Living alone is becoming increasingly unaffordable across much of the UK with new research showing that in some cities a single person needs to spend almost nine-tenths of their salary just to cover basic living costs.
Analysis from Zable found that Brighton and Hove is the least affordable city for solo living, where the total cost of rent, council tax and everyday spending consumes 87% of the average take-home pay.
The study looked at one-bedroom rents, council tax and household spending across major UK cities, comparing costs with average salaries to see where living alone places the greatest financial strain.
Southend-on-Sea and Oxford rank second and third least affordable, while London comes seventh despite being the most expensive city overall, as higher wages partly offset the cost of living in the capital.
COST OF LIVING
Across all cities analysed, the average monthly cost of living alone has risen from £1,541 in 2020 to £1,805 in 2025 – an increase of £264 per month – with Newport seeing the sharpest rise after costs jumped by 26% over five years.
The data also shows that living alone costs around 38% more per person than sharing with a partner or housemate, as single households must cover the full cost of rent, bills and food without splitting expenses.
Derby was found to be the most affordable city for single people, followed by Aberdeen and Stoke-on-Trent, where living costs take just over half of average income.
FINANCIAL PREMIUM
Arielle Rogers-Jenkins (main picture, inset), Senior Product Manager (UK Credit Cards) at Zable, says: “Our data serves as a stark reminder that solo living comes with a very real financial premium, and for many people, that pressure is only growing.
“In light of this, it could be worth taking a closer look at where your money is really going each month. Small savings across multiple bills can quickly add up.”
