Average rent in St. Helens
The average private rent in St. Helens was £811 a month in September 2026, +6.9% on a year earlier. A two-bedroom home costs £742, 42% below the UK average of £1,287 and 16% below the average for the North West. It is the 13th cheapest of 35 areas in the North West. Over the past year, 3 bed homes rose fastest (+7.3%).
Rent by number of bedrooms
Average monthly private rent (pcm).
Salary needed to rent in St. Helens
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 | £596 | £23,840 | £17,880 |
| 2 bedrooms | £742 | £29,680 | £22,260 |
The median full-time salary for St. Helens residents is £37,306 (2025, £18.94 an hour). A one-bedroom at the average rent takes 19% of that before tax, within the 30% guideline.
Renting vs buying in St. Helens
How rents in St. Helens have changed
Average rent is +60.3% since 2016.
| Year | Average rent | 2 bed |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | £811 | £742 |
| 2025 | £759 | £692 |
| 2024 | £701 | £637 |
| 2023 | £647 | £586 |
| 2022 | £601 | £546 |
| 2021 | £565 | £514 |
| 2020 | £536 | £489 |
| 2019 | £529 | £482 |
| 2018 | £523 | £477 |
| 2017 | £516 | £471 |
| 2016 | £506 | £463 |
Areas with similar rents
| # | Area | Region | 1 bed | 2 bed | 3 bed | Change (12m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Ribble | North West | £565 | £742 | £895 | +5.5% |
| 2 | South Lanarkshire | Scotland | £555 | £742 | £976 | +1.4% |
| 3 | South Holland | East Midlands | £596 | £743 | £907 | +4.5% |
| 4 | Newark and Sherwood | East Midlands | £562 | £743 | £897 | +5.3% |
| 5 | Wirral | North West | £574 | £743 | £909 | +6.7% |
| 6 | Argyll and Bute | Scotland | £551 | £739 | £960 | -4.0% |
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in St. Helens?
The average private rent in St. Helens was £811 a month in September 2026, up 6.9% on a year earlier. A one-bedroom averaged £596 and a two-bedroom £742 (ONS Price Index of Private Rents).
What salary do you need to rent in St. Helens?
To keep a £596 one-bedroom rent within 30% of gross income you need about £23,840 a year. Letting agents usually ask for an annual income of 30 times the monthly rent, which is £17,880. The median full-time salary for residents is £37,306.
Is St. Helens expensive to rent compared with the rest of the UK?
A two-bedroom in St. Helens costs £742 a month, 42% below the UK average of £1,287. It ranks 57 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.