Average rent in Bedford
The average private rent in Bedford was £1,177 a month in September 2026, +2.5% on a year earlier. A two-bedroom home costs £1,032, 20% below the UK average of £1,287 and 11% below the average for the East of England. It is the 18th cheapest of 45 areas in the East of England. Over the past year, 3 bed homes rose fastest (+2.9%).
Rent by number of bedrooms
Average monthly private rent (pcm).
Salary needed to rent in Bedford
Two common tests: rent at no more than 30% of gross income, and the letting-agent referencing check of an annual income at least 30× the monthly rent.
| Home | Rent (pcm) | Salary for 30% rule | Agent check (30× rent) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | £802 | £32,080 | £24,060 |
| 2 bedrooms | £1,032 | £41,280 | £30,960 |
The median full-time salary for Bedford residents is £41,214 (2025, £19.81 an hour). A one-bedroom at the average rent takes 23% of that before tax, within the 30% guideline.
Renting vs buying in Bedford
How rents in Bedford have changed
Average rent is +49.7% since 2016.
| Year | Average rent | 2 bed |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | £1,177 | £1,032 |
| 2025 | £1,148 | £1,006 |
| 2024 | £1,056 | £922 |
| 2023 | £987 | £861 |
| 2022 | £952 | £832 |
| 2021 | £884 | £775 |
| 2020 | £856 | £754 |
| 2019 | £848 | £747 |
| 2018 | £850 | £751 |
| 2017 | £829 | £733 |
| 2016 | £786 | £696 |
Areas with similar rents
| # | Area | Region | 1 bed | 2 bed | 3 bed | Change (12m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Folkestone and Hythe | South East | £812 | £1,041 | £1,298 | +10.0% |
| 2 | Swale | South East | £788 | £1,042 | £1,260 | +1.1% |
| 3 | Stockport | North West | £816 | £1,042 | £1,273 | +5.4% |
| 4 | Stratford-on-Avon | West Midlands | £816 | £1,021 | £1,269 | +6.0% |
| 5 | Thanet | South East | £777 | £1,010 | £1,237 | +4.0% |
| 6 | Newcastle upon Tyne | North East | £816 | £1,010 | £1,199 | +7.9% |
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Bedford?
The average private rent in Bedford was £1,177 a month in September 2026, up 2.5% on a year earlier. A one-bedroom averaged £802 and a two-bedroom £1,032 (ONS Price Index of Private Rents).
What salary do you need to rent in Bedford?
To keep a £802 one-bedroom rent within 30% of gross income you need about £32,080 a year. Letting agents usually ask for an annual income of 30 times the monthly rent, which is £24,060. The median full-time salary for residents is £41,214.
Is Bedford expensive to rent compared with the rest of the UK?
A two-bedroom in Bedford costs £1,032 a month, 20% below the UK average of £1,287. It ranks 161 of 282 larger UK areas from cheapest to most expensive.
All areas in the East of England →
Rents: ONS Price Index of Private Rents (September 2026), average of new and existing private tenancies — official statistics in development. House prices: HM Land Registry UK House Price Index. Pay: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, median gross pay of full-time employees by place of residence. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. See our methodology.