Authored by the expert who managed and guided the team behind the United Kingdom Property Pack
Yes, the analysis of Bristol's property market is included in our pack
If you're thinking about buying an apartment in Bristol, you're probably wondering what prices really look like in 2026 and what hidden costs might catch you off guard.
This guide breaks down everything from average prices and neighbourhood variations to closing costs, deposits, and ongoing expenses so you can plan your budget with confidence.
We constantly update this blog post to reflect the latest market data and official sources available.
And if you're planning to buy a property in this place, you may want to download our pack covering the real estate market in Bristol.
Insights
- The average Bristol apartment sells for around £245,000 in early 2026, but the median is closer to £230,000 because a handful of expensive sales push the average up.
- Foreign buyers in Bristol typically need a 25% to 35% deposit, which means setting aside £61,000 to £86,000 on a standard one-bedroom apartment.
- Bristol apartment prices per square metre sit around £4,900 city-wide, but this jumps to £6,000 to £8,000 in premium areas like Clifton and Hotwells.
- New-build apartments in Bristol carry a 10% to 20% premium over resale flats, largely due to energy efficiency standards and developer pricing strategies.
- Non-UK residents face an extra 2% Stamp Duty surcharge, adding roughly £4,900 to the tax bill on a £245,000 Bristol apartment purchase.
- Monthly service charges in Bristol range from £150 to £400 depending on whether your building has basic amenities or extras like a concierge and gym.
- Council Tax for most Bristol apartments falls between £170 and £200 per month, which is an ongoing cost many foreign buyers underestimate.
- Lawrence Hill and Bedminster offer the most affordable entry points for Bristol apartments, with flat averages around £219,000 and £253,000 respectively.
How much do apartments really cost in Bristol in 2026?
What's the average and median apartment price in Bristol in 2026?
As of January 2026, the average apartment price in Bristol sits at approximately £245,000 (around $306,000 or €289,000), while the median is closer to £230,000 ($287,000 or €271,000) because expensive sales in areas like Clifton and the Harbourside pull the average up.
When you look at price per square metre, Bristol apartments average around £4,900 per m² ($6,125 per m² or €5,780 per m²), which translates to roughly £455 per square foot.
For most standard apartments in Bristol, you're looking at a realistic price range of £190,000 to £420,000 ($237,000 to $525,000 or €224,000 to €496,000), with the lower end covering studios in affordable neighbourhoods and the upper end reaching larger two-bedroom flats in desirable locations.
How much is a studio apartment in Bristol in 2026?
As of January 2026, a typical studio apartment in Bristol costs around £190,000 ($237,000 or €224,000), though this varies significantly depending on the neighbourhood and building condition.
For entry-level to mid-range studios in Bristol, expect to pay between £160,000 and £200,000 ($200,000 to $250,000 or €189,000 to €236,000), while high-end or luxury studios in areas like Clifton or the Harbourside can reach £230,000 or more ($287,000 or €271,000).
Studio apartments in Bristol typically measure around 35 to 40 square metres, with the UK government's space standard setting 39 m² as the minimum for a one-person unit.
How much is a one-bedroom apartment in Bristol in 2026?
As of January 2026, a typical one-bedroom apartment in Bristol costs around £245,000 ($306,000 or €289,000), which happens to match the city-wide average for all flat types.
Entry-level to mid-range one-bedroom apartments in Bristol generally fall between £210,000 and £280,000 ($262,000 to $350,000 or €248,000 to €330,000), while high-end or luxury one-beds in prime locations like Redland or the waterfront can reach £300,000 or more ($375,000 or €354,000).
One-bedroom apartments in Bristol typically measure around 45 to 55 square metres, with the government standard setting 50 m² as the benchmark for a one-bed suitable for two people.
How much is a two-bedroom apartment in Bristol in 2026?
As of January 2026, a typical two-bedroom apartment in Bristol costs around £343,000 ($429,000 or €405,000), reflecting the larger floor area of approximately 70 square metres.
Entry-level to mid-range two-bedroom apartments in Bristol generally fall between £290,000 and £370,000 ($362,000 to $462,000 or €342,000 to €437,000), while high-end or luxury two-beds in neighbourhoods like Clifton, Hotwells, or new waterfront developments can reach £420,000 or more ($525,000 or €496,000).
By the way, you will find much more detailed price ranges for apartments in our property pack covering the property market in Bristol.
How much is a three-bedroom apartment in Bristol in 2026?
As of January 2026, a typical three-bedroom apartment in Bristol costs around £421,000 ($526,000 or €497,000), making these larger units considerably more expensive than the city average.
