Average rent in York
The average private rent in York was £1,206 a month in September 2026, +6.7% on a year earlier. A two-bedroom home costs £1,088, 16% below the UK average of £1,287 and 41% above the average for Yorkshire and The Humber. It is the most expensive of 15 areas in Yorkshire and The Humber. Over the past year, 3 bed homes rose fastest (+7.0%).
Rent by number of bedrooms
Average monthly private rent (pcm).
Salary needed to rent in York
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 | £879 | £35,160 | £26,370 |
| 2 bedrooms | £1,088 | £43,520 | £32,640 |
The median full-time salary for York residents is £40,496 (2025, £21.00 an hour). A one-bedroom at the average rent takes 26% of that before tax, within the 30% guideline.
Renting vs buying in York
How rents in York have changed
Average rent is +47.4% since 2016.
| Year | Average rent | 2 bed |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | £1,206 | £1,088 |
| 2025 | £1,130 | £1,020 |
| 2024 | £1,109 | £997 |
| 2023 | £1,004 | £901 |
| 2022 | £926 | £833 |
| 2021 | £892 | £805 |
| 2020 | £868 | £784 |
| 2019 | £884 | £799 |
| 2018 | £848 | £768 |
| 2017 | £833 | £756 |
| 2016 | £818 | £744 |
Areas with similar rents
| # | Area | Region | 1 bed | 2 bed | 3 bed | Change (12m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salford | North West | £889 | £1,086 | £1,291 | +3.1% |
| 2 | Cardiff | Wales | £910 | £1,086 | £1,212 | +3.2% |
| 3 | Greater Glasgow | Scotland | £845 | £1,091 | £1,340 | +1.1% |
| 4 | Havant | South East | £857 | £1,092 | £1,364 | +4.1% |
| 5 | Eastbourne | South East | £823 | £1,083 | £1,313 | +1.9% |
| 6 | North Somerset | South West | £822 | £1,082 | £1,350 | +3.1% |
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in York?
The average private rent in York was £1,206 a month in September 2026, up 6.7% on a year earlier. A one-bedroom averaged £879 and a two-bedroom £1,088 (ONS Price Index of Private Rents).
What salary do you need to rent in York?
To keep a £879 one-bedroom rent within 30% of gross income you need about £35,160 a year. Letting agents usually ask for an annual income of 30 times the monthly rent, which is £26,370. The median full-time salary for residents is £40,496.
Is York expensive to rent compared with the rest of the UK?
A two-bedroom in York costs £1,088 a month, 16% below the UK average of £1,287. It ranks 173 of 282 larger UK areas from cheapest to most expensive.
All areas in Yorkshire and The Humber →
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.