According to the latest figures from Lloyds Bank, UK property prices are currently outpacing wages growth by 11%. This means home affordability is at the lowest level since 2007. It may be hard to believe but the least affordable place to buy in the UK is not in London, at least not if you take local wages into consideration. Comparing average house prices against salaries, here's the 10 most expensive and 10 easiest places to buy your own home. First, the cities where property prices far outstrip earnings...

You may think that all of the least affordable places to buy are in the south but heading north doesn’t necessarily make things any easier. In Leicester you’ll be paying 8.6 times what you’re taking home, while in York you’ll need to part with 8 times your annual salary to purchase a property.

Average asking prices in Leicester are £218,949, which is nearly nine times what you'd earn if you worked in the city, but it could still net you this three-bed terraced property with no onward chain, which comes with a large rear garden.

The word is out. Bristol, with its enviable location surrounded by the hills of southwest England, close access to the beaches of Devon, and bubbling, unique cultural identity – not to mention its pretty harbour – takes its place (tied with Exeter) as the 9th least affordable town or city outside London.

There are lots of period properties in Bristol but if you want to keep below the average asking price of £306,170 and not land yourself with a huge project, then you’d do well to look a bit further out from the city centre, such as the popular artsy area of Easton, where we saw this three-bed Victorian terraced house.

With decent shopping, lots of green space, including Hylands Park (pictured) and its close proximity to London, Essex’s county town is a desirable place to live but houses here don’t come cheap.

While there are plenty of immaculate new builds for sale in Chelmsford, there is a smattering of older properties too. A two-bed apartment in the historic Old Judge Quarters in the town centre comes in under the average asking price of £369,781.

Within reasonable commuting distance of London (though train tickets don’t come cheap), the bohemian seaside town of Brighton and its slightly more laid-back neighbour of Hove has long been an attractive alternative to the capital. However, while the sea air may do you some good, it’s not more affordable to set up here; the cost of living is on par with London.

Though Brighton has lots of gorgeous Georgian buildings they are much sought after so you don’t get much for your buck. A two-bed apartment in this mansion block will cost you £400,000, a bit over the town’s average asking price of £389,498.

The south coast city of Southampton is the 6th least affordable place to buy in the UK. Known as the cruising capital of England, it’s from this Hampshire port that most luxury liners embark on their epic adventures, but with a bustling shopping centre, plus historic sights in the old town, there are lots of reasons to stay put, too.

Offered for just over the average asking price of £281,385, this three-bed semi-detached period property is located in the Polygon area of the city, close to both Southampton Central station and the university, making it a good option for buy-to-let investors or commuters.

If lazy days spent punting on the river appeals then you might be drawn to either Cambridge, but be warned: this kind of English idyll comes at a price. At the fifth least affordable city in the UK, prices in Cambridge are on par with Greater London in terms of the property prices to local wages ratio.

As you might expect, the further out you go, the more house you can get for your money - we spotted a very nice semi-detached three-bed house a little outside the city confines for the average asking price of £415,000, while in the city centre itself, you’re more likely to get a two-bed terraced property like the one pictured for this money.

Sharing the fifth least affordable spot with Cambridge (and Greater London), Bath is quite simply one of the most beautiful cities in Britain, as evidenced by its status as a Unesco World heritage Site. As well as a lovely location on the banks of the River Avon, it has Roman baths and some of the best surviving Georgian architecture in the UK.

For 10.3 times local earnings, you can buy this bay-fronted Victorian terrace in Bath for just over the average asking price of £415,010. In Cambridge, you should be able to purchase a period 3-bed property for this price, too.

Truro in Cornwall, may be close to some beautiful beaches, but anyone wanting to buy a property in the UK’s southernmost city will have to fork out 11 times their annual salary. Still, if you’re prepared to pay, it could be a wise place to invest, as Truro is one of the UK’s fastest growing holiday destinations.

At just over the average asking price of £315,919 in the Cornish city, this three-bed extended and refurbished house, which comes with plenty of period features, might seem like a steal, but not when you consider it costs over 11 times what you’re likely to earn.

Over a 10-year period, house prices in England’s ancient capital have shot up an extraordinary 93%, from £281,224 in 2008 to £541,891 in 2018, far outstripping the national average of 35% and making it the third least affordable place to buy in the UK.

At £540,000, this 3-bed terraced house is just shy of the average asking price in Winchester, and is immaculate inside and out. However, at over 11 times the average local salary, it will be over budget for many.

In Chichester you’ll need to fork out 11.5 times the average salary to buy a place. Indeed, over the past five years, the West Sussex Georgian city has recorded the highest house growth across the UK, with prices rocketing by 62%, from £277,654 in 2013 to £450,023 in 2018.

Pretty much bang on the average asking price of £450,000, this modern five-bedroom house to the north of Chichester’s city centre, comes with three reception rooms and is well placed for both the local hospital and the university, two of the city’s big employers.

Sure, it may have dreaming spires, but living in Oxford is just a pipe dream for many, with average house prices in the city standing at £460,184 – 12 times the average local earnings of £36,430, making it the least affordable city in the whole of the UK.

With an average asking price of £460,184, Oxford by no means has the highest house prices (you know who you are, London), but when you compare them with local wages, the reach is staggering. Still, if you can afford it, this four-bed terraced house could be a good buy-to-let investment and is less than the market average.

 

 

 

The port city of Swansea on the south coast of Wales was once an industrial powerhouse. Though the city fell into decline in the 20th century, there is plenty to attract prospective buyers today, not least the rejuvenated seaside suburb of Mumbles and the treasures of the nearby Gower Peninsula.