Entry-level to mid-range three-bedroom apartments in Bristol generally fall between £360,000 and £450,000 ($450,000 to $562,000 or €425,000 to €531,000), while high-end or luxury three-beds in premium areas can reach £550,000 or more ($687,000 or €649,000).
Three-bedroom apartments in Bristol typically measure around 80 to 95 square metres, with the government standard setting 86 m² as the benchmark for a three-bed suitable for five people.
What's the price gap between new and resale apartments in Bristol in 2026?
As of January 2026, new-build apartments in Bristol typically cost 10% to 20% more than comparable resale flats, with a central estimate of around 15% premium.
This means new-build apartments in Bristol average roughly £5,600 to £5,900 per m² ($7,000 to $7,375 per m² or €6,600 to €6,960 per m²), particularly in city-centre and waterfront developments.
Resale apartments in Bristol average closer to £4,300 to £4,700 per m² ($5,375 to $5,875 per m² or €5,070 to €5,550 per m²), though this varies significantly by building age and condition.
Make a profitable investment in Bristol
Better information leads to better decisions. Save time and money. Download our guide.
Can I afford to buy in Bristol in 2026?
What's the typical total budget (all-in) to buy an apartment in Bristol in 2026?
As of January 2026, the typical all-in budget to buy a standard one-bedroom apartment in Bristol is approximately £256,000 to £260,000 ($320,000 to $325,000 or €302,000 to €307,000), which includes the purchase price plus all taxes and fees.
Beyond the purchase price, your all-in budget needs to cover Stamp Duty Land Tax, conveyancing and legal fees, survey costs, Land Registry fees, mortgage arrangement fees, and potentially a broker fee if you're a foreign buyer.
We go deeper and try to understand what costs can be avoided or minimized (and how) in our Bristol property pack.
You can also read our dedicated blog article to understand what you can at different budget levels in Bristol.
What down payment is typical to buy in Bristol in 2026?
As of January 2026, foreign buyers purchasing an apartment in Bristol typically need a deposit of 25% to 35%, which means £61,000 to £86,000 ($76,000 to $107,000 or €72,000 to €101,000) on a standard £245,000 flat.
Most UK banks require a minimum deposit of 25% for non-UK resident buyers, with some lenders asking for even more depending on your income source and residency status.
To secure the most favourable mortgage terms in Bristol, a 30% deposit is a sensible target, as this gives you access to better interest rates and increases your chances of approval.
You can also read our latest update about mortgage and interest rates in The United Kingdom.
We made this infographic to show you how property prices in the UK compare to other big cities across the region. It breaks down the average price per square meter in city centers, so you can see how cities stack up. It’s an easy way to spot where you might get the best value for your money. We hope you like it.
Which neighborhoods are cheapest or priciest in Bristol in 2026?
How much does the price per m² for apartments vary by neighborhood in Bristol in 2026?
As of January 2026, the price per square metre for Bristol apartments ranges from approximately £3,500 to £8,000 ($4,375 to $10,000 or €4,130 to €9,440) depending on the neighbourhood.
The most affordable neighbourhoods for Bristol apartments include Lawrence Hill at around £3,800 to £4,500 per m² ($4,750 to $5,625 or €4,480 to €5,310) and Bedminster at around £4,200 to £5,000 per m² ($5,250 to $6,250 or €4,960 to €5,900).
The most expensive neighbourhoods for Bristol apartments include Hotwells, Redland, and Clifton, where prices typically reach £6,000 to £8,000 per m² ($7,500 to $10,000 or €7,080 to €9,440).
By the way, we've written a blog article detailing what are the current best areas to invest in property in Bristol.
What neighborhoods are best for first-time buyers on a budget in Bristol in 2026?
As of January 2026, the top three neighbourhoods for first-time buyers on a budget in Bristol are Lawrence Hill, Bedminster, and parts of Easton, where flat prices remain well below the city average.
In these budget-friendly Bristol neighbourhoods, typical apartment prices range from £180,000 to £260,000 ($225,000 to $325,000 or €212,000 to €307,000), making them accessible for buyers with smaller deposits.
These neighbourhoods offer good transport links into central Bristol, a growing cafe and food scene, and a strong sense of community, particularly in Bedminster which has seen significant regeneration.
The main trade-off in these areas is that some streets can feel less polished than pricier neighbourhoods, and building quality varies more, so checking the service charge history and management accounts becomes especially important.
Which neighborhoods have the fastest-rising apartment prices in Bristol in 2026?
As of January 2026, the neighbourhoods with the fastest-rising apartment prices in Bristol appear to be Lawrence Hill, Bedminster, and Easton, where affordability is pulling demand outward from expensive central zones.
Year-over-year price increases in these fast-appreciating Bristol neighbourhoods have been volatile but estimates suggest growth in the range of 3% to 6%, though short-term local trends can be noisy.
