Average rent in Croydon
The average private rent in Croydon was £1,586 a month in September 2026, +3.4% on a year earlier. A two-bedroom home costs £1,577, 23% above the UK average of £1,287 and 30% below the average for London. It is the 4th cheapest of 32 areas in London. Over the past year, 3 bed homes rose fastest (+3.9%).
Rent by number of bedrooms
Average monthly private rent (pcm).
Salary needed to rent in Croydon
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 | £1,267 | £50,680 | £38,010 |
| 2 bedrooms | £1,577 | £63,080 | £47,310 |
The median full-time salary for Croydon residents is £44,326 (2025, £22.47 an hour). A one-bedroom at the average rent takes 34% of that before tax, above the 30% guideline.
Renting vs buying in Croydon
How rents in Croydon have changed
Average rent is +42.1% since 2016.
| Year | Average rent | 2 bed |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | £1,586 | £1,577 |
| 2025 | £1,534 | £1,525 |
| 2024 | £1,454 | £1,444 |
| 2023 | £1,311 | £1,302 |
| 2022 | £1,246 | £1,240 |
| 2021 | £1,218 | £1,214 |
| 2020 | £1,187 | £1,185 |
| 2019 | £1,158 | £1,158 |
| 2018 | £1,146 | £1,151 |
| 2017 | £1,137 | £1,144 |
| 2016 | £1,116 | £1,126 |
Areas with similar rents
| # | Area | Region | 1 bed | 2 bed | 3 bed | Change (12m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elmbridge | South East | £1,259 | £1,584 | £1,932 | +2.7% |
| 2 | Windsor and Maidenhead | South East | £1,245 | £1,568 | £1,918 | +0.7% |
| 3 | Epping Forest | East of England | £1,231 | £1,586 | £1,944 | +5.5% |
| 4 | Sutton | London | £1,248 | £1,567 | £1,916 | +3.0% |
| 5 | Sevenoaks | South East | £1,278 | £1,596 | £1,948 | +6.9% |
| 6 | Guildford | South East | £1,197 | £1,557 | £1,887 | +5.7% |
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Croydon?
The average private rent in Croydon was £1,586 a month in September 2026, up 3.4% on a year earlier. A one-bedroom averaged £1,267 and a two-bedroom £1,577 (ONS Price Index of Private Rents).
What salary do you need to rent in Croydon?
To keep a £1,267 one-bedroom rent within 30% of gross income you need about £50,680 a year. Letting agents usually ask for an annual income of 30 times the monthly rent, which is £38,010. The median full-time salary for residents is £44,326.
Is Croydon expensive to rent compared with the rest of the UK?
A two-bedroom in Croydon costs £1,577 a month, 23% above the UK average of £1,287. It ranks 245 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.