What a home costs in Dorset
A typical two-bed flat to rent in Dorset comes to £1,410 a month once the bills are added, or £705 each for two people. A one-bed for one person comes to £1,094, at council tax band D.
In Dorset, that's about the same as the average two-bed across the South West (£1,416), both at band D.
With band D council tax, bills add 46% to a two-bed's rent here: 165th of the 348 councils with a published rent, where 1st is where they add the most. Council tax is the biggest bill, at £230.42 a month at band D, £20 more than the average across the South West.
Estimate · figures checked 18 Oct 2026 · guidance, not advice · sources
Each month in Dorset
| A month | One-bed, one person | Two-bed, two people |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | £732.00 | £967.00 |
| Council tax (band D) | £172.81 | £230.42 |
| Energy | £83.82 | £106.64 |
| Water and sewerage | £57.92 | £57.92 |
| Broadband | £28.00 | £28.00 |
| TV licence | £15.00 | £15.00 |
| Contents insurance | £4.92 | £4.92 |
| All in | £1,094.47 | £1,409.90 |
Council tax in Dorset by band, 2026/27
| Band | A year | A month |
|---|---|---|
| A | £1,843.35 | £153.61 |
| B | £2,150.57 | £179.21 |
| C | £2,457.80 | £204.82 |
| D | £2,765.02 | £230.42 |
| E | £3,379.47 | £281.62 |
| F | £3,993.92 | £332.83 |
| G | £4,608.37 | £384.03 |
| H | £5,530.04 | £460.84 |
Energy and water
Dorset is in Ofgem's Southern price cap region. From 1 October to 31 December 2026, by Direct Debit: electricity 26.47p a kWh and 47.81p a day; gas 8.17p a kWh and 29.16p a day. Part of it is in the South West region, so check your postcode.
In Dorset, Wessex Water supplies water and takes waste water away. The average household bill for 2026/27 is £695 a year. Some postcodes are supplied by Bournemouth Water.
Rents and prices
The average private rent (ONS, August 2026) is £732 a month for a one-bed and £967 for a two-bed, £1,056 across all homes, up 4.9% on a year earlier. The average flat sold for £167,282 (UK House Price Index, July 2026).