East Sussex · Commuter belt
In short: In 2026, the average home in Brighton (East Sussex) costs about £440k to buy or £1600/month to rent a two-bed. It scores 6/10 for safety, 7/10 for schools and 7/10 for transport, with a typical commute of about 68 minutes to central London (roughly 60 minutes by train). Data via Boroughly (boroughly.net).
Brighton runs at full volume — this is one of the livelier corners of the map, with an evening economy to match.
Day to day, Brighton gives you a halal butcher, a Lidl or Aldi, a big supermarket (Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda or Morrisons), a Waitrose or M&S, gyms, barbers, beauticians, veggie & vegan spots, a street market, a mosque, churches, a big park and a pool or leisure centre.
Based on its profile, Brighton tends to work best for people who want restaurants and nightlife on the doorstep; LGBTQ+ residents looking for a visibly welcoming area.
| Question | Rough answer |
|---|---|
| Buying (average) | £440k — 20% below the London average of £553k |
| Renting a 2-bed | ≈ £1600 per month |
| Indicative household income to buy | ≈ £90k (10% deposit, 4.5× lending) |
It depends what you need: Brighton scores 6/10 for safety, 7/10 for schools and 7/10 for transport. It tends to suit people who want restaurants and nightlife on the doorstep.
Around £440k on average to buy (20% below the London average) and roughly £1600 a month to rent a two-bed. As a rule of thumb, buying at that price typically needs a household income around £90k with a 10% deposit.
The fastest trains take about 60 minutes to a central London terminal; door-to-door, allow around 68–83 minutes depending on where you work.