Average rent in Crawley
The average private rent in Crawley was £1,495 a month in September 2026, +3.3% on a year earlier. A two-bedroom home costs £1,392, 8% above the UK average of £1,287 and 8% above the average for the South East. It is the 18th most expensive of 64 areas in the South East. Over the past year, 3 bed homes rose fastest (+3.7%).
Rent by number of bedrooms
Average monthly private rent (pcm).
Salary needed to rent in Crawley
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 | £1,071 | £42,840 | £32,130 |
| 2 bedrooms | £1,392 | £55,680 | £41,760 |
The median full-time salary for Crawley residents is £39,237 (2025, £18.90 an hour). A one-bedroom at the average rent takes 33% of that before tax, above the 30% guideline.
Renting vs buying in Crawley
How rents in Crawley have changed
Average rent is +44.2% since 2016.
| Year | Average rent | 2 bed |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | £1,495 | £1,392 |
| 2025 | £1,448 | £1,348 |
| 2024 | £1,372 | £1,274 |
| 2023 | £1,254 | £1,166 |
| 2022 | £1,171 | £1,090 |
| 2021 | £1,120 | £1,045 |
| 2020 | £1,111 | £1,040 |
| 2019 | £1,096 | £1,028 |
| 2018 | £1,077 | £1,013 |
| 2017 | £1,068 | £1,006 |
| 2016 | £1,037 | £978 |
Areas with similar rents
| # | Area | Region | 1 bed | 2 bed | 3 bed | Change (12m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dacorum | East of England | £1,111 | £1,394 | £1,677 | +2.5% |
| 2 | East Hertfordshire | East of England | £1,097 | £1,397 | £1,692 | +4.8% |
| 3 | Reading | South East | £1,120 | £1,399 | £1,680 | +1.3% |
| 4 | Welwyn Hatfield | East of England | £1,061 | £1,373 | £1,645 | +3.3% |
| 5 | Tunbridge Wells | South East | £1,062 | £1,414 | £1,714 | +5.0% |
| 6 | Horsham | South East | £1,033 | £1,366 | £1,718 | +4.8% |
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Crawley?
The average private rent in Crawley was £1,495 a month in September 2026, up 3.3% on a year earlier. A one-bedroom averaged £1,071 and a two-bedroom £1,392 (ONS Price Index of Private Rents).
What salary do you need to rent in Crawley?
To keep a £1,071 one-bedroom rent within 30% of gross income you need about £42,840 a year. Letting agents usually ask for an annual income of 30 times the monthly rent, which is £32,130. The median full-time salary for residents is £39,237.
Is Crawley expensive to rent compared with the rest of the UK?
A two-bedroom in Crawley costs £1,392 a month, 8% above the UK average of £1,287. It ranks 227 of 282 larger UK areas from cheapest to most expensive.
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.