📍 Constituency Guide

Cost of Living in Ipswich,
East of England (2026)

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

A complete cost-of-living breakdown for Ipswich in East of England. 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 Ipswich is £31,000. After tax and NI you take home £2,153.30/month. Average 1-bed rent is £800/month (37.2% of take-home). This is a moderate housing cost burden — budgeting carefully is important.

Key Figures for Ipswich

MetricAmount
Median salary£31,000
Annual take-home (after tax & NI)£25,839.60
Monthly take-home£2,153.30
Average 1-bed rent£800/month
Rent as % of take-home37.2%
Remaining after rent£1,353.30/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 £800 in rent, you have £1,353.30 left each month. Here’s how the 50/30/20 rule splits that remaining amount:

50% Needs: £676.65/mo
30% Wants: £405.99/mo
20% Savings: £270.66/mo
Category% of RemainingMonthly AmountExamples
Needs50%£676.65Food, transport, bills, insurance
Wants30%£405.99Eating out, entertainment, subscriptions
Savings20%£270.66Emergency fund, ISA, pension top-up

How Ipswich Compares

vs UK Median (£34,963)
£-3,963

£31,000 vs £34,963 — £3,963 below national median

vs London Median (£52,000)
£-21,000

£31,000 vs £52,000 — £21,000 below London median

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

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

Rent-to-Income Ratio
37.2%

Above the recommended 30% threshold

Is Ipswich Affordable?

With rent at £800/month (37.2% of take-home), Ipswich has moderate housing costs relative to local earnings. After rent you have £1,353.30/month for everything else. While above the ideal 30% threshold, this is manageable with careful budgeting.

Consider reviewing subscriptions and discretionary spending to maintain healthy savings. earmarkIQ can identify areas where you might reduce spending to offset higher housing costs.

Budget smarter in Ipswich

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary in Ipswich?
The median salary in Ipswich is £31,000 per year. After income tax (£3,686) and National Insurance (£1,474.40), you take home £25,839.60 annually or £2,153.30 per month. This is £3,963 below 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 Ipswich?
The average 1-bed rent in Ipswich is £800 per month, which represents 37.2% of the median monthly take-home pay of £2,153.30. This is a moderate housing cost burden — budgeting carefully is important. After rent, you have £1,353.30 left for bills, food, transport and savings.
Is Ipswich expensive to live in?
On the median local salary of £31,000, rent in Ipswich takes 37.2% of take-home pay. Moderate housing costs — Rent takes a significant but manageable share of income. After rent, you have £1,353.30 per month. Using the 50/30/20 rule on the remaining amount gives you £676.65 for needs, £405.99 for wants, and £270.66 for savings.
What is the cost of living in Ipswich vs London?
The median salary in Ipswich is £31,000 compared to London’s £52,000. Average 1-bed rent is £800/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