The main driver behind rapid price growth in these areas is spillover demand from buyers priced out of Southville, Clifton, and the city centre, combined with ongoing regeneration and improved amenities.
You can also read our latest update about property price forecasts in Bristol.
Don't lose money on your property in Bristol
100% of people who have lost money there have spent less than 1 hour researching the market. We have reviewed everything there is to know. Grab our guide now.
What extra costs will I pay on top of the apartment price in Bristol in 2026?
What are all the buyer closing costs when you buy an apartment in Bristol?
The estimated total buyer closing costs for a typical Bristol apartment purchase range from £11,000 to £15,000 ($13,750 to $18,750 or €13,000 to €17,700), depending on the property price and your residency status.
The main categories of closing costs in Bristol include Stamp Duty Land Tax, conveyancing fees and disbursements, survey costs, HM Land Registry fees, mortgage arrangement fees, and broker fees if applicable.
Stamp Duty is typically the largest closing cost for Bristol apartment buyers, especially for non-UK residents who face a 2% surcharge on top of standard rates.
Some closing costs in Bristol are negotiable or variable, including conveyancing fees where you can shop around, and survey costs which depend on the level of inspection you choose.
On average, how much are buyer closing costs as a percentage of the purchase price for an apartment in Bristol?
The typical percentage of the purchase price that Bristol apartment buyers should budget for closing costs is around 4.5% to 6% for non-UK residents, or 2% to 3.5% for UK residents without surcharges.
The realistic low-to-high percentage range covering most standard Bristol transactions is 3% to 7%, with the variation driven mainly by Stamp Duty brackets and whether you face surcharges as a foreign buyer or additional property owner.
We actually cover all these costs and strategies to minimize them in our pack about the real estate market in Bristol.
We did some research and made this infographic to help you quickly compare rental yields of the major cities in the UK versus those in neighboring countries. It provides a clear view of how this country positions itself as a real estate investment destination, which might interest you if you’re planning to invest there.
What are the ongoing monthly and yearly costs of an apartment in Bristol in 2026?
What are typical HOA fees in Bristol right now?
In Bristol, the equivalent of HOA fees are called service charges, and the typical monthly amount for apartments is around £150 to £250 ($187 to $312 or €177 to €295) for a standard building without extensive amenities.
The realistic range of service charges in Bristol spans from £150 per month for basic blocks with minimal facilities, up to £400 or more ($500 or €472) per month for buildings with lifts, concierge services, or waterfront locations with gyms and communal spaces.
What utilities should I budget monthly in Bristol right now?
The estimated total monthly utility cost for a typical one or two-bedroom apartment in Bristol is around £200 to £280 ($250 to $350 or €236 to €330), covering energy, water, and internet.
The realistic range of monthly utility costs in Bristol spans from £180 for a small, energy-efficient flat with modest usage, up to £350 ($437 or €413) or more for larger apartments or those with electric heating running during winter.
The typical monthly utility budget in Bristol includes electricity and gas (or electric-only heating), water and sewerage charges from Bristol Water, and internet service.
Energy tends to be the most expensive utility for Bristol apartment owners, particularly during winter months, with Ofgem's price cap implying around £147 per month for typical dual-fuel usage in early 2026.
How much is property tax on apartments in Bristol?
The estimated typical annual property tax (Council Tax) for an apartment in Bristol is around £2,000 to £2,400 ($2,500 to $3,000 or €2,360 to €2,830), which works out to roughly £170 to £200 per month.
Council Tax in Bristol is calculated based on the valuation band assigned to your property (Bands A through H), with most one and two-bedroom apartments falling into Bands B, C, or D.
The realistic range of annual Council Tax in Bristol spans from around £1,700 for Band A properties up to £4,800 or more for Band H, though most apartments sit in the lower bands.
If you want to go into more details, we also have a blog article detailing all the property taxes and fees in Bristol.
What's the yearly building maintenance cost in Bristol?
The estimated typical yearly building maintenance cost for Bristol apartment owners is around £2,000 to £3,500 ($2,500 to $4,375 or €2,360 to €4,130), which is generally bundled into your service charge.
The realistic range of yearly maintenance costs in Bristol spans from £1,800 for well-maintained older buildings with healthy reserve funds, up to £5,000 or more ($6,250 or €5,900) for amenity-heavy blocks or those facing major works.
Building maintenance costs in Bristol typically cover cleaning of communal areas, repairs to shared infrastructure, managing agent fees, buildings insurance, and contributions to a sinking fund for future major works.
In Bristol, building maintenance costs are almost always included within your service charge rather than billed separately, so checking the service charge accounts and reserve fund health is essential before buying.
