The latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) house price data reveals that Blaenau Gwent is the most affordable place to buy a home in Wales, with an average property costing 4.0 times local earnings. In contrast, Monmouthshire is the least affordable, with a ratio of 8.0 times earnings.
Across the UK, house prices are now nearly seven times typical earnings. The average home in the UK cost £273,000 in the 12 months to August 2026, according to the ONS. In Wales, the average house price is now £216,363.
Blaenau Gwent leads affordability rankings
Blaenau Gwent appears at joint number 14 in the UK's affordability list, alongside Middlesbrough, County Durham and Cumberland. It cost approximately £143,243 to buy the average home in the county in the 12 months to August 2026, a rise of 2.1% compared to a year earlier. This is higher than the UK average increase of 0.9% but below the Welsh average of 3.1%.
The ONS states that average earnings in Blaenau Gwent are £35,967 in 2026, meaning the average house costs 4.0 times the average earnings. This is far less than the Welsh average of 5.7 times earnings and the UK average of 6.7 times.
Merthyr Tydfil and other affordable areas
Merthyr Tydfil is the next most affordable place to buy a home in Wales. The average property there cost £148,656 in the 12 months to August, 1.0% less than a year ago, with average full-time earnings of £35,287 a year, giving a house-price-to-earnings ratio of 4.2.
Merthyr Tydfil sits at number 21 in the UK's list, with Inverclyde in Scotland taking the top spot.
Least affordable areas in Wales
Only two parts of Wales are less affordable than the UK average. In Cardiff, the average home cost £272,443 in the 12 months to August 2026, with average earnings of £39,566 a year, meaning homes are 6.9 times more expensive than earnings. The Vale of Glamorgan has the same ratio, where homes cost an average of £300,358 and earnings are £43,675 a year.
Monmouthshire remains the most expensive place to buy a home, with an average price of £328,937 and average earnings of £40,611, resulting in a ratio of 8.0, placing it at the bottom of the affordability table.
