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The top 5 cheapest places to live in Scotland

2 mins read
by Lisa-Marie Voneshen
Last updated June 13, 2024

If you’re considering buying property in Scotland, here are the top five most affordable areas, which are much cheaper than the regional average. Read on to find out more.

Scotland is an attractive place to live as it offers beautiful areas to explore and a range of attractions to enjoy.

The cost of living is also up to 47% lower compared to other cities in the UK, which is appealing.

Over the last year, properties in Central Scotland had an average price of £225,450, according to Rightmove.

The online property portal has crunched the data on the cheapest areas to live in Scotland based on average asking prices as of April 2024.

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Where are the cheapest areas to buy in Scotland?

Ayrshire is a good place to look for an affordable property, with the county taking up three of the five top spots below.

It was crowned one of the UK’s most affordable places to live in 2021 by estate agent Zoopla who said this was due to strong earnings locally and reasonably priced property.

AreaAverage asking price
Saltcoats£109,870
Grangemouth£116,327
Irvine £123,435
Bellshill£128,681
Kilmarnock£129,667

Saltcoats

The most affordable place to live in Scotland is the town of Saltcoats. It has an average asking price of £109,870 and is around a 45-minute train journey from Glasgow.

It is a popular Ayrshire holiday resort near Irvine Bay, with a picturesque harbour, sandy beaches, and various eateries and shops.

Grangemouth

Grangemouth is a town near the Firth of Forth with an average asking price of £116,327. It takes around an hour to travel to Glasgow by public transport.

The town features family-friendly attractions, including Zetland Park and Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre. It is also near the famous Kelpies, the largest equine structures in the world.

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Irvine

Next on the list is Irvine, a town in North Ayrshire with an average asking price of £123,435.

Local attractions include Barassie Beach and Eglinton Enigma.

Irvine is a 40-minute journey from Glasgow by public transport.

Bellshill

Bellshill is a town in North Lanarkshire with an average asking price of £128,681.

There are family-friendly attractions nearby, including a theme park and Strathclyde Country Park.

Bellshill is around 20 minutes away from Glasgow and around an hour away from Edinburgh by public transport.

Kilmarnock

Last on the list is Kilmarnock, a town in East Ayrshire, with an average asking price of £129,667.

Home to the largest Burns monument, Kilmarnock also has a range of shops and local attractions.

The town is around 40 minutes from Glasgow by public transport.

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Author
Lisa-Marie Voneshen
Lisa-Marie Voneshen is a Senior Content Writer at Unbiased and has previously written for loveMONEY and Shares Magazine. She is an award-winning journalist with around a decade of experience writing and editing content across various areas, including personal finance and investing.