What's the 50/30/20 rule?

A budgeting framework where 50% of income goes to needs (rent, food, utilities), 30% to wants (entertainment, dining out), and 20% to savings. This is more realistic than older 30% rent rules.

How much should I spend on rent?

Using the 50/30/20 rule, rent should be part of your 50% needs budget. For most people, rent alone shouldn't exceed 25-30% of gross income, leaving room for food, utilities, and debt payments.

Can I afford to live alone on my salary?

Enter your monthly income, housing type, city, and lifestyle preferences into the calculator. It will show your affordability score and recommend whether living alone is sustainable for your situation.

Cost of Living Across 65 Cities

Compare rent, salaries, and affordability across the UK and US. Find where you can live alone.

Search Cities

Showing 65 of 65 cities

London

England - South East

1-Bed Rent

£2,150

Median Salary

£42,000

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Manchester

England - North West

1-Bed Rent

£975

Median Salary

£32,000

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Birmingham

England - Midlands

1-Bed Rent

£850

Median Salary

£30,000

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Leeds

England - Yorkshire

1-Bed Rent

£850

Median Salary

£31,000

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Bristol

England - South West

1-Bed Rent

£1,125

Median Salary

£33,000

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Liverpool

England - North West

1-Bed Rent

£725

Median Salary

£29,000

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Sheffield

England - Yorkshire

1-Bed Rent

£725

Median Salary

£30,000

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Nottingham

England - East Midlands

1-Bed Rent

£725

Median Salary

£29,500

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Newcastle upon Tyne

England - North East

1-Bed Rent

£750

Median Salary

£29,000

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Leicester

England - East Midlands

1-Bed Rent

£750

Median Salary

£29,000

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Coventry

England - Midlands

1-Bed Rent

£750

Median Salary

£28,500

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Brighton and Hove

England - South East

1-Bed Rent

£1,650

Median Salary

£34,000

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Oxford

England - South East

1-Bed Rent

£1,950

Median Salary

£36,000

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Cambridge

England - East

1-Bed Rent

£1,700

Median Salary

£35,000

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Portsmouth

England - South East

1-Bed Rent

£1,350

Median Salary

£31,000

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Southampton

England - South East

1-Bed Rent

£1,200

Median Salary

£30,000

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Norwich

England - East

1-Bed Rent

£800

Median Salary

£28,000

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York

England - Yorkshire

1-Bed Rent

£950

Median Salary

£30,000

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Derby

England - East Midlands

1-Bed Rent

£700

Median Salary

£28,000

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Bournemouth

England - South West

1-Bed Rent

£1,100

Median Salary

£30,000

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Exeter

England - South West

1-Bed Rent

£950

Median Salary

£29,000

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Bradford

England - Yorkshire

1-Bed Rent

£620

Median Salary

£27,000

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Kingston upon Hull

England - Yorkshire

1-Bed Rent

£680

Median Salary

£27,500

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Peterborough

England - East

1-Bed Rent

£750

Median Salary

£28,500

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Sunderland

England - North East

1-Bed Rent

£700

Median Salary

£27,000

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Edinburgh

Scotland

1-Bed Rent

£1,150

Median Salary

£33,000

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Glasgow

Scotland

1-Bed Rent

£800

Median Salary

£30,000

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Aberdeen

Scotland

1-Bed Rent

£850

Median Salary

£35,000

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Cardiff

Wales

1-Bed Rent

£950

Median Salary

£30,000

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Swansea

Wales

1-Bed Rent

£820

Median Salary

£28,500

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Belfast

Northern Ireland

1-Bed Rent

£700

Median Salary

£27,500

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Derry / Londonderry

Northern Ireland

1-Bed Rent

£600

Median Salary

£26,000

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New York City

US - Northeast

1-Bed Rent

$3,400

Median Salary

$70,000

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Boston

US - Northeast

1-Bed Rent

$2,800

Median Salary

$62,000

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Philadelphia

US - Northeast

1-Bed Rent

$1,600

Median Salary

$48,000

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Baltimore

US - Northeast

1-Bed Rent

$1,500

Median Salary

$46,000

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Pittsburgh

US - Northeast

1-Bed Rent

$1,350

Median Salary

$42,000

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San Francisco

US - West Coast

1-Bed Rent

$3,200

Median Salary

$90,000

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Los Angeles

US - West Coast

1-Bed Rent

$2,400

Median Salary

$58,000

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Seattle

US - West Coast

1-Bed Rent

$2,200

Median Salary

$72,000

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San Diego

US - West Coast

1-Bed Rent

$2,300

Median Salary

$56,000

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Portland

US - West Coast

1-Bed Rent

$1,700

Median Salary

$52,000

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Sacramento

US - West Coast

1-Bed Rent

$1,600

Median Salary

$48,000

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Miami

US - South

1-Bed Rent

$2,400

Median Salary

$52,000

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Atlanta

US - South

1-Bed Rent

$1,600

Median Salary

$54,000

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Austin

US - South

1-Bed Rent

$1,700

Median Salary

$60,000

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Dallas

US - South

1-Bed Rent

$1,500

Median Salary

$54,000

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Houston

US - South

1-Bed Rent

$1,400

Median Salary

$52,000

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Nashville

US - South

1-Bed Rent

$1,600

Median Salary

$50,000

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Charlotte

US - South

1-Bed Rent

$1,450

Median Salary

$51,000

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Tampa

US - South

1-Bed Rent

$1,500

Median Salary

$48,000

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San Antonio

US - South

1-Bed Rent

$1,200

Median Salary

$44,000

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Memphis

US - South

1-Bed Rent

$1,050

Median Salary

$42,000

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Chicago

US - Midwest

1-Bed Rent

$1,750

Median Salary

$56,000

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Minneapolis

US - Midwest

1-Bed Rent

$1,450

Median Salary

$50,000

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Detroit

US - Midwest

1-Bed Rent

$1,100

Median Salary

$41,000

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Indianapolis

US - Midwest

1-Bed Rent

$1,200

Median Salary

$46,000

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Columbus

US - Midwest

1-Bed Rent

$1,250

Median Salary

$47,000

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Kansas City

US - Midwest

1-Bed Rent

$1,150

Median Salary

$45,000

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Omaha

US - Midwest

1-Bed Rent

$1,100

Median Salary

$45,000

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Denver

US - Mountain

1-Bed Rent

$1,800

Median Salary

$58,000

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Washington, DC

US - Northeast

1-Bed Rent

$2,200

Median Salary

$72,000

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Phoenix

US - Mountain

1-Bed Rent

$1,400

Median Salary

$50,000

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Las Vegas

US - Mountain

1-Bed Rent

$1,350

Median Salary

$44,000

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Salt Lake City

US - Mountain

1-Bed Rent

$1,400

Median Salary

$52,000

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