28 May 2025
The salary required to be able to buy a home per area
Buying a house is a big deal, and where you are planning to buy will make a difference financially.
Of course, London is one of the priciest areas to buy a property. You’ll be required to earn £86,513 for a flat compared to £14,426 for the equivalent property in Burnley, or £205,405 for a detached home versus £42,996 for the same property in Middlesborough which is quite a contrast.
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the average UK wage is £37,430, and the type of property makes a big difference in the price, for example; a detached house compared to a flat is going to be more expensive.
Most affordable areas in the UK*
Research from GoCompare shows the salaries you need to purchase a house and the average price in different areas across the UK. Below are the top five affordable areas:
| Salary Required | Flat | Terraced | Semi | Detached |
| Burnley | £14,426 | £18,940 | £27,214 | £42,262 |
| Middlesborough | £15,751 | £20,458 | £28,549 | £42,996 |
| Blackpool | £15,859 | £22,923 | £29,065 | £43,702 |
| Sunderland | £17,097 | £22,964 | £29,366 | £48,800 |
| Stoke-on-Trent | £18,268 | £23,160 | £30,560 | £51,243 |
| Average Price | Flat | Terraced | Semi | Detached |
| Burnley | £72,150 | £95,196 | £136,780 | £212,414 |
| Middlesborough | £79,166 | £102,825 | £143,492 | £216,101 |
| Blackpool | £79,708 | £115,213 | £146,084 | £219,652 |
| Sunderland | £85,933 | £115,420 | £147,597 | £245,274 |
| Stoke-on-Trent | £91,816 | £116,405 | £153,596 | £257,553 |
Most expensive areas in the UK*
These are the salaries you need to purchase a house, and the average price in different areas across the UK. Below are the top five most expensive areas:
| Salary Required | Flat | Terraced | Semi | Detached |
| London | £86,513 | £113,764 | £135,326 | £205,405 |
| Cambridge | £66,650 | £100,023 | £119,439 | £193,519 |
| Oxford | £61,982 | £94,256 | £117,701 | £189,489 |
| Brighton | £58,464 | £93,227 | £104,011 | £157,673 |
| Edinburgh | £52,136 | £73,962 | £91,976 | £145,882 |
| Average Price | Flat | Terraced | Semi | Detached |
| London | £435,818 | £571,783 | £680,157 | £1,032,371 |
| Cambridge | £334,988 | £502,721 | £600,304 | £972,634 |
| Oxford | £311,527 | £473,734 | £591,569 | £952,380 |
| Brighton | £293,845 | £468,564 | £522,764 | £792,472 |
| Edinburgh | £262,037 | £371,735 | £462,275 | £733,211 |
Remember, wherever you are looking to buy, the team at Mortgage Required are experts at finding the best product available. Give them a call on 01628 507477 or email team@mortgagerequired.com.
*House prices were taken from HM Land Registry UK House Price Index: June 2024. Repayments were calculated based on a 90% mortgage with 5.5% interest rate over 25 years.
Recent posts
The chancellor will deliver her second budget this autumn. Due to slow economic growth and high inflation, the government need to manage a £40 billion shortfall in public finances. There have already been reports about changes to taxes including income tax and capital gains tax.
Landlords could face a new tax this autumn
12 days ago
The chancellor has advised that landlords could have another tax to pay this autumn as the Treasury decide whether to extend national insurance contributions to rental income.
According to a report in the Guardian, senior ministers have asked Treasury officials to look into a “proportional” property tax to see how it would work as an alternative to the existing stamp duty land tax on owner-occupied homes.
More than a quarter of UK adults in long-term relationships (26%) have reported that despite living together, they keep their finances separate from one another.
There has been a rise in both rent and mortgage costs over the last three years, with renters seeing a greater increase in their monthly payments than those with a mortgaged property.
Delayed Start Mortgages
6 Aug 2025
The new Delayed Start Mortgage launched by Skipton Building Society allows first time buyers to postpone the first three mortgage payments. This product has been designed to help soften the blow of moving in costs for first time buyers.
Green Mortgages | Rewards and Benefits
4 Aug 2025
Mortgage lenders are starting to recognise their “Green” responsibilities when it comes to the different products they offer.
A recent study by Boon Brokers where 1,000 people who had used an estate agent over the last year were surveyed, showed that a whopping 52% said they were pressured into using the estate agents’ in-house mortgage broker.
More information
Trusted by
