Cost of living in Brighton and Hove
Data last updated: 14 May 2026
Page last reviewed: 24 June 2026
Brighton and Hove is expensive by any measure outside London. Average overall rent of £1,826/month, a one-bed averaging £1,198, and a single-person monthly basket of around £1,856 put it close to Bristol and well above most cities its size. Average earnings here are £33,506/year, comfortably above the national average but well below London's, which is part of why the affordability score lands at 73.1% (rank #336 of 348). The maths is a stretch for anyone on a local-only salary. Two things explain the demand: the seafront-and-Lanes lifestyle that has made the city a magnet for creative and lifestyle industries, and the 1hr direct train into London Victoria that makes it effectively a long-distance commuter town for many residents. Universities of Sussex and Brighton between them add around 40,000 students. Honest downsides: many local jobs do not match London salaries even though the cost base has drifted toward London levels. Housing supply is tight thanks to the geography (sea, downs, conservation areas), parking is a daily hassle, and the social fabric of the city changes character noticeably between term time and summer.
- Known for:
- Beach and Lanes, the Pavilion, the LGBTQ+ capital of the UK, two universities, and one of the strongest independent food and music scenes outside London.
- Transport:
- Direct trains to London Victoria take about 1hr; London Bridge takes about 1hr 5min. Local buses are run by Brighton & Hove Buses. Limited driving and parking infrastructure relative to demand.
- Character:
- Coastal, hilly, creative, and lively. The economy leans on tourism, hospitality, tech, and creative industries, with London commuting as the high-paid backstop for many residents.
Rent in Brighton and Hove
The average monthly rent in Brighton and Hove is £1,826.
- 1 Bed£1,198 /mo
- 2 Bed£1,529 /mo
- 3 Bed£1,808 /mo
- 4+ Bed£2,514 /mo
Source: ONS Price Index of Private Rents (PIPR)
Brighton's £1,856/month is shaped by rent and council tax both sitting at the higher end. The one-bed average is around £1,198/month, similar to Bristol. Council tax (Band D) is £2,581/year, in line with other south-coast unitaries. House prices at £415,000 are among the highest outside Greater London. The affordability score is one of the worst in our data and reflects a city where the cost base has decoupled from local pay.
Earnings in Brighton and Hove
The average annual salary for residents of Brighton and Hove is £33,506.
We use the median (middle value) as the average throughout this site. This is more representative than the mean, which can be skewed by extremely high or low values.
Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE)
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Average house prices in Brighton and Hove
The average house price in Brighton and Hove was £415,000.
- Detached£675,000
- Semi-detached£492,000
- Terraced£510,000
- Flat£313,750
How house prices have changed in Brighton and Hove
Average house prices over time, based on quarterly rolling-year medians from Land Registry data.
Source: ONS / HM Land Registry. Historical trend based on quarterly rolling-year median prices.
Council tax in Brighton and Hove
Band D council tax in Brighton and Hove is £2,581 per year.
- Band A£1,720
- Band B£2,007
- Band C£2,294
- Band DBenchmark£2,581
- Band E£3,154
- Band F£3,727
- Band G£4,301
- Band H£5,161
Source: MHCLG / Scottish Government / Welsh Government
Energy costs in Brighton and Hove
A typical household in Brighton and Hove pays approximately £1,641/year (£137/month) for gas and electricity.
Energy region: South East
This estimate is based on the Ofgem price cap for a typical dual-fuel household using 2,700 kWh of electricity and 11,500 kWh of gas per year, paying by Direct Debit. Your actual costs will depend on your usage, tariff, and whether you're on a fixed deal.
Source: Ofgem Energy Price Cap, Q2 2026
Water costs in Brighton and Hove
The average annual water and sewerage bill for Southern Water customers is £720/year (£60/month).
Water company: Southern Water
Water bills vary based on whether you have a meter and your household's water usage. This figure is the company average for unmetered customers.
Source: Water UK / Discover Water, 2026-27
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Crime in Brighton and Hove
There were 1,018 recorded crimes per 10,000 people in Brighton and Hove, which is above the national average of 813.2. Brighton and Hove ranks #257 out of 303 areas for lowest crime rate.
Recorded crime statistics reflect crimes reported to and recorded by police. They may not capture the full picture of crime in an area, and recording practices vary between forces.
Source: Home Office police recorded crime, Year ending December 2025
Compare Brighton and Hove with another area
How does Brighton and Hove compare?
Side-by-side comparisons against three other UK areas, using the same single-person basket as the rest of the site.
Bristol costs around £46/month more than Brighton and Hove on the same basket (£1,902/month vs £1,856/month).
See the full comparison Brighton and Hove vs LondonLondon costs around £468/month more than Brighton and Hove on the same basket (£2,324/month vs £1,856/month).
See the full comparison Brighton and Hove vs WorthingWorthing costs around £306/month less than Brighton and Hove on the same basket (£1,550/month vs £1,856/month).
See the full comparisonOr compare Brighton and Hove with any UK area using the comparison tool.
Nearby areas
Explore the cost of living in areas close to Brighton and Hove.
Frequently asked questions about Brighton and Hove
Data on this page is sourced from: ONS Price Index of Private Rents (PIPR), Scottish Government Private Sector Rent Statistics, ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, ONS / HM Land Registry House Price Statistics, MHCLG / Scottish Government / Welsh Government council tax data, Ofgem Energy Price Cap, and Water UK / Discover Water. All official data is published under the Open Government Licence.