Rent Crisis Deepens: Greater Manchester Faces Record-High Rental Costs, Unaffordable Living Concerns Mount
Renting a one-bedroom property in Manchester has reached a new peak, with average costs now exceeding £1,000 for the first time. The city is officially the most expensive place to rent outside of southern England, reflecting a 45% increase in just five years. Surrounding Greater Manchester areas are also experiencing significant rent inflation.
The cost of renting a one-bedroom property in Manchester has reached an unprecedented high, with the average rent now surpassing £1,000 for the first time. According to new figures from the Office for National Statistics, covering the period up to August 2026, the average one-bedroom home in the city now costs £1,003 per month to rent. This marks a significant 4.2 per cent increase compared to the same time last year, solidifying Manchester's position as the most expensive place to rent outside of the south of England.
The current average rent of £1,003 is the highest on record, up from £998 in July and £967 in August of the previous year. Looking back further, the cost has surged dramatically from £691 per month in August 2021, representing a staggering 45 per cent increase in just five years. Rent price inflation across England began to accelerate in 2022, reaching its peak in the summer of 2024. Specifically, rent prices in Manchester were 12.8 per cent higher in July 2024 than they were in July 2023.
The upward trend in one-bedroom home rental costs is not limited to Manchester city centre but extends across the wider Greater Manchester area. Trafford records the second highest average rent in the north, with a one-bed home costing £944 per month, a 2.5 per cent increase annually. Salford follows with the third highest rent in the north, averaging £888 per month, an annual rise of 2.8 per cent.
Other boroughs in Greater Manchester are also experiencing significant rent increases. In Stockport, a one-bedroom home costs £812, up 5.4 per cent year-on-year. Oldham has seen one of the country's largest rent price inflations, with one-bedroom homes now costing £702, an increase of 12.2 per cent from last year. Bury's average is £686 (up 0.7%), Tameside is £685 (up 5.2%), Bolton is £654 (up 11.0%), Rochdale is £622 (up 8.6%), and Wigan remains the most affordable at £542 (up 6.7%).