Ten cheapest UK cities for homebuyers – one is just outside the Lake District

Scotland’s granite city, Aberdeen, topped Rightmove’s list of the ten cheapest places to buy a home in the UK, standing out against vibrant UK Cities of Culture and charming seaside towns.

The average house price across all ten locations was approximately a third of the national average asking price, which was a colossal £373,493 according to its housing price index in July.

Two UK Cities of Culture made it to the list, as well as prestigious university cities, charming seaside towns, locations bordering national parks, and places with quick access to major cities.

Aberdeen, often referred to as the granite city due to its striking gray stone buildings, came in at the cheapest with an average house price of just £102,601. First-time buyers may be able to get on the ladder with a deposit of just £5130 if they opt for the minimum 5% downpayment here.

Speaking to the Daily Express, 32-year-old Ms Dunn who has always lived in Aberdeen, said: “We love the shire (Aberdeenshire) – there’s so many amazing places under an hour away with beautiful scenery, castles and cute shops or cafes.

“The shopping centres are all within walking distance of each other which is convenient. Same with the theatre, the art gallery and all the restaurants and bars.

“We also love being close to the sea! Although the waterfront is definitely due a revamp but I think the council are planning it.”

On 10 September 2024, Aberdeen City Council confirmed this in a press release, calling its £50 million programme to make the beach a “must-visit” destination the “biggest redevelopment of Aberdeen beachfront for 35-years”.

The port-city’s economy is bolstered by the oil and gas industry, offering potential job opportunities for those who move there.

Next on the list is Bradford coming in at an average of £107,929. Now may be the time to invest, as it’s just been named the UK City of Culture for 2025. It is set to receive funding for a year of “groundbreaking cultural activities” in 2025 according to the UK government website.

Visit Bradford confirmed there are a host of plans for next year: “Bradford district’s year of culture is set to deliver more than 1,000 new performances and events including 365 artist commissions, a series of major arts festivals and major national and international collaborations.”

Just outside of Newcastle, Sunderland is the third cheapest at an average price of £111,263. It’s known for its beautiful beaches like Roker and Seaburn, and plenty of green spaces such as Mowbray Park. Trains to the centre of Newcastle take just 20 minutes, meaning you can enjoy the best of its slow seaside lifestyle and buzzing city life.

Nature lovers may be surprised to hear you can purchase a house bordering the Lake District for an average of £111,268. Carlisle in Cumbria has beautiful landscapes and it’s a steal compared to locations in the national park such as Windemere, where Rightmove says an average home costs £475,545.

Surrounded by rolling Lancashire countryside, Preston is just an hour from Liverpool, or 45 minutes from Manchester by train, and will set the average buyer back by £112,273. Payments are on average £371 less for a monthly mortgage here than renting, the biggest difference of all ten cities on the list, so it’s a great place if you want to put aside some earnings.

Also a former UK City of Culture between 2017 and 2020, Hull in East Yorkshire is home to unique museums, cosy pubs, and picturesque buildings on the shores of the Humber River. The average house here reaches £113,920.

Dundee has a historical charm with a stunning coastaline, and for the outdoorsy types among us, hiking, golf, mountain climbing, and even skiing are all within reach. It’s home to the renowned Victoria and Albert Museum of Design, and the average home here is £116,191. Getting to Glasgow or Edinburgh takes about one hour and a half by train.

Arguably one of the best connected cities on the list is Stoke-on-Trent, the eighth cheapest. Slap bang in the middle of two major cities, it’s a steal for commuters. You can get a train to Manchester or Birmingham in about 50 minutes, and with an average house price of £117,113, it’s arguably worth the journey. You can also get to London in as little as 1 hour 30 minutes.

Then there is Durham, home to its prestigious University. The picturesque city with a stunning cathedral and castle has charming historic homes and modern developments, with an average price of £125,957. It’s a small town, so the sense of community is palpable.

Doncaster is the most expensive on the list at £128,062, still around £250,000 less than the average home in the UK. It’s famous for horse racing with one of the oldest racecourses in the world, and from South Yorkshire you can catch a fast train to London in just 1 hour and 40 minutes.

Each city in the top 10 has an monthly mortgage payment that’s lower than the local average rent.