Is rent affordable in West Midlands?
Average private rent in West Midlands is £966 a month — that is 33.2% of a full-time gross median salary of £34,938. That is above the 30% line the ONS treats as affordable on a single-earner basis.
- Average rent (ONS, May 2026): £966/month
- One-bed average: £701/month
- Two-bed average: £872/month
- Full-time gross median salary (ONS ASHE 2024): £34,938/year (£2,912/month)
- Rent as % of gross income: 33.2%
- Salary needed to hit the 30% line: ~£38,640/year
Frequently asked questions
- Is rent affordable in West Midlands?
- Average private rent in West Midlands is £966 a month (ONS, May 2026), which is 33.2% of a full-time gross median salary of £34,938 (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 West Midlands?
- To keep West Midlands's average rent of £966 at the 30% affordability line, a single full-time earner would need a gross salary of about £38,640 a year. The region's actual full-time gross median is £34,938 (ONS ASHE 2024).