'Wish we'd done it years ago': The 9 cheapest places to rent in the North East, as more people make the move

People have been explaining why they moved to the North East’s cheapest area, with one calling it the ‘best decision we ever made’.

The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show the huge difference in average rental prices across the region.

Newcastle is easily the North East’s most expensive place in which to rent, costing £1,199 per month on average, followed by North Tyneside (£827) and Gateshead (£784).

At the other end of the scale, the typical monthly rent in Hartlepool is just £567, and there are five other areas within the region where renting will cost you on average less than £700 a month.

The best places to live in Hartlepool include Seaton Carew, Bishop Cuthbert, Fens and West Park.

While you’ll pay a little extra to live there, you’re still getting much more for your money than in most parts of the UK, where the average monthly rent is £1,374.

One of its Hartlepool’s most underrated neighbourhoods, according to those who live there, is the Headland.

Smith & Friends estate agents calls it a ‘picturesque coastal spot with stunning sea views and period properties’.

People living there have described how it has two good primary schools, a friendly community, plenty of shops, pubs and cafes, including the popular Duke of Cleveland pub, within easy reach, and a ‘lovely’ beach on your doorstep.

One person who moved from Wales to the Headland in Hartlepool called it the ‘best decision we ever made’, adding ‘we just love it here’.

Another person who recently moved to the Headland said: “We have the beach on our doorstep, and everyone is mainly friendly. We love it. It’s the best move we’ve made, and the dog loves the sea.”

A third person told how they had moved up to Hartlepool five years ago from the South, adding: “We live on the Headland and absolutely love it.”

And a fourth person commented: ”When I show people from outside the area the view from my garden and tell them the cost, they always think I’m lying. It means less on the mortgage and a better standard of living.”

Other people called the Headland a ‘friendly’ area with a ‘great community’, and a ‘beautiful place to live’, while one person who moved from Cambridge to the Headland in around 2020 said ‘we wish we’d done it years ago’.

Below are the nine cheapest places across the North East in which to rent a home, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, for February 2026. They are listed in reverse order, with the cheapest last.