From Made in Chelsea to TOWIE to the Real Housewives, how much do these filmed areas cost to live in?

Many of us have been guilty of watching a glossy reality TV show, such as Channel 4’s ‘Made in Chelsea’ (MIC) or ITV’s ‘The Only Way is Essex’ (TOWIE), and wondering what it would be like to see how the other half live. 

From luxury bottomless brunches, opulent champagne and endless designer clothes, to swish expensive cars and plush interior designs, the reality star lifestyle can seem like a dreamy alternative to an everyday routine. 

However, despite these stars seeming to have endless amounts of money, it begs the question: what do their outgoings look like? Could I afford to live somewhere like that? 

With this in mind, the financial experts at NerdWallet have crunched the numbers to see how much it would cost you to live in one of the glamorous on-screen neighbourhoods. 

1. Marbella – The Only Way is Marbs

SOURCE: DAILYMAIL.COM

If you’ve recently been feeling far too ‘reem’ to lust over properties in the UK, then luxury villas in Marbella, Spain, may be up your street. 

The Daily Mail revealed that a luxury villa close to where the 2010 reality show ‘The Only Way is Marbs’ was filmed was on sale in 2014 for a whopping £5m, and was complete with a Turkish bath and a poolhouse. 

However, if you are willing to daydream a little more realistically, Rightmove highlighted that a stunning 3-bedroom apartment in Malaga could cost €357,000, which would come to around £307,800. 

With the average price of houses in London in March 2022 costing people around £524,000, it is no wonder that so many Brits are packing their bags and heading for the sea and sunshine. Plus, you might even catch Joey Essex topping up his tan. 

1. Brentwood, Essex – The Only Way is Essex

SOURCE: THESUN.CO.UK

You alright, babes? You probably won’t be after seeing how much ‘The Only Way is Essex’ star Amy Childs paid for her house in Brentwood in 2010. The stunning pad cost £624,000 over 10 years ago, which was reported in The Sun. Now, the TV star has reportedly put it on the market for £1million – talk about making a profit!

If you aren’t looking to move into Childs’s former home, two-bedroom houses in this area are on sale on Rightmove for approximately £550,000 to £1,000,000, which is higher than the average house price in Essex at £383,000. For that price, you wouldn’t be heading to the Sugar Hut for celebratory drinks.

1. Chelsea – Made in Chelsea

SOURCE: INSTAGRAM

If your jaws haven’t dropped yet, then now is the time, as we marvel in complete awe at how expensive it is to buy a property in Chelsea. MIC star Georgia Toffolo, or ‘Toff’ as she is more commonly known, revealed her stunning two-storey (yes, you read that correctly) flat in 2020. 

The flat is located in the heart of the luxurious area – but how much would it cost to rent there? Although it has not been revealed how much the reality TV star paid for her current pad, her 2018 flat cost a staggering £530,000. Rightmove enlightened us that a one-bed flat in the centre of Chelsea could cost around £2,500 pcm to rent. 

However, a five-bedroom house on Tregunter Road could cost a staggering £20,500,000 to buy. Another apartment, situated in Cadogan Gardens, Chelsea, cost an eye-watering £13,000 pcm – over six times the average UK monthly salary. 

1. Wilmslow, Cheshire – The Real Housewives of Cheshire 

SOURCE: MANCHESTEREVENINGNEWS.CO.UK

Next up, we have the previous home of glamorous mum and star of ITV’s ‘The Real Housewives of Cheshire’, Tanya Bardsley, which was on sale for £1.8m.

Although it is far from the opulence of Bardsley’s mansion, an apartment situated outside the centre of Cheshire could still cost around £895 pcm to rent, making it the most affordable location on the list so far. However, buying a four-bedroom house on Maplewood Road could set you back an eye-watering £1,150,000.

Renting a larger, more family-friendly home could cost around £1,600 pcm, which would be more achievable with two incomes. Despite this, we won’t be applying for a position on the show any time soon… 

1. North Tyneside, Newcastle – Geordie Shore

SOURCE: CHRONICLELIVE.CO.UK

Why, aye man! Ever wondered how much it would cost to live like the non-stop partiers from MTV’s ‘Geordie Shore’? Newcastle, home to the likes of reality TV star and Instagram sensation Chloe Ferry, is very similar to Cheshire when it comes to the cost of living – with more affordable options when it comes to one and two-bed apartments. 

Despite this, Ferry paid a monstrous £1.1m for her opulent mansion, which is complete with five bedrooms and huge modern windows – just for her and her pooch.

Flats on Rightmove in this area can cost around £750 pcm, which is far more achievable than the properties we researched in Chelsea, Essex and Marbella. 

Is this your sign to give up your 9 to 5 and apply for the show? We don’t know about you, but being paid to go clubbing sounds like the dream. 

Further information can be found at https://www.nerdwallet.com/uk/mortgages/