Where Are the Cheapest Places to Live in Wales? (2025 Edition)
Wales' most affordable property location in 2025, is, CF43 (Ferndale) with average property asking prices of £104,286.
Making it a significant 52% below Wales' average sold house price of £219,446. Using the latest HM Land Registry sold house prices and looking at asking prices from estate agents and property portals, we've identified Wales' 20 most affordable locations where buyers can find exceptional value, with several areas showing average property prices under £130,000.
While Wales remains more affordable than the UK average of £289,707, there are significant variations across the country. From detached houses averaging £322,303 to flats at £142,261, opportunities exist in specific postcodes. The former industrial valleys of South Wales emerge as the primary region for affordable housing, with Rhondda, New Tredegar, and Penrhiwceiber leading our rankings.
Our research combines current property asking prices, historical price trends since 2019, and local household incomes to provide a comprehensive view of Wales' most affordable property markets. This analysis reveals not just the cheapest locations, but importantly, identifies areas with growing (or declining) house price values.
Through detailed examination of property prices, market activity, and affordability metrics across Wales, we've identified and analysed the 20 most affordable places to buy a home in 2025.
For those interested in alternative cheap areas, here is our guides on the cheapest places to live in Manchester, the most affordable postcodes in Birmingham, the lowest house prices in London and even the lowest priced regions in the whole of England.
Data last updated: February 2025
Wales' Most Affordable Property Markets 2025
The cheapest places to buy a house in Wales show average asking prices from £104,286 to £178,660. Leading locations include Ferndale (CF43) at £104,286, New Tredegar (NP24) at £119,865, and Penrhiwceiber (CF41) at £121,350. Five areas offer average prices under £130,000, with household incomes ranging from £30,800 to £33,400. The South Wales Valleys emerge as Wales' most affordable region, with average property prices 52% below the national average of £219,446.
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by Robert Jones, Founder of Property Investments UK
With two decades in UK property, Rob has been investing in buy-to-let since 2005, and uses property data to develop tools for property market analysis.
Property Data Sources
Our location guide relies on diverse, authoritative datasets including:
- HM Land Registry UK House Price Index
- Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
- Ordnance Survey Data Hub
- Propertydata.co.uk
We update our property data quarterly to ensure accuracy. Last update: February 2025. Next update: July 2025. All data is presented as provided by our sources without adjustments or amendments.
Cheapest Priced Areas in Wales Under £120,000
| Rank | Area | Average Asking Price | Price Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CF43 (Rhondda) | £104,286 | → Stable |
| 2 | NP24 (New Tredegar) | £119,865 | ↑ Rising |
Low Price Areas in Wales £120,000 - £130,000
| Rank | Area | Average Asking Price | Price Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | CF41 (Penrhiwceiber) | £121,350 | → Stable |
| 4 | CF45 (Mountain Ash) | £125,349 | → Stable |
| 5 | CF40 (Tonypandy) | £125,413 | → Stable |
| 6 | CF42 (Treorchy) | £129,151 | ↑ Rising |
Low Price Areas in Wales £130,000 - £150,000
| Rank | Area | Average Asking Price | Price Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | NP13 (Abertillery) | £131,869 | ↑ Rising |
| 8 | CF34 (Maesteg) | £147,974 | ↑ Rising |
| 9 | SA13 (Port Talbot) | £148,077 | → Stable |
| 10 | LL38 (Fairbourne) | £148,636 | ↓ Declining |
Affordable Areas in Wales £150,000 - £180,000
| Rank | Area | Average Asking Price | Price Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | CF81 (Bargoed) | £155,135 | → Stable |
| 12 | CF39 (Porth) | £156,834 | → Stable |
| 13 | LL41 (Blaenau Ffestiniog) | £159,825 | ↑ Rising |
| 14 | SA1 (Swansea) | £160,836 | → Stable |
| 15 | SA11 (Neath) | £165,132 | → Stable |
| 16 | NP22 (Tredegar) | £166,165 | ↑ Rising |
| 17 | CF37 (Pontypridd) | £166,181 | ↑ Rising |
| 18 | CF47 (Merthyr Tydfil) | £169,746 | ↑ Rising |
| 19 | SA12 (Port Talbot) | £171,298 | → Stable |
| 20 | SA5 (Swansea) | £178,660 | → Stable |
Understanding House Price to Income Ratios
The house price to earnings ratio (also called the affordability ratio) shows how many years of income it would take to buy a property outright.
