Sunderland named most affordable city to rent in

Published on 18, September, 2025

An aerial shot of St Peter's Campus and the city

Sunderland has been named one of the most affordable cities for students to rent in Great Britain, according to newly released data.

As hundreds of young people up and down the country are moving to start their studies this Freshers’ Week, the cost of living will likely be on students’ minds.

After looking at over 50 cities across Great Britain, Rightmove has shared that Sunderland is tied with Hull as being the most affordable city to rent in.

The average monthly rent for a property in Sunderland is £804, which is 41% below the national average rate.

The University of Sunderland’s student accommodation was also ranked 10^th in Studentcrowd’s Cheapest UK Cities for Student Accommodation 2025 league table.

Adrian Herbert, from the Student Financial Guidance Team at the University, said: “These latest reports have confirmed what we have known for some time, that Sunderland is one of the most affordable places in the UK to study – and are another reason why Sunderland is a great choice of University.”

Students chatting next to desk with notebooks

Modern Lender has also shown that Sunderland is home to some of the lowest average monthly mortgage costs, citing a growing trend of parents investing in properties to support their children during their studies.

This comes as the city is seeing a range of major regeneration projects across the city centre and around the Stadium of Light, including food and drinks destination Sheepfolds Stables, Culture House and housing developments like Farringdon Row residentials.

The Student Financial Guidance Team at the University provides help with everything from advice on student loans and budgeting to support for those struggling.

Adrian added: “If you want to discuss money with a student finance expert – whether that’s help in applying for student loans, checking you are receiving the right amount of student funding, or support with preparing a budget to help your money last – you can call us in the Student Financial Guidance team.

“We also have some useful resources on our Living in Sunderland webpages that include information on student discounts, travelling to university, and our other amazing student support teams.”

You can check out the University of Sunderland’s student accommodation as well as its campus at our next open day. Find out more here.