Cambridgeshire · East of England
Average rent in Cambridge (2026)
University and biotech employment around the science parks keeps vacancy low, and rents run far above the East of England average.
That is £289 per week, based on 100 live listings. Most rents fall between £845 and £1,855 per month; the median is £1,099.
How much is rent in Cambridge?
In the current sample, one-bedroom homes average £922, two-bedroom homes average £1,128, three-bedroom homes average £1,418 and homes with four or more bedrooms average £2,129 per month. Sizes with fewer than three live listings are left out rather than shown on thin evidence, so the table below only quotes figures the sample can support.
| Home size | Average rent | Listing range | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | £922 pcm | £724 to £1,248 | 27 |
| 2 bedrooms | £1,128 pcm | £802 to £1,499 | 39 |
| 3 bedrooms | £1,418 pcm | £997 to £1,950 | 19 |
| 4+ bedrooms | £2,129 pcm | £1,473 to £2,994 | 13 |
Rent prices in Cambridge: the spread
Flats currently average £927 per month across 25 listings, while houses average £1,359 across 75. Flats make up 25% of the sample.
The cheapest tenth of listings sit below £845 per month and the dearest tenth above £1,855. The single cheapest live listing is £724 and the dearest £2,994, which is why the average is a starting point for judging your own rent, not a verdict on it.
The five-year backdrop
House prices in CB1, the postcode district at the heart of Cambridge, have risen 4.4% over the five years to Jul 2026. Property values move rents indirectly: sustained rises tend to feed landlord expectations at the next rent review, while flat or falling values often foreshadow softer asking rents. Treat this as backdrop, not as proof for or against any individual increase.
| Year | Average value | Annual change |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 2021 | £473,979 | +9.6% |
| Jul 2022 | £466,621 | -1.6% |
| Jul 2023 | £481,636 | +3.2% |
| Jul 2024 | £496,093 | +3% |
| Jul 2025 | £505,840 | +2% |
| Jul 2026 | £494,750 | -2.2% |
Is your rent increase fair?
Averages for Cambridge are the backdrop; your case turns on your own postcode and your own notice. Check the proposed figure against live market data for your street, then test the notice itself against the legal rules. Both checks are free.
Cambridge rent FAQs
What is the average rent in Cambridge?
The average asking rent in Cambridge is £1,251 per month (£289 per week), based on 100 live listings gathered from Rightmove, Zoopla and OnTheMarket. Most listings fall between £845 and £1,855 per month. These are advertised rents, so what tenants actually agree to pay is often a little lower.
How much is rent for a one-bedroom home in Cambridge?
Live listings for one-bedroom homes in Cambridge currently average £922 per month, ranging from £724 to £1,248 across 27 listings. Condition, exact location and what is included in the rent (parking, bills, appliances) all move an individual home above or below that figure.
Where does the rent data for Cambridge come from?
Figures are asking rents for live lettings listings, gathered by PropertyData from Rightmove, Zoopla and OnTheMarket and refreshed on this page at most every 24 hours. Averages are recalculated from the individual listings each time, and the sample size is always shown so you can judge how much weight to put on the numbers.
Can my landlord charge more than the average rent in Cambridge?
A landlord can advertise a new tenancy at any figure. Mid-tenancy is different: since 1 May 2026, rent on an assured periodic tenancy in England can only rise through a Section 13 notice on Form 4A, at most once a year, with at least two months' notice. The legal ceiling is the open-market rent, which is what similar homes in Cambridge actually let for. If the proposed figure is above that, you can challenge it at the First-tier Tribunal for £47, and the tribunal cannot set a rent higher than the figure your landlord proposed.
How do I challenge a rent increase in Cambridge?
Start by checking the notice itself: RentSOS tests it against the legal rules for free in about two minutes, and compares the proposed figure with live market data for your postcode rather than the Cambridge average alone. If the notice is invalid you are not required to pay the new rent. If it is valid but above market, you can apply to the First-tier Tribunal on Form MR1 before the increase date, and keep paying your current rent in full while the challenge runs.
Average rent in nearby towns
About these figures
Figures on this page are asking rents for live lettings listings, gathered by PropertyData from Rightmove, Zoopla and OnTheMarket, sampled around the town centre. The page refreshes at most every 24 hours, averages are recalculated from the individual listings each time, and the same property advertised on more than one portal may be counted more than once. Asking rents are the start of a negotiation, not proof of what tenants actually pay.