For example, if a house in Wales costs £60,000 and the average household income is £30,000, the affordability ratio would be 2.0 - meaning it would take 2 years of total income to buy the Welsh property.
This ratio is equally important for homeowners as it is for landlords purchasing investment property that have local tenant demand and affordable rents, it is a key part of a landlords property investment checklist.
So if you are new to property and researching an area in North or South Wales or starting your property training, consider affordability ratios as a key part of your research.
A lower ratio indicates better affordability:
- Ratio under 3.0: Considered very affordable
- Ratio 3.0-4.0: Moderately affordable
- Ratio over 4.0: Less affordable
- UK Average: 7.1 (2025)
Cheapest Priced Areas in Wales Under £120,000
1. CF43 - Ferndale
- Average Asking Price: £104,286
- Average Household Income: £30,800
- Affordability Ratio: 3.39
From around 2019 onward, Ferndale’s prices trended upward from the mid-£60k–£70k range to surpass £100k by late 2022. After a peak near £110k in early 2024, values have mostly leveled off, showing modest stability through to early 2025.
2. NP24 - New Tredegar
- Average Asking Price: £119,865
- Average Household Income: £31,700
- Affordability Ratio: 3.78
Despite a data anomaly in late 2020, the general direction since 2019 shows a steady climb from around £80k toward £120k by 2024. Recent figures confirm a relatively stable plateau, with only minor fluctuations heading into 2025.
Low Price Areas in Wales £120,000 - £130,000
3. CF41 - Penrhiwceiber
- Average Asking Price: £121,350
- Average Household Income: £33,400
- Affordability Ratio: 3.63
After starting below £90k in 2019, Penrhiwceiber saw a notable rise through 2022, briefly touching £140k before settling back to around £120k–£130k. The market appears stable, reflecting a slight correction from its earlier peak.
4. CF45 - Mountain Ash
- Average Asking Price: £125,349
- Average Household Income: £32,500
- Affordability Ratio: 3.86
From roughly £85k in 2019, Mountain Ash underwent a significant climb, approaching £140k in late 2023. It has since seen a mild dip but remains well above pre-2020 levels, with a generally upward long-term pattern.
5. CF40 - Tonypandy
- Average Asking Price: £125,413
- Average Household Income: £33,000
- Affordability Ratio: 3.80
Tonypandy rose from the high £70k/low £80k range in 2019 to surpass £120k by late 2022. Since then, it has fluctuated slightly but overall held in the £120k–£130k band through 2024 and into 2025.
6. CF42 - Treorchy
- Average Asking Price: £129,151
- Average Household Income: £32,100
- Affordability Ratio: 4.02
Starting just above £80k in 2019, Treorchy climbed sharply and peaked near £140k in mid-2022. A modest decline followed, placing current values around the high £120k/low £130k mark, with minor movements since late 2023.
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Low Price Areas in Wales £130,000 - £150,000
7. NP13 - Abertillery
- Average Asking Price: £131,869
- Average Household Income: £33,300
- Affordability Ratio: 3.96
Abertillery is approximately 17 miles from Newport, and has shown a strong climb from the £80k–£90k range in 2019 to around £150k in early 2024. Prices have cooled slightly since that peak but remain significantly above pre-pandemic levels.
8. CF34 - Maesteg
- Average Asking Price: £147,974
- Average Household Income: £32,700
- Affordability Ratio: 4.53
Maesteg’s market grew from close to £100k in 2019, reaching around £170k in mid-2024. A moderate pullback has since followed, placing current values near the mid £140k range.
9. SA13 - Port Talbot
- Average Asking Price: £148,077
- Average Household Income: £33,900
- Affordability Ratio: 4.37
This postcode rose steadily from near £100k in 2019, peaking at around £160k in 2024. It has dipped slightly since but remains well above its pre-2020 baseline, reflecting consistent long-term growth.
10. LL38 - Fairbourne
- Average Asking Price: £148,636
- Average Household Income: £33,600
- Affordability Ratio: 4.42
Fairbourne’s data is more erratic, likely due to fewer property transactions. Values have varied widely between roughly £100k and £200k since 2019, though most recent figures hover in the £140k–£150k bracket.
