East of England
Average rent in Colchester (2026)
The average 1-bed rent in Colchester is £855 a month, and a 2-bed is £1,065.
That is 23% below the UK average 1-bed rent of £1,115 and makes Colchester the 43rd most expensive of the 109 cities and towns we track.
- 1-bed average
- £855
- Per week
- £197
- UK rank
- 43rd of 109
- Take-home needed (30%)
- £2,850
Rent in Colchester by bedrooms
| Property | Per month | Per week |
|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | £855 | £197 |
| 2 bedrooms | £1,065 | £246 |
| 3 bedrooms | £1,240 | £286 |
Indicative 2026/27 averages. Rents vary by neighbourhood, property condition and EPC rating. Use the rental value calculator to estimate a specific property.
What salary do you need to rent in Colchester?
Monthly take-home pay you need so that the average rent stays within each share of your income. The usual guideline is no more than 30%.
| Property | Comfortable (28%) | Guideline (30%) | Stretch (35%) | Minimum (40%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-bed (£855) | £3,054 | £2,850 | £2,443 | £2,138 |
| 2-bed (£1,065) | £3,804 | £3,550 | £3,043 | £2,663 |
Many letting agents also ask for a gross annual income of around 30 times the monthly rent, which for a 1-bed here is about £25,650 a year. This is an agent referencing rule, separate from your own budget. Not sure what your take-home is? Work it out here.
Colchester compared with the rest of East of England
Across the 8 places we track in East of England, 1-bed rents run from £675 in King's Lynn to £1,395 in Cambridge. The middle value is £833, and Colchester is 4th most expensive in the region.
| Place | 1-bed | 2-bed |
|---|---|---|
| Cambridge | £1,395 | £1,745 |
| Chelmsford | £990 | £1,235 |
| Southend-on-Sea | £900 | £1,150 |
| Colchester (this page) | £855 | £1,065 |
| Norwich | £810 | £1,020 |
| Peterborough | £810 | £1,020 |
| Ipswich | £765 | £935 |
| King's Lynn | £675 | £850 |
Places with similar rents
If you are weighing up where to live, these places have a 1-bed rent closest to Colchester. The cheapest place we track is Hartlepool at £540.
- Birmingham£855
- Glasgow£855
- Leeds£855
- Stirling£855
- Stockport£855
- West Bridgford£855
Renting in Colchester: common questions
What is the average rent in Colchester?
In 2026/27 the indicative average rent in Colchester is £855 a month for a 1-bedroom property and £1,065 a month for a 2-bedroom property, and £1,240 for a 3-bedroom property. That makes Colchester the 43rd most expensive of the 109 UK cities and towns we track.
How much do I need to earn to rent a 1-bed in Colchester?
To keep a £855 rent at the 30% guideline you need monthly take-home pay of about £2,850. For a more comfortable 28% share it is £3,054, and the absolute minimum at 40% is £2,138.
Is Colchester cheaper than London?
Yes. A 1-bed in Colchester averages £855 a month against £1,890 in London, a difference of £1,035 a month.
How much is weekly rent in Colchester?
A 1-bed at £855 a month works out at roughly £197 a week, or £10,260 a year. A 2-bed at £1,065 a month is roughly £246 a week.
How does Colchester compare with the rest of East of England?
Across the 8 places we track in East of England, 1-bed rents range from £675 in King's Lynn to £1,395 in Cambridge, with a middle value of £833. Colchester is 4th most expensive in the region.
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Figures are indicative averages for 2026/27, rounded for planning, and are for information only. They are not financial, legal or housing advice. See our methodology for how the figures are produced. Last reviewed October 2026.