Is rent affordable in Wales?
Average private rent in Wales is £836 a month — that is 29.2% of a full-time gross median salary of £34,303. That sits at or below the 30% line the ONS treats as affordable on a single-earner basis.
- Average rent (ONS, May 2026): £836/month
- One-bed average: £629/month
- Two-bed average: £771/month
- Full-time gross median salary (ONS ASHE 2024): £34,303/year (£2,859/month)
- Rent as % of gross income: 29.2%
- Salary needed to hit the 30% line: ~£33,440/year
Frequently asked questions
- Is rent affordable in Wales?
- Average private rent in Wales is £836 a month (ONS, May 2026), which is 29.2% of a full-time gross median salary of £34,303 (ONS ASHE 2024). That is at or below the 30% line ONS treats as affordable on a single-earner basis.
- What salary do you need to afford rent in Wales?
- To keep Wales's average rent of £836 at the 30% affordability line, a single full-time earner would need a gross salary of about £33,440 a year. The region's actual full-time gross median is £34,303 (ONS ASHE 2024).