When it comes to dreaming up your ideal property, you might think your money will stretch to a balcony, a spare bedroom, or a garden.
But when it’s time to start a serious search and put down a deposit, the tough reality of the housing market starts staring you in the face.
Now, new research has revealed how much the average UK property price can actually get you across each region – and it’s pretty bleak, actually.
At the moment, the going rate is £378,000, and it comes as little surprise that in some areas, this can get you a five-bedroom home, while in others, it’ll only stretch as far as a one-bedroom flat (read: London, of course).
Up in North Lanarkshire in Scotland, the average property price will get you a reasonably sized family home, as it’s enough for a five-bedroom house.
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We’re not talking terraced, either: completely detached, so there’s no need to deal with noisy neighbours through the walls.
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Better still, this comes in ever so slightly below the UK average, at £376,052, so there’s coinage left over for some light touch-ups, too.
In County Durham, it’s a similar story, as £367,424 will give you a five-bedroom home, but this time, it’ll be semi-detached, while Nottingham is the same, but slightly more expensive at £370,786.
Charnwood in the East Midlands will also unlock a five-bedroom, semi-detached home, for slightly under the average, at £377,605.
Wondering how the capital squares up? It’s not looking good, folks.
Tower Hamlets in East London isn’t just expensive for the Big Smoke: it’ll get you the least for your money across the entire UK, according to Rightmove’s data. Here, that sweet £378,000 will only buy you a studio flat.
It’s the same situation in Lambeth, Hackney, Southwark, Camden, Wandsworth, Islington, and Hammersmith and Fulham.
What £378,000 buys you across the country, according to Rightmove
- East Midlands: four-bedroom semi-detached
- East of England: three-bedroom semi-detached
- London: one-bedroom flat
- North East: four-bedroom detached
- North West: four-bedroom semi-detached
- Scotland: four-bedroom detached
- South East: three-bedroom flat
- South West: three-bedroom flat
- Wales: four-bedroom semi-detached
- West Midlands: four-bedroom semi-detached
- Yorkshire and the Humber: four-bedroom semi-detached.
In fact, things are so bleak that in Richmond-upon-Thames and Haringey, you can stretch slightly further to a one-bedroom flat for the same price. Just don’t expect to be able to host your in-laws in any form of spare room.
Colleen Babcock, Rightmove’s property expert, said of the figures: ‘Buyers are weighing up value more carefully in the current market, and this analysis shows just how much variation there can be in what the same budget buys in different parts of Britain.
‘With the number of homes for sale at historically high levels for this time of year, homes that feel well-priced for their size, location and condition are more likely to stand out.
‘Affordability remains a key driver of buyer behaviour, and many movers are taking the time to compare what they can get for their budget before making a decision.’
Thinking about investing in an area where your money will go further?
Around 40 miles north of London lies Baldock, a market town famed for its pubs, cheery community vibe, and fish and chip shops, despite being almost two hours away from the nearest piece of coastline.
Being outside the capital, but crucially, in close proximity to it, house prices here are much more affordable, so it’s little wonder Londoners are packing up and moving to Hertfordshire.
Elsewhere, recent data revealed more or less the exact salary you need to take home to get on the property ladder in seven major UK cities.
Naturally, it’s the capital that requires the heftiest earnings, as according to figures from Mortgage Lane, the approximate salary needed to get on the ladder in London is £94,200. Feeling depressed yet?
Where your money will go the furthest, according to Rightmove
- North Lanarkshire, Scotland: five-bedroom detached house (average asking price in May 2026: £376,052)
- County Durham, North East: five-bedroom semi-detached house (£367,424)
- Nottingham, East Midlands: five-bedroom semi-detached house (£370,786)
- Charnwood, East Midlands: five-bedroom semi-detached house (£377,605)
- East Riding of Yorkshire, Yorkshire and the Humber: five-bedroom terraced house (£337,642)
- Liverpool, North East: five-bedroom terraced house (£356,357)
- Kirklees, Yorkshire and the Humber: five-bedroom terraced house (£359,308)
- South Tyneside, North East: four-bedroom detached house (£378,048)
- Leicester, East Midlands: four-bedroom semi-detached house (£377,173)
- Worcester, West Midlands: four-bedroom semi-detached house (£377,175).
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