How much does home insurance cost in Bristol?
The estimated typical annual home insurance cost for a Bristol apartment is around £350 to £450 ($437 to $562 or €413 to €531) if you need both buildings and contents cover, or £120 to £200 ($150 to $250 or €142 to €236) for contents-only if buildings insurance is included in your service charge.
The realistic range of annual home insurance costs in Bristol spans from £100 for basic contents-only cover up to £600 or more ($750 or €708) for comprehensive policies on higher-value properties.
For most leasehold apartments in Bristol, buildings insurance is arranged by the freeholder or managing agent and included in your service charge, meaning you only need to purchase contents insurance separately.
Get fresh and reliable information about the market in Bristol
Don't base significant investment decisions on outdated data. Get updated and accurate information with our guide.
What sources have we used to write this blog article?
Whether it's in our blog articles or the market analyses included in our property pack about Bristol, we always rely on the strongest methodology we can … and we don't throw out numbers at random.
We also aim to be fully transparent, so below we've listed the authoritative sources we used, and explained how we used them and the methods behind our estimates.
| Source | Why it's authoritative | How we used it |
|---|---|---|
| Office for National Statistics (ONS) | ONS is the UK's official statistics body, using Land Registry sold-price data. | We used it as the anchor for Bristol's average flat price of £245,000. We then built all our bedroom-based price estimates from this figure. |
| UK Government Space Standard | It's the official government standard defining minimum floor areas by bedroom count. | We used it to set realistic sizes for studios (39 m²), one-beds (50 m²), two-beds (70 m²), and three-beds (86 m²). We then multiplied by price per m² to estimate purchase prices. |
| Rightmove | Rightmove is the UK's largest property portal with HM Land Registry-backed sold prices. | We used it to verify neighbourhood-level flat prices across Bristol. We then converted those averages into price-per-m² estimates for each area. |
| HMRC Stamp Duty Guidance | HMRC is the official government source for Stamp Duty Land Tax rates in England. | We used it to calculate the tax a buyer pays at different price points. We then added the non-resident surcharge for foreign buyers. |
| HMRC SDLT Calculator | It's the government's official calculator for verifying Stamp Duty amounts. | We used it to double-check our SDLT examples for Bristol apartments. We then confirmed our all-in budget calculations were accurate. |
| HM Land Registry | This is the official fee schedule for registering property ownership in England and Wales. | We used it to include Land Registry fees in closing costs. We then rolled that into the total cash needed to complete a purchase. |
| HomeOwners Alliance | It's a respected UK consumer body that tracks real market data on buyer costs. | We used it to set realistic ranges for conveyancing fees and disbursements. We then included those in our all-in budget estimates. |
| RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) | RICS is the professional body for chartered surveyors and sets industry standards. | We used it to explain why surveys matter even for flats. We then included typical survey costs in our closing cost estimates. |
| HSBC UK | HSBC is a major high-street bank with clear published criteria for non-resident mortgages. | We used it as a reference for typical deposit requirements for foreign buyers. We then recommended a 25% to 35% deposit range for Bristol apartments. |
| Ofgem | Ofgem is the UK energy regulator responsible for setting the price cap. | We used it to anchor electricity and gas budgeting for early 2026. We then translated the annual cap figure into monthly utility costs. |
| Bristol City Council | The council is the local authority that sets and publishes Council Tax amounts for Bristol. | We used it to provide concrete annual property tax figures by band. We then showed what that looks like monthly for typical apartments. |
| Hamptons | Hamptons is an established UK estate agency with a transparent service charge index. | We used it to anchor typical annual service charge levels for flats nationally. We then adapted that into Bristol-specific monthly ranges. |
| Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE) | LEASE is government-funded and provides authoritative guidance on leasehold costs. | We used it to explain what service charges cover and how they work. We then mapped that to the ongoing costs Bristol apartment buyers should expect. |
| Association of British Insurers (ABI) | ABI aggregates data from most UK insurers and reports what people actually pay. | We used it to anchor realistic buildings and contents insurance costs for 2026. We then included insurance in the ongoing ownership budget. |
| Bristol Water | It's the official tariff document from Bristol's regulated water supplier. | We used it to anchor water standing and usage charges for Bristol apartments. We then combined it with other utilities to estimate monthly running costs. |
| UK House Price Index | The UK HPI is the official index produced by ONS, Land Registry, and other bodies. | We used it to provide context for Bristol's price trends within the national market. We then cross-referenced neighbourhood data against citywide figures. |
We created this infographic to give you a simple idea of how much it costs to buy property in different parts of the UK. As you can see, it breaks down price ranges and property types for popular cities in the country. We hope this makes it easier to explore your options and understand the market.
Related blog posts