Newcastle is one of the most affordable cities in the country, with average monthly rent just over a third of what you'd pay in London.
The average price paid each month by Geordie renters stands at £566, according to property company Zoopla, compared to a staggering £1,559 in the capital.
Across the region, we saw the lowest growth in rent prices in the country, with monthly prices rising by just 0.5% across the North East.
It's the most affordable region in the country too. Although average wages in the North East are lower than those in London, rents here eat up less of our cash: rent equates to 22% of a single earner’s wages here, compared to 46% in London. (Though Zoopla says this falls if you assume most properties are shared.)
This got us thinking, so we had a look at what you could get in Newcastle for the price of an average house or flat in other parts of the country - and it's fair to say, we seem to be getting a bit more for our money.
Newcastle
Here's our basis for comparison: we searched for an average rent house in Newcastle, as close to £566 as we could get (rents will likely be even cheaper outside the city, but we thought we'd stick to one place just to make things simpler).
If you're looking to live fairly close to the city centre, you could have this two-bedroom flat on Eighth Avenue, Heaton. It's close to the amenities of Chillingham Road, has a private yard, parking and two double bedrooms.
A studio apartment in London - or six beds in Jesmond
So you've got £1,559 a month to burn. Well, you'd still have a little change left over if you rented this studio apartment, inside a converted Victorian building on Fleet Street. Ok, so you're very close to the bustling heart of the capital and, yes, you do get access to the communal roof terrace - but you can also see your oven from your bed.
For this sort of money you can kind of take your pick of places in Newcastle, but for a fair comparison we thought we'd look for another period property in a fairly central and sought-after area. So, we present this six-bedroom, 2,500 square foot terraced town house in Jesmond. For a little less than the London asking price (£1,495 pcm) you get six bedrooms, two "elegant" reception rooms and a south-facing rear garden.
A flat over a shop in Edinburgh - or a "superb" family three-bed
It's cheaper than London but we're looking at another capital city here, so the average rent is pretty steep: £946 a month, or 38.6% of the average wage for someone living in the city. For that you could live in this two-bedroom, part-furnished flat. It's got a shared garden, a kitchen, a lounge and a spare box room, and sits on Broughton Road, which sits a fair distance to the North of the city centre.
Or, heading back to Newcastle, you might prefer this "superb family home" in Dinnington (also out to the North of the city). At £945 a month it's got a good-sized garden, three bedrooms (including one en-suite) a "splendid" fitted dining kitchen and a "pleasant lounge to the rear".
Two beds in Brighton or chandeliers and a jacuzzi bath in Tynemouth
Another pricey city here, with an average rent of £1,284. For that you could live in this two-bedroom flat, which does boast a rather lovely seaview. It's unfurnished and has an enclosed balcony as well as a large lounge/dining room.
On the other hand, if it's sea views you want, we'll stray a little out of Newcastle (though still close to the Metro to the centre), to show you this "most impressive" seafront maisonette in Tynemouth. It's got four bedrooms, two bathrooms, and is reached from a "spindled staircase entwin[ing] up to a generous hallway with feature leaded light ceiling complete with crystal hanging chandelier". It's got a dining room and a living room, both with gorgeous views of the sea, and the swish bathroom enjoys a sunken oval Jacuzzi bath tub.
Cosy terrace in Manchester or a three-bed semi with a conservatory in Newcastle
With an average rent of £721 a month, this is a bit closer to what we can expect to pay in the North East, but there's still a considerable difference. Still, I rather like this "immaculate" three-bedroom home, which is located close to media city, in Salford, Manchester - mainly because I can't take my eyes off that wallpaper.
For a rent of £725 you also get three bedrooms in Longbenton, but it comes fully-furnished, with a conservatory and good-sized garden, plus allocated parking, in this semi-detached house.