As the 10^th most affordable city in the UK, Swansea offers sensible prices compared to local salaries, with average asking prices of £172, 800. For just a few thousand more you could snap up this three-bed semi-detached property, which is just a mile from Swansea train station. Glasgow, Stoke on Trent and Durham also came in at 5.5 times the average salary, too.

 

Tied at 9th place are the cities of Liverpool and Dundee, both of which have undergone cultural awakenings over recent years, as evidenced by their noteworthy museums, including Liverpool’s Tate, and the brand new V&A in Dundee.

In both cities, 5.4 times your salary should be able to get you a decent property. In Liverpool, we like the look of this two-bed modern apartment in a city centre location, which is just a touch over the city’s average asking price of £169,800.

Nudging into 8^th place in terms of affordability is England’s border city, Carlisle – launch pad for many who wish to walk alongside the ancient ruins of Hadrian’s Wall, but also a surprisingly attractive city in its own right, with a historic heart, and a growing culinary scene.

For an average asking price of £154,649, you could buy this three-bed townhouse in Carlisle and still have change left over to buy some new furniture. It’s near a primary school and within walking distance of the city centre, too.

 

Sliding into 7th place on the list of the UK’s most affordable towns or cities, is Newcastle’s slightly southern neighbour. You may be surprised to hear that this busy city at the mouth of the River Wear has sandy beaches and lots of green spaces, making it a smart choice for families.

Average property prices in Sunderland are a very reasonable £149,099 and we spied this corker of a pretty red-brick end of terrace home for almost £10k less than that.

On the banks of the River Wye, the city of Hereford is close to the border between Wales and England and it’s a great place to live if you’re a fan of the great outdoors or adventure sports, as it’s surrounded by lush countryside.

House prices in Hereford average out at under £245,000 and for less than that you can buy this four-bed townhouse, a former pub full of character, which comes with a terrace that overlooks some of the city’s historic buildings.

Sharing sixth place with Hereford as one of the UK's most affordable cities is the pretty city of Perth. Set along the River Tay, it is known as the ‘Fair City’ thanks to its plethora of attractive architecture and it is also one of the gateway cities into the Highlands.

Just a few minutes from Perth’s city centre is this stunning ground floor flat, which comes in at a smidgen over the average local asking price of £184,041. It feels very grand indeed, and surely a steal at that price.

The 5th most affordable UK city – and the third city in Northern Ireland to make the top 10 – is the dynamic city of Belfast. Not only does it have a well thought of university but it has an exciting food and drink scene, and world-class cultural venues, such as the Titanic Belfast.

It’s actually quite astonishing what you can get for your money here. This red-brick Victorian terrace may be in need of a little interior updating but it comes with four good-sized bedrooms. It’s also got good transport links and close to local shops and restaurants in the flourishing Belmont road area of east Belfast.

Aberdeen on the northeast coast of Scotland is more known for its offshore oil reserves than anything else, but this harbour city, Scotland’s third most populous, is surprisingly attractive, and its location in the heart of Aberdeenshire’s castle country is hugely overlooked.

It may only have one bedroom but there’s an undeniable charm about this traditional fishermen’s cottage, which comes in just below the city’s average asking price of £203,944. Close on Aberdeen’s tail as one of Scotland’s most affordable cities is Perth, where the prices to earnings ratio is 5.1.

Another northern city where your wages will go a lot further is Lancaster. The historic riverside city may be best known for its castle, but there is lots of Georgian architecture to admire too, particularly along the waterfront, as well as lots of quirky and independent boutiques to explore.

You can buy a decent two-bed house in Lancaster for the average asking price of £160,419, but if you’re prepared to go a little higher, there are some real investment opportunities to be had, like this four-bed terrace, with views of the castle.

Also scoring highly on the affordability scale is the West Yorkshire city of Bradford, which not only has some pretty decent architecture in the city centre, but is also close to heritage sites such as the model village of Saltaire, providing lots of weekend inspiration.

Average house prices in Bradford are just £139, 712, and for that you could get this really rather attractive stone cottage in the popular Eccleshill area, close to good schools and handy for transport links.

Newry, in Northern Ireland, which straddles County Down and Armagh, has been rated as the second most affordable city. Its location between the mighty Mourne Mountains (pictured) and the Ring of Gullion make it a good base for outdoorsy types.

Houses for sale in Newry are few and far between, but if you’re patient you could snap up a place like this four-bed semi-detached property on the outskirts of Warrenpoint, just a few miles outside the city, for £10k over the average asking price of £139,760.

Stirling, in central Scotland, is a beautiful market town, which some people describe as Edinburgh in miniature. Among it’s many impressive attractions are the National Wallace Monument and Stirling Castle, one of Scotland’s finest fortresses.

The average house price in Stirling is £192,326 and for just a few grand more you can buy this four-bed new-build in the village of Plean on the city’s outskirts. It’s also worth noting that both Glasgow and Edinburgh are within commuting distance, which opens up more employment options.

Finally, some good news. There are some parts of the UK that are affordable, and sharing the award for the most pocket-friendly city with Stirling is Derry in Northern Ireland.

Prices in Derry are just 4.4 times the average salary, and it’s heartening to know you can snap up a 3-bed property like this bungalow for £138,000 or less. Plus, Derry is one of the finest walled cities in Europe and is just a short drive from Donegal, where you can visit some of the most beautiful beaches imaginable.