• From job opportunities to the cost of rent, transport, and dining out, comparethemarket.com reveals the best cities for graduates to live in
  • Bradford leads the way with a high number of job opportunities and low monthly rent
  • Whilst Preston, Kingston-Upon-Hull, Dundee, and Carlisle make up the other top five cities

To help students who are finishing university this summer, comparethemarket.com has analysed the nine important factors when deciding where to live after graduating, including: the number of graduate entry level jobs, monthly rent payments, transport, utility costs, gym prices, and the average price of dining out. To see the full research and helpful moving tips, please visit: https://www.comparethemarket.com/home-insurance/content/best-and-worst-graduate-areas/

Bradford crowned as the best city for graduates to reside

Following the research, comparethemarket.com reveals the top 10 cities for ultimate graduate satisfaction, as follows:

Rank City Graduate Satisfaction Score
1 Bradford 64.1%
2 Preston 61.1%
3 Kingston-Upon-Hull 59.8%
4 Dundee 59.5%
5 Carlisle 57.5%
6 Nottingham 55.2%
7 Peterborough 54.9%
8 Sheffield 54.8%
9 Birmingham 54.7%
10 Belfast 54.1%

Bradford takes the top spot, with the average monthly rent price for a one-bedroom apartment just outside of the city centre costing £384.38, and an additional £121.43 for basic utilities. For those who enjoy socialising, a pint of beer will only set them back by £3.00, a meal £10.00, and currently, there are over 1,400 graduate entry level roles available in the city.

For graduates focusing more on job prospects, Birmingham is a prime spot after Bradford, with 1,110 live job adverts, making one of the best cities for job opportunities. For those looking for lower rent costs, aside from Bradford, Kingston-Upon-Hull is a great option, with the average monthly rent sitting at £404.29, followed by Preston (£416.67).

But if it’s life’s little luxuries that you’re looking for, a meal out in Peterborough will cost you around £9.00, and a cappuccino in Carlisle will cost you £2.45. And if you’re a gym-goer, you’ll be pleased to hear Preston is home to gyms that have the lowest monthly membership costs (£18.33).

For more information on the research and a checklist on moving home, please visit: https://www.comparethemarket.com/home-insurance/content/best-and-worst-graduate-areas/