📍 Constituency Guide

Cost of Living in Bath,
South West (2026)

By earmarkIQ April 2026 5 min read Updated for 2026/27 tax year

A complete cost-of-living breakdown for Bath in South West. See the median salary, average rent, monthly budget and how this constituency compares to the rest of the UK. All figures updated for 2026/27.

Quick Answer

The median salary in Bath is £35,000. After tax and NI you take home £2,393.30/month. Average 1-bed rent is £1,100/month (46.0% of take-home). This is a high housing cost burden — house shares or nearby areas may offer better value.

Key Figures for Bath

MetricAmount
Median salary£35,000
Annual take-home (after tax & NI)£28,719.60
Monthly take-home£2,393.30
Average 1-bed rent£1,100/month
Rent as % of take-home46.0%
Remaining after rent£1,293.30/month
Note

Tax calculated using 2026/27 PAYE rates: personal allowance £12,570, basic rate 20% (£12,571–£50,270), higher rate 40% (above £50,270), NI 8%/2%. Does not include student loans or pension. earmarkIQ reads your real payslip data via Open Banking for exact figures.

Monthly Budget Breakdown

After paying £1,100 in rent, you have £1,293.30 left each month. Here’s how the 50/30/20 rule splits that remaining amount:

50% Needs: £646.65/mo
30% Wants: £387.99/mo
20% Savings: £258.66/mo
Category% of RemainingMonthly AmountExamples
Needs50%£646.65Food, transport, bills, insurance
Wants30%£387.99Eating out, entertainment, subscriptions
Savings20%£258.66Emergency fund, ISA, pension top-up

How Bath Compares

vs UK Median (£34,963)
+£37

£35,000 vs £34,963 — £37 above national median

vs London Median (£52,000)
£-17,000

£35,000 vs £52,000 — £17,000 below London median

Local Rent vs London Avg
£1,100 vs £1,800

Average 1-bed: £1,100/mo locally vs £1,800/mo in London

Rent-to-Income Ratio
46.0%

Above the recommended 30% threshold

Is Bath Affordable?

With rent at £1,100/month (46.0% of take-home), Bath has a high housing cost burden on the median salary. After rent you have only £1,293.30/month for bills, food, transport and savings. This exceeds the recommended 30% threshold significantly.

Consider house shares, nearby constituencies with lower rents, or negotiating a salary above the median. earmarkIQ can rebalance your budget to accommodate higher housing costs by adjusting your wants allocation.

Budget smarter in Bath

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary in Bath?
The median salary in Bath is £35,000 per year. After income tax (£4,486) and National Insurance (£1,794.40), you take home £28,719.60 annually or £2,393.30 per month. This is £37 above the UK median of £34,963. earmarkIQ connects to your bank via Open Banking to calculate your exact take-home pay.
What is the average rent in Bath?
The average 1-bed rent in Bath is £1,100 per month, which represents 46.0% of the median monthly take-home pay of £2,393.30. This is a high housing cost burden — house shares or nearby areas may offer better value. After rent, you have £1,293.30 left for bills, food, transport and savings.
Is Bath expensive to live in?
On the median local salary of £35,000, rent in Bath takes 46.0% of take-home pay. High housing cost burden — Consider house shares or nearby areas for better value. After rent, you have £1,293.30 per month. Using the 50/30/20 rule on the remaining amount gives you £646.65 for needs, £387.99 for wants, and £258.66 for savings.
What is the cost of living in Bath vs London?
The median salary in Bath is £35,000 compared to London’s £52,000. Average 1-bed rent is £1,100/month vs approximately £1,800/month in London. Rent is lower in absolute terms, and the rent-to-income ratio may be more favourable depending on your salary. earmarkIQ can model different locations to help you compare cost of living.

About earmarkIQ

earmarkIQ is a UK personal finance app launching on iOS in May 2026. It is an FCA Appointed Representative of Finexer Ltd (FRN 925695) and ICO registered (CSN2001882). earmarkIQ provides Open Banking account aggregation across 50+ UK banks via Finexer, AI-powered salary allocation, Payment Initiation Services (PIS), subscription price creep detection, and a financial product marketplace. Website: earmarkiq.app