Is rent affordable in London?
Average private rent in London is £2,294 a month — that is 58% of a full-time gross median salary of £47,455. That is above the 30% line the ONS treats as affordable on a single-earner basis.
- Average rent (ONS, May 2026): £2,294/month
- One-bed average: £1,733/month
- Two-bed average: £2,196/month
- Full-time gross median salary (ONS ASHE 2024): £47,455/year (£3,955/month)
- Rent as % of gross income: 58%
- Salary needed to hit the 30% line: ~£91,760/year
Frequently asked questions
- Is rent affordable in London?
- Average private rent in London is £2,294 a month (ONS, May 2026), which is 58% of a full-time gross median salary of £47,455 (ONS ASHE 2024). That is above the 30% line ONS treats as affordable on a single-earner basis.
- What salary do you need to afford rent in London?
- To keep London's average rent of £2,294 at the 30% affordability line, a single full-time earner would need a gross salary of about £91,760 a year. The region's actual full-time gross median is £47,455 (ONS ASHE 2024).