Moving From London to Brighton

Written by Ashleigh Williams Reviewed by Dave Sayce

12th Apr 2023 (Last updated on 16th Feb 2024) 7 minute read

Why Are People Moving From London to Brighton?

Sussex Express reveals that in 2019, around 1,398 people moved from areas of London such as Lambeth and Wandsworth to Brighton.

The majority of people are looking to move to Brighton from London because they’re looking for a location that’s less expensive and close to the sea.

Those living in Brighton can enjoy summer days by the beach, while still being a short distance from London and the English countryside.

Brighton has a welcoming and friendly atmosphere, which is far different to London. The pace of life is a lot slower, which is great for those looking for a quieter location, but still want to live fairly close to London.

While it would be more expensive for people outside of London to move to Brighton, those already living in the city will appreciate the decrease in costs.

Property Prices

According to the UK House Price Index, the average house price for Brighton and Hove is currently £448,941. Rightmove states that the average house price in London is £743,741. Property prices in Brighton are around 40% cheaper in comparison to London.

The best places to live in Brighton include Hove, North Laine, Kemptown, and Preston Park. Affordable areas include Burgess Hill and Moulsecoombe. Western Esplanade is one of the most expensive areas to live in.

Home.co.uk states that the average rent in Brighton costs £1,991 per month. This is lower in comparison to an eye-watering £4,642 in London. For Londoners looking to rent in Brighton, they will notice a significant difference in the money spent on rent.

Travel and Commuting

London is known for having some of the best transport links in the UK, with its reliable and frequent bus services, to the London Underground. This makes travelling and commuting in London far quicker and easier in comparison to Brighton and other areas of the UK.

While there are many bus and train services in Brighton, they aren’t as frequent as TfL services. This is worth taking into consideration if you’re going to be relying on public transport instead of your own vehicle.

There are direct rail links into London. It will take around 1 hour and 20 minutes to get to the capital, via car and train. Direct trains run from Brighton to Victoria and Blackfriars.

Road links are useful in Brighton, with access to the A23. It’s important to look into parking zones and permits when purchasing or renting in Brighton, as areas may require this.

Work and Salary

The average salary in Brighton is estimated at £34,853. For London, the average salary is £41,000 according to Payscale. While workers in London earn more money, the cost of living is higher.

While Brighton is well-known for its creative industry, there are many different types of jobs available. Adzuna shows most job advertisements are currently for hospitality, teaching and catering.

Some of the highest-paid jobs in Brighton are for software engineers, surveyors and construction managers.

The most popular jobs in London are different to Brighton, however, there is still an emphasis on hospitality. Other popular jobs include:

• Banking and Finance
• Public Sector
• Creative Industries
• Hospitality and Tourism
• Technology
• Transport

Workers in London are paid a London Living Wage, which increases their annual salary to offset the increased cost of living in the city. It’s important to note that this increase doesn’t always cover the extra living costs.

Cost of Living

While Brighton is the third most expensive place to live in the UK according to Essential Living, it’s still 23.9% cheaper than living in London.

Here are some living cost comparisons for both London and Brighton to highlight the cost differences:

*Data taken from Numbeo

Education

As both cities are in England, education in London and Brighton is similar. There are many great schools to consider sending your children to.

St Bartholomew’s CofE Primary School and Brighton College are well-known, top-performing schools. High-performing schools in London include Perseid School and Harris Primary Academy Merton.

In comparison to London, there are only 2 universities in Brighton, the University of Sussex and the University of Brighton.

The University of Sussex is a research-intensive university. The University of Brighton offers a wide variety of courses. This includes Medicine, engineering and nursing.

There are 18 universities in London in total, offering a wider variety of courses and experiences. These include:

• University College London
• King’s College London
• Imperial College London

Brighton has the highest ratio of students in comparison to any other location in the UK. Being a short distance from London, it’s a popular choice for students to consider.

Culture/Art

Brighton is well-known for its culture and art. Both are prominent in the area, and Brighton is known to be a fantastic place to live if you’re a creative person. It’s a hub of creativity, hosting many festivals each year, including Upfest.

Street art and graffiti are particularly popular in the area. There are also many art galleries to visit. These include the Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, Hove Museum of Creativity and the Labyrinth Gallery.

The music scene in Brighton thrives, and there are a number of music venues across the town. There is almost always live music and gigs to attend, which is great for those that are looking to continue experiencing a music scene.

The culture in Brighton is particularly welcoming, especially if you’re part of the LGBTQIAP+ community. There are many events such as Brighton Pride held each year to celebrate sexuality.

While Brighton is less diverse in comparison to London. In general, the culture is friendly and accepting of people from all walks of life.

Nightlife/Social Scene

Brighton is well-known for its interesting and fun nightlife. There are many bars, clubs and pubs to suit all preferences. The atmosphere is welcoming and lively. Some of the most popular clubs include PRYZM, No 32 and Club Revenge.

There are many themed cocktail bars, including Alcatraz Brighton: Cell Block One - Three, which has a prison theme. Brighton has popular comedy clubs such as The Secret Comedy Club and The Forge Comedy Club.

The city centre and surrounding areas are full of restaurants and independent coffee shops to suit a wide variety of tastes. When it comes to social activities, there are many things to do, from Kayaking groups to wine and cheese nights.

If you enjoy shopping, The Lanes are full of quirky and independent shops where you can find hidden gems. Being a coastal town, you can enjoy the beauty of Brighton Palace Pier and its pebbly beaches.

While London does have a wider variety of things to do in terms of nightlife and social scene, Brighton is an iconic location. While Brighton is not the cheapest place to live in the UK, the nightlife and social scene are still less expensive compared to London.

Is it Worth Moving to Brighton from London?

If you’re looking for a quieter pace of life, then it can be worth moving to Brighton from London.

Here are some pros and cons to consider before making the move. This will help determine whether this is the best option for you.

Pros:

• Cheaper housing and rental prices
• A slower pace of living
• Rich in culture
• Good travel connections
• Good quality of education in schools
• Safer area to live
• Large LGBTQIAP+ community
• A coastal town with beautiful scenery
• More open space in comparison to London
• Better air quality and less air pollution

Cons:

• While it’s cheaper than London, it’s still an expensive area to live
• Less to do in Brighton in comparison to London
• Public transport isn’t as frequent
• Not as convenient as London in relation to shopping

Removals from London to Brighton

Brighton is around 65 miles away from London. While removal costs will be higher than moving within London, the cost of hiring moving companies shouldn’t be too much more.

Moving costs to Brighton will cost around £823. This amount is based on the data from our cost of moving house calculator. We took the average house price of a 3-bedroom house in each area, along with the distance from London to Brighton to calculate these costs.

If you need additional services, these are charged at an extra cost. Here are the average costs when moving:

• Packing - £250
• Dismantling and reassembling - £125

Here at Compare My Move, we can assist you with moving from London to Brighton. We can match you with up to 6 of our removal partners who are all trusted and verified.

All costs listed in this article are correct at the time of writing. Costs may vary slightly and this is just an estimated number.