Affordable Areas in Wales £150,000 - £180,000
11. CF81 - Bargoed
- Average Asking Price: £155,135
- Average Household Income: £32,900
- Affordability Ratio: 4.72
Bargoed property market progressed from around £100k in 2019 to a high near £180k in mid-2024. The area shows a notable climb through 2023, followed by a clear dip after that peak. Values currently hover in the mid-£150k range, still significantly above pre-pandemic levels.
12. CF39 - Porth
- Average Asking Price: £156,834
- Average Household Income: £34,900
- Affordability Ratio: 4.49
Porth’s house price trend for asking prices starts just under £100k in 2019, rising past £160k around early 2024. After that, it. shows a sharp drop from its peak, leaving current prices in the mid-£150k band, well above where they stood before 2020.
13. LL41 - Blaenau Ffestiniog
- Average Asking Price: £159,825
- Average Household Income: £34,000
- Affordability Ratio: 4.70
Blaenau Ffestiniog property prices showed a strong overall rise from about £100,000 in 2019 to the mid-£170,000 range by late 2024. After a brief pullback, current asking price values hover near £160,000.
14. SA1 - Swansea
- Average Asking Price: £160,836
- Average Household Income: £33,400
- Affordability Ratio: 4.82
SA1 in Swansea's property market rose from roughly £130,000 in 2019, reached around £150,000 by mid-2022, then continued upward to about £170,000 in late 2024. Most recently, it has eased slightly to the low-£160,000 range entering 2025
15. SA11 - Neath
- Average Asking Price: £165,132
- Average Household Income: £33,800
- Affordability Ratio: 4.89
Neath real estate market advanced from around £100,000 in 2019, climbed past £150,000 by mid-2022, and then peaked near £180,000 in mid-2024. It has since eased somewhat, settling in the mid-£160,000 range heading into 2025.
16. NP22 - Tredegar
- Average Asking Price: £166,165
- Average Household Income: £33,600
- Affordability Ratio: 4.95
Tredegar house prices moved from roughly £100k in 2019 into the mid-£160k range by late 2024, maintaining strong momentum. Recent figures show values approaching £170k as of early 2025.
17. CF37 - Pontypridd
- Average Asking Price: £166,181
- Average Household Income: £36,100
- Affordability Ratio: 4.60
Pontypridd is just 12 miles from the Welsh capital Cardiff, with asking property prices from just over £100k in 2019, Pontypridd values rose sharply, briefly hitting around £180k in late 2024 before levelling off to the mid-£160k range at the start of 2025.
18. CF47 - Merthyr Tydfil
- Average Asking Price: £169,746
- Average Household Income: £37,700
- Affordability Ratio: 4.50
Merthyr Tydfil property prices climbed from around £90k in 2019 to a peak near £200k in mid-2024. A modest retreat has placed values in the upper £160k–£170k range going into 2025.
19. SA12 - Port Talbot
- Average Asking Price: £171,298
- Average Household Income: £34,800
- Affordability Ratio: 4.92
SA12 housing market started near £100,000 in 2019 and rose toward £180,000 by early 2024. Prices dipped somewhat afterward yet remain in the mid- to upper-£160,000 range going into 2025
20. SA5 - Swansea
- Average Asking Price: £178,660
- Average Household Income: £34,700
- Affordability Ratio: 5.15
House prices in SA5, Swansea, moved up from around £120,000 in 2019, climbing toward £190,000 by late 2024. A modest pullback followed, but values still sit in the upper £170,000s to low £180,000s entering 2025
Conclusion
Our analysis of Wales' most affordable property locations in 2025 reveals several key insights:
The South Wales Valleys emerge as Wales' primary region for affordable housing, with locations such as Ferndale (CF43) leading at £104,286, followed by New Tredegar (NP24) at £119,865. These prices represent exceptional value at 52% and 45% below Wales' average house price of £219,446 respectively.
Key findings from our research show:
- Five areas offer average asking prices under £130,000
- Affordability ratios range from 3.39 to 5.15 across the top 20 locations
- Most affordable areas maintain prices 19-52% below national averages
For those seeking affordable property in Wales, these locations offer genuine opportunities for both homebuyers and property investors, with prices significantly below national averages while maintaining reasonable affordability ratios against local incomes.