Which UK cities are most affordable for first-time buyers in 2026?
Aberdeen is the most affordable UK city for first-time buyers in 2026, with an average first-time buyer property costing just 3.5 times the local median salary. Across the 145 cities we analysed, the average price-to-earnings ratio is 8.5x — meaning most first-time buyers need a property priced at more than eight times their annual income.
We calculated affordability by dividing the average first-time buyer property price (HM Land Registry, January 2026) by the median annual earnings for each area (ONS ASHE data, 2024). A lower ratio means your salary stretches further when buying a home.
What are the 15 most affordable cities to buy your first home?
These cities offer the best value for first-time buyers, with property prices between 3.5x and 5.3x local earnings. In most of these areas, a 10% deposit costs under £16,000 and the required household income is below £32,000.
| City | FTB avg price | Median earnings | Ratio | 10% deposit | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | £113,084 | £31,892 | 3.5x | £11,308 | £22,617 |
| Dundee | £120,530 | £30,089 | 4.0x | £12,053 | £24,106 |
| Hartlepool | £113,979 | £27,504 | 4.1x | £11,398 | £22,796 |
| Durham | £123,208 | £28,414 | 4.3x | £12,321 | £24,642 |
| Sunderland | £128,382 | £28,271 | 4.5x | £12,838 | £25,676 |
| Middlesbrough | £124,848 | £27,455 | 4.5x | £12,485 | £24,970 |
| Blackpool | £126,310 | £26,705 | 4.7x | £12,631 | £25,262 |
| Gateshead | £135,961 | £27,490 | 4.9x | £13,596 | £27,192 |
| Carlisle | £154,521 | £31,136 | 5.0x | £15,452 | £30,904 |
| Stoke-on-Trent | £136,788 | £26,962 | 5.1x | £13,679 | £27,358 |
| Barnsley | £155,710 | £30,472 | 5.1x | £15,571 | £31,142 |
| Blackburn | £135,741 | £26,104 | 5.2x | £13,574 | £27,148 |
| Darlington | £143,476 | £27,562 | 5.2x | £14,348 | £28,695 |
| Stirling | £175,721 | £34,068 | 5.2x | £17,572 | £35,144 |
| Doncaster | £158,946 | £30,186 | 5.3x | £15,895 | £31,789 |
Income needed assumes a 10% deposit and 4.5x income multiple, which is the upper end of what most lenders offer. Your actual borrowing will depend on your individual circumstances.
Which UK cities are least affordable for first-time buyers?
London boroughs dominate the least affordable list, with price-to-earnings ratios between 13x and 23x. In Kensington and Chelsea, the average first-time buyer property costs more than 23 times the local median salary — and requires a deposit of over £100,000 at 10%.
| City | FTB avg price | Median earnings | Ratio | 10% deposit | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kensington and Chelsea | £1,022,820 | £44,338 | 23.1x | £102,282 | £204,564 |
| Westminster | £817,540 | £45,889 | 17.8x | £81,754 | £163,508 |
| Camden | £695,654 | £41,410 | 16.8x | £69,565 | £139,131 |
| Hackney | £564,641 | £39,211 | 14.4x | £56,464 | £112,928 |
| Brent | £479,121 | £33,388 | 14.4x | £47,912 | £95,824 |
| Islington | £618,753 | £43,331 | 14.3x | £61,875 | £123,751 |
| Hammersmith and Fulham | £624,269 | £44,025 | 14.2x | £62,427 | £124,854 |
| Haringey | £539,378 | £38,385 | 14.1x | £53,938 | £107,876 |
How much deposit do first-time buyers actually need in 2026?
A 10% deposit ranges from £11,308 in Aberdeen to over £102,000 in Kensington and Chelsea. However, many lenders now offer 5% deposit mortgages for first-time buyers, which would halve these figures — though you will typically pay a higher interest rate with a smaller deposit.
In the 15 most affordable cities, a 5% deposit costs between £5,654 and £8,786. That is within reach for many first-time buyers, especially those using a government scheme like the Lifetime ISA (which adds a 25% bonus to your savings, up to £1,000 per year).
Read our full guide to first-time buyer deposits for strategies to save your deposit faster, or use our stamp duty calculator to check what you would owe — remembering that first-time buyers pay no stamp duty on properties up to £425,000.
How much do you need to earn to buy your first home?
Most lenders offer between 4 and 4.5 times your annual income as a mortgage. Assuming a 10% deposit and a 4.5x income multiple, you would need a household income of around £22,600 to buy in Aberdeen, compared to £204,600 in Kensington and Chelsea.
In 47 of the 145 cities we analysed, a single person earning the UK median salary of approximately £35,000 could afford the average first-time buyer property with a 10% deposit. That rises to 89 cities for a couple both earning the median salary.
Use our affordability calculator to see how much you could borrow based on your own income and circumstances. For a full overview of the buying process, read our first-time buyer guide.
Are affordable cities seeing prices rise or fall?
Most of the affordable cities are seeing prices rise, which means affordability may not last. Darlington leads with 9.5% annual growth, followed by Doncaster (6.9%), Carlisle (6.1%), and Sunderland (6%). Only Aberdeen (-4.5%), Gateshead (-0.7%), Blackburn (-2.6%), and Stirling (-0.8%) are seeing prices fall.
At the expensive end, several London boroughs are seeing significant price drops: Camden (-10.1%), Westminster (-10.8%), Kensington and Chelsea (-10.8%), and Hammersmith and Fulham (-8.5%). However, even with these falls, these areas remain far beyond the reach of most first-time buyers on typical salaries.
For the latest on where prices are heading, read our analysis of UK mortgage market trends.
What should first-time buyers do next?
Start by checking how much you could borrow using our affordability calculator, then read our complete first-time buyer guide to understand the mortgage process from start to finish. If you are ready to take the next step, you can get matched with an FCA-authorised broker partner within 24 hours — it is free and there is no obligation.