Renting vs Buying a House in the UK
House prices, rents and interest rates - in pounds and in bread
We all have to live somewhere.
Unless you’re going full van-life, and fair play if you are (click here to find a van over at our friend's helpful website), you’ve got a big call to make. Should you buy? Can you afford to? Is renting smarter right now?
This page tracks UK house prices, rents and mortgage costs over time - in pounds and in bread-adjusted terms. £ numbers rise. Bread keeps things grounded to everyday costs. Both matter to understand the real story of housing affordability.
Renting vs Buying: What the UK Data Shows
- Bread-adjusted: +9.5%
In many areas, rents have climbed faster than house prices. That can flip the usual story - especially once you adjust for everyday costs.
We All Need a Home
If you sell and buy another home, what matters is not whether your house went up - it’s whether it did better or worse than the wider market. Compare your selected region against the UK and switch between pounds/bread, plus absolute level vs percentage change.
When Is the Best Time to Buy a House?
A simple lens: mortgage interest is rent you pay to the bank. Compare estimated monthly mortgage interest against local monthly rent in your chosen region.
The Leverage Effect: Why Deposits Change Everything
Small deposits can amplify both gains and losses. This simplified calculator assumes an interest-only balance to show how equity returns change with leverage.
Rent vs Buy: The Bottom Line for Your Region
Right now, in Manchester:
- Bread-adjusted: 180,430 loaves
- Bread-adjusted: 939 loaves
- Bread-adjusted: 470 loaves
Compare Regions Across the UK
Maybe buying does not stack up where you live. Maybe it does one county over.
👉 Explore the full comparison toolFrequently Asked Questions
Is renting cheaper than buying in the UK right now?
It depends on region, deposit, current rates and local rents. For Manchester, the latest estimate is +£671 (rent minus mortgage interest).
What’s better long term: renting or buying?
Buying builds equity and adds leverage risk. Renting gives flexibility. Financially, the key comparisons are mortgage interest vs rent, local price path, and your deposit size.
Do house prices always go up in the UK?
No. In pounds, they usually trend upward over long spans. In bread-adjusted terms they move in cycles. For Manchester, this page uses data going back to 1995.
How do interest rates affect buying a house?
Higher rates increase monthly mortgage costs. In the UK, fixed terms (often 2–5 years) mean the impact arrives quickly for new buyers, and later for existing borrowers at remortgage.
What does bread-adjusted mean?
It reframes prices by everyday costs: “How many loaves does this equal?” If £ prices rise but bread rises similarly, real purchasing power may be unchanged.
Note: add final editorial link target for the Bread Index project description once the dedicated route is confirmed.
Is now a good time to buy a house in the UK?
There is no single answer. For your case: compare deposit size, income stability, local rent vs mortgage interest, and expected time in the property.
You have to live somewhere. The useful question is not “buy or rent forever?” - it’s how it fits in with the wider market, your finances, and your life plans. Use the data here to make a more informed choice for your situation.