Studio apartments vs 1+1 apartments
The two entry-level formats, and the decision most first-time buyers here get wrong. A studio is cheaper to buy and dearer per square metre; a 1+1 costs more and rents to a wider pool.
| Studio apartments | 1+1 apartments | |
|---|---|---|
| Available now | 223 | 685 |
| Developments offering it | 11 | 16 |
| Entry price | £119,900 | £135,000 |
| Median price | £160,500 | £228,900 |
| Top price | £205,000 | £750,000 |
| Typical size | 41–82 m² | 43–216 m² |
| Median £/m² | £3,606 | £3,165 |
Figures from 1,669 homes in current developer price lists. Bold marks the more favourable number for a buyer.
What the table does not show
- Studios carry the highest £/m² in almost every scheme — fixed costs for kitchen, bathroom and services are spread over fewer square metres.
- A 1+1 lets to couples and small families as well as singles, which shortens void periods.
- On resale the studio market is thinner: the buyer pool is almost entirely investors, and they all compare £/m².
Run your own numbers
The honest way to settle this is to put both through the same yield calculation — with the 10% rental income tax and management fees included, not just gross rent over price.
Rental yield calculator → · Cost of buying →
Browse both
Want a straight recommendation?
Give us the budget and whether the priority is yield or use. We will say which format we would buy and why — including the case against it.