Which are the best cities to live UK for young adults?

Moving to a new city is a high priority for many young people once they have finished their education. Choosing the right one to head for can be a tough decision, as there are so many different factors to consider such as the availability of jobs, rental prices, and social and leisure activities. So, if you’re looking to find the best city to relocate to, you’re in the right place!

First things to consider

It’s important to have good accommodation options and plenty of social activities to help you form friendships, along with sporting facilities and gyms to keep you healthy and look after your well-being. You’ll also want to explore and try out bars and eateries, so getting around the city affordably is important.

The top 20 UK cities for young adults have been assessed in a study by the life insurance team at Comparethemarket which takes into account the cost of living, job opportunities, the proportion of the population that’s aged between 18-30, the quality of the nightlife, and the overall happiness of residents.

The table below shows the top 20 best cities for young adults in the UK. 

The chart-toppers

Nottingham takes top spot, having a clear appeal to young adults, recording the highest demographic of people aged between 18-30 of all cities in the study, at 28.23%. It has two universities and relatively inexpensive rent: the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre is £765 per month. It also benefits from affordable public transport (£60 per month), and the average price for a meal at an inexpensive restaurant is £12. The number of jobs listed here at the time of the study was 2,719. Nottingham has a total of 119 pubs and bars 119 and notches up a happiness score of  7.20.

Southampton comes in second place, with 24% of its population aged 18-30. It’s an affordable place to live, and being on the coast is an additional attraction. A healthy jobs market in the marine, retail, and hospitality sectors provides good career opportunities, while a selection of 95 pubs and bars ensures a lively social life.

In third place, Coventry scored highly for its low transport costs. A monthly public transport pass costs £50, less than any other UK city. Eating out is relatively cheap here with an inexpensive meal costing £10 on average.

Newcastle-upon-Tyne comes in fourth place, with its 120 bars and pubs making it a great choice for those wanting plenty of action on a night out. The city, with its welcoming atmosphere and vibrant arts and music scene, has a high happiness score of 7.49.

In fifth place is Bradford, which is one of the best cities for those seeking affordable accommodation – the average monthly rent here is £537.50.

Plymouth and Luton tie for sixth place, followed by Kingston-Upon-Hull, Birmingham, Sheffield and Middlesborough. Birmingham stands out for its job opportunities and nightlife, offering 3,205 job listings and 200 pubs and bars.

Key takeaways from the study

Rent

Rent is a key factor in most young people’s decision about where to live. The study found Kingston-Upon-Hull to be the most affordable city for renters: one-bedroom apartments here average £452.50 per month. Middlesborough comes second; here, the average monthly rent is £475. Peterborough is in third place with an average rent of £536.67 per month, closely followed by Bradford at £537.50. Tying in fifth place with a rent of £550.00 per month are Stoke-on-Trent, Derby, and Bolton. Unsurprisingly, flats to rent in London stand out in stark contrast at an average cost of £2004 per month.

Career opportunities

London had the most jobs listed at the time of the study (21,507), while Manchester, renowned for its careers in digital media, biotechnology, and finance, listed 3,433, and Birmingham with its vibrant commercial sector listed 3,205.

Eating out

Young people love to eat out and if this is a priority, Peterborough is the cheapest place for restaurant meals, which average £9. In joint second place are Coventry, Bradford, Middlesborough, Plymouth and Bolton: affordable meals in each of these cities cost an average of £10.

Public transport

The cheapest monthly public transport pass can be found in Coventry, costing £50. The equivalent pass can be found in Cardiff for £53 and in Leicester for £54 per month, while Londoners must pay £150.

Nightlife

Not surprisingly, London tops the chart for having the best range of nightlife offerings with 1,206 bars and pubs hosting live events across the city. Edinburgh comes in second place, followed by Glasgow, although both cities narrowly missed the top 20, coming in at numbers 21 and 25 respectively.

Number of young people

Nottingham has the highest proportion of young people, 28.23%, followed by Manchester at 26.35%. Bolton has the lowest number of people aged between 18-30 (15.19%) followed by Peterborough (16.08%).

Happiness

The study’s happiness rating is topped by Luton which scored 7.74, followed by Stoke-on-Trent, 7.59; Plymouth, 7.53; Bolton, 7.52 and Swansea, 7.51.

Over to you

Hopefully, the information above will help you to work out what you want most from a city; after that, you should be able to narrow down your options and visit some of your favorites before making a decision.