According to the latest figures from Lloyds Bank, UK property prices are currently outpacing wages growth by 11%. This means home affordability is at the lowest level since 2007. It may be hard to believe but the least affordable place to buy in the UK is not in London, at least not if you take local wages into consideration. Comparing average house prices against salaries, here's the 10 most expensive and 10 easiest places to buy your own home. First, the cities where property prices far outstrip earnings...

Average asking prices in Leicester are £218,949, which is nearly nine times what you'd earn if you worked in the city, but it could still net you this three-bed terraced property with no onward chain, which comes with a large rear garden.

There are lots of period properties in Bristol but if you want to keep below the average asking price of £306,170 and not land yourself with a huge project, then you’d do well to look a bit further out from the city centre, such as the popular artsy area of Easton, where we saw this three-bed Victorian terraced house.

Offered for just over the average asking price of £281,385, this three-bed semi-detached period property is located in the Polygon area of the city, close to both Southampton Central station and the university, making it a good option for buy-to-let investors or commuters.

At just over the average asking price of £315,919 in the Cornish city, this three-bed extended and refurbished house, which comes with plenty of period features, might seem like a steal, but not when you consider it costs over 11 times what you’re likely to earn.

At £540,000, this 3-bed terraced house is just shy of the average asking price in Winchester, and is immaculate inside and out. However, at over 11 times the average local salary, it will be over budget for many.

Pretty much bang on the average asking price of £450,000, this modern five-bedroom house to the north of Chichester’s city centre, comes with three reception rooms and is well placed for both the local hospital and the university, two of the city’s big employers.

With an average asking price of £460,184, Oxford by no means has the highest house prices (you know who you are, London), but when you compare them with local wages, the reach is staggering. Still, if you can afford it, this four-bed terraced house could be a good buy-to-let investment and is less than the market average.

As the 10^th most affordable city in the UK, Swansea offers sensible prices compared to local salaries, with average asking prices of £172, 800. For just a few thousand more you could snap up this three-bed semi-detached property, which is just a mile from Swansea train station. Glasgow, Stoke on Trent and Durham also came in at 5.5 times the average salary, too.

In both cities, 5.4 times your salary should be able to get you a decent property. In Liverpool, we like the look of this two-bed modern apartment in a city centre location, which is just a touch over the city’s average asking price of £169,800.

Nudging into 8^th place in terms of affordability is England’s border city, Carlisle – launch pad for many who wish to walk alongside the ancient ruins of Hadrian’s Wall, but also a surprisingly attractive city in its own right, with a historic heart, and a growing culinary scene.

For an average asking price of £154,649, you could buy this three-bed townhouse in Carlisle and still have change left over to buy some new furniture. It’s near a primary school and within walking distance of the city centre, too.

Average property prices in Sunderland are a very reasonable £149,099 and we spied this corker of a pretty red-brick end of terrace home for almost £10k less than that.

House prices in Hereford average out at under £245,000 and for less than that you can buy this four-bed townhouse, a former pub full of character, which comes with a terrace that overlooks some of the city’s historic buildings.

Just a few minutes from Perth’s city centre is this stunning ground floor flat, which comes in at a smidgen over the average local asking price of £184,041. It feels very grand indeed, and surely a steal at that price.

It’s actually quite astonishing what you can get for your money here. This red-brick Victorian terrace may be in need of a little interior updating but it comes with four good-sized bedrooms. It’s also got good transport links and close to local shops and restaurants in the flourishing Belmont road area of east Belfast.

It may only have one bedroom but there’s an undeniable charm about this traditional fishermen’s cottage, which comes in just below the city’s average asking price of £203,944. Close on Aberdeen’s tail as one of Scotland’s most affordable cities is Perth, where the prices to earnings ratio is 5.1.

Another northern city where your wages will go a lot further is Lancaster. The historic riverside city may be best known for its castle, but there is lots of Georgian architecture to admire too, particularly along the waterfront, as well as lots of quirky and independent boutiques to explore.

You can buy a decent two-bed house in Lancaster for the average asking price of £160,419, but if you’re prepared to go a little higher, there are some real investment opportunities to be had, like this four-bed terrace, with views of the castle.

Average house prices in Bradford are just £139, 712, and for that you could get this really rather attractive stone cottage in the popular Eccleshill area, close to good schools and handy for transport links.

Newry, in Northern Ireland, which straddles County Down and Armagh, has been rated as the second most affordable city. Its location between the mighty Mourne Mountains (pictured) and the Ring of Gullion make it a good base for outdoorsy types.

Houses for sale in Newry are few and far between, but if you’re patient you could snap up a place like this four-bed semi-detached property on the outskirts of Warrenpoint, just a few miles outside the city, for £10k over the average asking price of £139,760.

The average house price in Stirling is £192,326 and for just a few grand more you can buy this four-bed new-build in the village of Plean on the city’s outskirts. It’s also worth noting that both Glasgow and Edinburgh are within commuting distance, which opens up more employment options.

Prices in Derry are just 4.4 times the average salary, and it’s heartening to know you can snap up a 3-bed property like this bungalow for £138,000 or less. Plus, Derry is one of the finest walled cities in Europe and is just a short drive from Donegal, where you can visit some of the most beautiful beaches imaginable.