Is rent affordable in Scotland?
Average private rent in Scotland is £1,009 a month — that is 31.6% of a full-time gross median salary of £38,315. That is above the 30% line the ONS treats as affordable on a single-earner basis.
- Average rent (ONS, May 2026): £1,009/month
- One-bed average: £698/month
- Two-bed average: £909/month
- Full-time gross median salary (ONS ASHE 2024): £38,315/year (£3,193/month)
- Rent as % of gross income: 31.6%
- Salary needed to hit the 30% line: ~£40,360/year
Frequently asked questions
- Is rent affordable in Scotland?
- Average private rent in Scotland is £1,009 a month (ONS, May 2026), which is 31.6% of a full-time gross median salary of £38,315 (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 Scotland?
- To keep Scotland's average rent of £1,009 at the 30% affordability line, a single full-time earner would need a gross salary of about £40,360 a year. The region's actual full-time gross median is £38,315 (ONS ASHE 2024).