Girvan’s facilities, such as its stores, cafes, and children’s play area. Prices for properties in Girvan average £105,000, while a two-bedroom flat will cost you around £550 monthly, and that makes Girvan part of the top 10 cheapest places to live in the UK.

(*ONS, Zoopla & VisitScotland)

Girvan, Scotland

8. Cleator Moor

Best for the outdoors

A town, a civil parish, and two electoral wards are all located in Cleator Moor, which is also situated within the limits of the historical county of Cumberland in the English county of Cumbria. The historic railroad line that goes through Cleator Moor from Whitehaven to Ennerdale is a great route for bikers and walkers to enjoy. Being on the list of the top 10, Cleator Moor ranks 8th among the cheapest places to live in the UK: a property can be purchased for only £105,700 while renting a two-bedroom will cost you £600 a month. Because of its proximity to the lakes, this location is ideal for outdoor activities with your family.

(*ONS, Zoopla & Copeland.gov.uk)

Cleator Moor, Englandland

9. Egremont

Popular unusual events & near the Lake District National Park

Egremont is a market town that has historically been part of Cumberland. The town is located on the western edge of the Lake District National Park. If you move to this city, you may wish to attend its popular Crab Fair on the 3rd Saturday in September. The fair hosts unusual events, including climbing a greased pole and a popular “gurning” contest. This town is great for families, and buying a home here is affordable. You can buy a house in Egremont for an average of £120,900 and rent a two-bedroom flat for £510 monthly.

(*ONS, Zoopla & Copeland.gov.uk)

Egremont, Englandland

10. Millom

Historically rich area

A little coastal community called Millom is located in Copeland’s southernmost region, on the edge of the Lake District National Park. One of Britain’s best poets of the 20th century, Norman Nicholson, was born in Millom, which is well known for that fact. Millom means “at the mills” in Cumbrian dialect. There are also some amazing sights to see close by, like Holy Trinity Church with its “fish” glass and Millom Castle with the four-storey Pele Tower. This beautiful and historically rich area of the UK provides two-bedroom flat for £575 per month and an average housing price of £131,500, making it part of the cheapest places to live in the UK.

(*ONS, Zoopla & Copeland.gov.uk)

Millom, Englandland

Conclusion

It is well known that one of the most important things to think about when moving somewhere in the UK is the cost of living, since the city is known to be expensive. However, some towns are quite affordable, and our list of the 10 cheapest places to live in the UK can help you answer your needs.

Aside from the cost of living, it is also important to think about how far from work or school the place is, and how safe it is. So, before you make a final choice, make sure you do your research.

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Top 10 Cheapest places to live in the UK with the Best quality of life – 2023

Methodology

MovingWaldo's list of the Cheapest places to live in the UK

1. Shildon

2. Ferryhill

3. Peterlee

4. Stevenston

5. Cumnock

6. Irvine

7. Girvan

8. Cleator Moor

9. Egremont

10. Millom

Conclusion

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