Property search engine and data compiler Adzuna.co.uk. has worked out how affordable an area is by looking at average salaries detailed in 500,000 advertised jobs, and comparing them to property asking prices and typical mortgage multiples across the UK to produce an “Affordability Index”.

According to its research, first-time buyers on average local incomes can only afford 11.7% of the properties in Winchester, while they could buy 91% of homes in Belfast and 89.2% of those in Hull.

It revealed that Sunderland and Salford are also relatively affordable, with average property prices costing around 2.5 times joint income at £159,286.

Portsmouth is the most affordable Southern city with over 64% of For-Sale properties within budget for local salaries.

London is only the 10th least affordable city to buy property in the UK as average incomes are dragged up by very high earners. However, properties in the capital still cost seven times average income.

Winchester, Chichester and Guildford are the least affordable towns and cities in the UK. A typical home in Winchester now sells for eight times earnings at £439,547. A couple earning an average wage in Winchester can afford over 50% of properties in Southampton (24 miles) and 67% of properties in Portsmouth (30 miles), compared to just 11% in their home town.

There is a clear North/South divide, with 73% of properties affordable for workers in North West and Scottish cities, compared to less than 42% in the South.

The South East and West of England are still the least affordable regions overall thanks to a rise in overseas buyers and the growing catchment area for London commuters.

Stagnant housing markets in Eastern cities like Chelmsford (+14%) and Luton (+12%), however, mean property affordability for first-time buyers has significantly improved in the last three months.

Andrew Hunter, co-founder of Adzuna, said:

“It’s fascinating to get such a clear view of the differences in home affordability across the UK by combining the data from our property and jobs search engines. With clear indicators of house price stagnation across the UK, pockets of opportunity are springing up around the country for those looking to pick up a bargain.”