Where's cheap to live?

[DelphiniumBlue]

I was looking at another thread about adult children living at home, and some people were saying how theirs had saved up for a few years for a deposit and were thus able to move out and buy their own place in their 20's.
I am a Londoner, as are my sons. One of them lives in a University town that costs 800 pm for a room in a shared house, in the SE, the others live at home.
They all want to get their own places but with rent at that level, it's really hard to save. But now that working from home is becoming such a thing, it strikes me that they could live almost anywhere, if the wfh continues.
So where is pleasant to live and affordable, either for a starter home or rent? Near public transport and and not too rural - they are used to be able to easily get to cinema/pub/cafe etc.
Because here it's just not an option - DS1 ( living at home) has saved several thousands this year , with no fares etc, but it will be a decade at least before he has enough for a deposit for anything. I'd like them all to have a an acheiveable 5 year plan, especially for DS1 who is already late 20's.
Any suggestions?

Of course there are expensive houses in the north, and houses in the south that are not hugely expensive, but the major difference between north and south is if you're on an average wage so have a budget of £150-200k you have lots of choice of houses in the north and probably no chance of finding anything in the south.

Two of my nephews live in Birmingham, and haven't had problems buying a property in their early twenties, and I don't think they had any parental help.

I live in South Worcs (2 hours on the train to Paddington as its a slow, but cheap line) and you can get a 2 bed flat for under £100k

@MikeUniformMike True, not like for like but still an affluent area with massive houses and posh cars about so not comparing a posh place to an armpit either.

@JoJoSM2 yes but wealthy people live in those areas. The difference is, someone like me on a low wage can afford to buy a 2 bedroom house for £100k in the Midlands. Where in London could I get a 2 bedroom house for that price?

North Staffordshire. A large 3 bed semi for £140-£180k. Rent is £600 ish for same.
Right by the M6, good railway links. Nowhere is more than 20 minutes from glorious countryside. An hour and 40 mins on the train to Euston from Stoke.

@Waxonwaxoff0 Yes, I agree. I was just making a point that not all of London is pricier than all of the rest of the coutry.

And yes, you wouldn’t even get a studio for 100k in London. However, again, it’s not so clear cut. I’ve got friends who wanted to move up North until they found that their jobs paid the minimum wage up there. In London they’re on 80k between them so they decided to stay pu

Also, let’s not forget that the the North is nicer.

I’ve read through thy is entire thread, as I’m likely moving back to the UK from Australia next year (visas run out and no option to get another). I’ve not lived in the UK for a few years now and where I’m from in Surrey, I’d be looking at £300k+ for a one bedroom.

I used to pay £850 a month for a bedroom in a share house in Clapham. A friend of mine pays £500 in Leeds for a 3 bedroom house. So I’m definitely thinking heading up north might be the way to go.
I sometimes look on right move. Type in £350k for example and see what it could get me in various areas across the UK.
Living in Melbourne I’ve had conversations with a few Brits now some saying how expensive it is, others saying how cheap it is. Most northerners consider melbourne to be very pricy rent/ house price wise. But I currently rent a one bedroom for £700 a month which I’d never be able to do in London/Surrey so I’m more than happy with that 😅

@Change17

I felt up to the challenge. Here are a one bed in Surrey at £700pcm and and studio in London for the same price. They do exist.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-79552159.html

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-95512547.html

@JoJoSM2 but the studio isn’t really London is it? It’s def London outskirts.

God, those two places are depressing, especially the one with the shared kitchen. I’m appalled people have to live like that.

Jaywick-on-sea

@tigerbear It is outer London and not inner but you’d pay London council tax, vote for the mayor and it’s zone 5 for travel.

@VinylDetective I didn’t read the advert so missed the bit about the kitchen but there will be some actual studios in London for that money.

God, those two places are depressing, especially the one with the shared kitchen. I’m appalled people have to live like that.

Ive lived in a studio similar to that one except i didnt have to share a kitchen, there was a hob & oven in there just no washing machine. Except my rent was £350, not £700!!!

Neither of those flats would be over £400pcm in the NW, more than likely less

This is what £725 gets you where I live.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-95899727.html

@VinylDetective

Georgeus setting! Still a smallish one bed, though.

Better than no kitchen and inspiring views of brick walls!

You can get a beautiful 3 bed home where I live for 725.
And its a really nice area surrounded by Cheshire countryside ohh laalaa.

JoJoSM2 point taken! Although the shared kitchen isn’t appealing.

I still maintain that despite Melbourne being known as an expensive city, you still get far more bang for your buck compared to much of the SE.
My £700 one bedroom has a balcony, beautiful beach view, one of the most popular areas of the city, a gym and pool in the building.
The thought of someday moving back to surrey does fill my with dread knowing is likely have to spend well over £1k to get anything close to as nice.

@Knocka

I don’t in the least think it’s ‘grim up north’, but some of the places mentioned by name on here In various parts of the country — that I’ve either lived in or spent considerable time in — are not somewhere I’d want to live for the sake of cheap housing unless I was actually desperate. I’d live in or around Newcastle or in Liverpool like a shot, but Nuneaton, Corby, Kettering, Grantham? Absolutely not.

Surely most places have a rougher end and a posh or nicer part..

Change17 your place sounds like the perfect bachelor(ette) pad! Anything vaguely comparably lovely in London will be £1500 at the very least.

Surely most places have a rougher end and a posh or nicer part.

How relevant is that, though, when the entire place, regardless of the socio-economic category of the people living around you, is a featureless suburban sprawl without cultural activity etc?

A good friend lives in Nuneaton, and while I believe he lives in one of 'nicer' parts, it is just a featureless maze of housing estates with significant traffic and social problems, and nothing to do.

JoJoSM2 it is! Big perk of Aussie life. My salary is almost double what it was in the UK too. Sadly my visa is expiring soo. and there’s little chance I’ll be able to extend it so I’m starting to have to face the realities of returning to the UK. I am seriously considering moving away from the SE though. My friends and family are there but I just don’t think I’ll be able to justify the cost of living there.
I’ll be 30 though so moving somewhere new and not knowing anyone is daunting. But I’m not sure I love Surrey/London quite enough to justify the extortionate prices.