The Best Cities In The UK To Be Single Have Been Revealed

While it certainly has its benefits, being single and on the prowl can come with a hefty price tag. From those overpriced first and second date cocktails, to the ever-present pressure we may feel to dress and look a certain way, the post-date analyses with mates over brunch and living alone, it all adds up.

When you're surrounded by oodles of happy families and smug couples, flying solo can sometimes feel bleak. And if you find yourself broke and feeling down about your single status more often than not, it might be time to up sticks.

Thankfully, a new analysis using data from the Office for National Statistics has revealed the most single-friendly cities in Britain – and they're not the ones you might expect.

The ranking, compiled by Thames cruise company Bateaux London, takes into account the average cost of being single in each city, the proportion of the population that's single and the percentage of those in their 20s and 30s (and therefore less likely to be married). Average salaries and date-related expenses, including the price of a meal, a coffee, a pint of beer and cinema tickets were also considered, along with the cost of gym memberships, reported Business Insider.

The cities were ranked for each category and given a score between 1 and 22 at the end. The higher the city’s percentage score, the better it’s considered for those riding solo.

A bit of a shocker, this. While Londoners have the highest salaries in the UK, the city is notoriously expensive and doesn’t have many singletons.

Average salary: £34,967
Meal out: £55
Pint of beer: £4.50
Coffee: £2.64
Gym membership: £46.50
Cinema ticket: £12.00
Rent for one-bed in city centre: £1,682

Average salary: £24,175
Meal out: £50.00
Pint of beer: £3.35
Coffee: £2.42
Gym membership: £34.33
Cinema ticket: £9.00
Rent for one-bed in city centre: £720

Average salary: £25,116
Meal out: £50.00
Pint of beer: £4.25
Coffee: £2.42
Gym membership: £36.14
Cinema ticket: £9.44
Rent for one-bed in city centre: £907

Average salary: £29,476
Meal out: £50.00
Pint of beer: £4.25
Coffee: £2.60
Gym membership: £38.14
Cinema ticket: £10.50
Rent for one-bed in city centre: £1,075

Average salary: £30,886
Meal out: £50.00
Pint of beer: £3.83
Coffee: £2.62
Gym membership: £38.71
Cinema ticket: £10.00
Rent for one-bed in city centre: £1,046

Average salary: £27,983
Meal out: £50.00
Pint of beer: £3.80
Coffee: £2.72
Gym membership: £28.56
Cinema ticket: £9
Rent for one-bed in city centre: £853

Average salary: £26,015
Meal out: £45.00
Pint of beer: £3.50
Coffee: £2.66
Gym membership: £24.14
Cinema ticket: £10
Rent for one-bed in city centre: £656

Average salary: £24,269
Meal out: £50.00
Pint of beer: £3.00
Coffee: £2.55
Gym membership: £28.42
Cinema ticket: £9.89
Rent for one-bed in city centre: £593

Average salary: £28,048
Meal out: £48.00
Pint of beer: £4.00
Coffee: £2.54
Gym membership: £31.42
Cinema ticket: £10.00
Rent for one-bed in city centre: £718

Average salary: £25,436
Meal out: £50.00
Pint of beer: £2.90
Coffee: £2.50
Gym membership: £32.80
Cinema ticket: £9.00
Rent for one-bed in city centre: £585

Average salary: £22,604
Meal out: £45.00
Pint of beer: £3.50
Coffee: £2.54
Gym membership: £32.00
Cinema ticket: £9.00
Rent for one-bed in city centre: £586

Average salary: £31,852
Meal out: £50.00
Pint of beer: £3.65
Coffee: £2.54
Gym membership: £25.44
Cinema ticket: £9.65
Rent for one-bed in city centre: £885

Average salary: £26,096
Meal out: £50.00
Pint of beer: £3.50
Coffee: £2.55
Gym membership: £28.53
Cinema ticket: £9.45
Rent for one-bed in city centre: £610

Average salary: £26,436
Meal out: £50.00
Pint of beer: £3.50
Coffee: £2.68
Gym membership: £26.42
Cinema ticket: £9.00
Rent for one-bed in city centre: £720

Average salary: £21,533
Meal out: £45.00
Pint of beer: £3.10
Coffee: £2.45
Gym membership: £24.50
Cinema ticket: £9.00
Rent for one-bed in city centre: £433

Average salary: £24,304
Meal out: £45.00
Pint of beer: £3.00
Coffee: £2.58
Gym membership: £26.89
Cinema ticket: £10.00
Rent for one-bed in city centre: £559

Average salary: £24,643
Meal out: £40.00
Pint of beer: £3.20
Coffee: £2.45
Gym membership: £25.53
Cinema ticket: £6.75
Rent for one-bed in city centre: £636

Average salary: £25,151
Meal out: £50.00
Pint of beer: £3.50
Coffee: £2.62
Gym membership: £22.42
Cinema ticket: £8.50
Rent for one-bed in city centre: £582

Average salary: £25,843
Meal out: £40.00
Pint of beer: £3.50
Coffee: £2.28
Gym membership: £22.42
Cinema ticket: £8.00
Rent for one-bed in city centre: £663

Average salary: £26,982
Meal out: £40.00
Pint of beer: £3.10
Coffee: £2.59
Gym membership: £20.91
Cinema ticket: £10.00
Rent for one-bed in city centre: £698

Average salary: £23,995
Meal out: £42.50
Pint of beer: £2.90
Coffee: £2.55
Gym membership: £21.79
Cinema ticket: £9.00
Rent for one-bed in city centre: £602

The Northern Irish capital has the winning combination of low rents, cheap dining options and a high proportion of eligible singletons.

Average salary: £24,012
Meal out: £40.00
Pint of beer: £4.00
Coffee: £2.33
Gym membership: £23.77
Cinema ticket: £6.75
Rent for one-bed in city centre: £520