Oxford singles are paying over £2,300 a month to live alone

This is according to new research from Zable, which reveals the cities where living alone has become increasingly expensive.

The data analysis of one-bedroom rental prices, council tax rates, and household spending relative to wages.

Oxford was ranked second in the list, only behind the capital city, London, with a total cost of £2,391 to be single per month.

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This was higher than Cambridge at £1,280, Edinburgh at £2,304, Brighton and Hove at £2,298, Bristol at £2,225, and Milton Keynes at £2,031.

Portsmouth, Exeter and Southampton rounded off the top ten with £1,968, £1,956, and £1,945 respectively, but all are far lower than London’s topping £2,553 per month.

In the findings, the average rental cost for a one-bed rental in Oxford per month was £828, which was cheaper than both London’s £1,191 and Cambridge’s £1,280.

However, the 84 per cent of income it takes to live as a single person in the city was one of the highest on the list, only beaten by Brighton and Hove’s 87 per cent.

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Arielle Rogers-Jenkins, senior product manager at Zable, said: “Our data serves as a stark reminder that solo living comes with a very real financial premium, and for many people, that pressure is only growing.

“In light of this, it could be worth taking a closer look at where your money is really going each month.

“Start by auditing your fixed costs and see where adjustments can be made. Council tax discounts, for example, are something single occupants are entitled to but don’t always claim correctly.

“Beyond that, building a simple monthly budget that separates your essentials from discretionary spending can make a significant difference in how far your salary stretches.

“It may also be worth exploring whether any regular expenses, such as broadband and utilities, can be switched to a better deal. Small savings across multiple bills can quickly add up, and having a clearer picture of your finances is the first step to feeling more in control of them.”