South West, England

Cost of living in Cornwall

Data last updated: 14 May 2026

Page last reviewed: 14 May 2026

£1,004/mo
Average rent
£28,210/yr
Average earnings
£290,000
Average house price
£2,591/yr
Council tax (Band D)
£205/mo
Est. energy & water

Rent in Cornwall

The average monthly rent in Cornwall is £1,004.

  • 1 Bed
    £691 /mo
  • 2 Bed
    £884 /mo
  • 3 Bed
    £1,080 /mo
  • 4+ Bed
    £1,515 /mo

Source: ONS Price Index of Private Rents (PIPR)

Earnings in Cornwall

The average annual salary for residents of Cornwall is £28,210.

Median
£28,210
per year
Mean
£31,433
per year

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)

Got a job offer in Cornwall?

Use our salary calculator to see your take home pay and how it compares to the local average.

Calculate your take home pay

Average house prices in Cornwall

The average house price in Cornwall was £290,000.

  • Detached
    £405,000
  • Semi-detached
    £272,950
  • Terraced
    £237,500
  • Flat
    £170,000

How house prices have changed in Cornwall

Average house prices over time, based on quarterly rolling-year medians from Land Registry data.

£0£100k£200k£300k£400k£500k1995200020052010201520202025

Source: ONS / HM Land Registry. Historical trend based on quarterly rolling-year median prices.

Council tax in Cornwall

Band D council tax in Cornwall is £2,591 per year.

  • Band A
    £1,727
  • Band B
    £2,015
  • Band C
    £2,303
  • Band D
    Benchmark
    £2,591
  • Band E
    £3,167
  • Band F
    £3,742
  • Band G
    £4,318
  • Band H
    £5,182

Source: MHCLG / Scottish Government / Welsh Government

Energy costs in Cornwall

A typical household in Cornwall pays approximately £1,641/year (£137/month) for gas and electricity.

Annual
£1,641
per year
Monthly
£137
per month

Energy region: South West

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 Cornwall

The average annual water and sewerage bill for South West Water customers is £813/year (£68/month).

Annual
£813
per year
Monthly
£68
per month

Water company: South West 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

Want a personalised estimate?

Adjust for your household size, housing type and transport to get a monthly cost tailored to you.

Calculate your costs in Cornwall

Crime in Cornwall

There were 622 recorded crimes per 10,000 people in Cornwall, which is below the national average of 813.2. Cornwall ranks #117 out of 303 areas for lowest crime rate.

Violence & sexual offences
325/10k
(18,944 offences)
Burglary
17/10k
(999 offences)
Theft
121/10k
(7,063 offences)
Criminal damage
76/10k
(4,447 offences)
Drug offences
15/10k
(896 offences)
Public order
45/10k
(2,625 offences)
Other
23/10k
(1,323 offences)

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 Cornwall with another area

Pick one more area to compare.

Nearby areas

Explore the cost of living in areas close to Cornwall.

Frequently asked questions about Cornwall

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.