Buyers on a budget look to Perth

Scotland’s smaller cities offer value for money that Edinburgh and Glasgow buyers can only dream of, finds Kirsty Mcluckie

Affordability in cities can be a problem for those urban workers who don’t want to endure long commutes.

In Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen, average house prices tend to rise faster than average wages, meaning that many buyers on a budget cannot afford a home of their own in the location that they prefer.

However, in Scotland’s smallest cities, the gap isn’t so great.

Stirling is the most affordable city in the UK, in comparison to average wages, while Perth has seen the biggest improvement in home affordability in Scottish cities in the last five years.

According to Bank of Scotland research released at the beginning of the year, the average house price