That's pretty much the case anywhere - at least in the US. Rents are high in large cities and college towns because the demand is high. A cousin's daughter got a 2 bdrm, 1 bathroom in San Francisco for $4000 a month - 8 stewardesses share it (they're hardly ever there - it's a layover for them). I live in Grand Rapids, Mi a medium-sized town of about 200,000 and that's par for the course here (the 575 pounds - not the $4000 a month).

I'm paying $955 for about 1300 sq ft; rent has gone up for me $100 in the past 3 years and it will keep going up $30 to $40 a month each year until it reaches "the going fair-market rate" - whatever that is. BTW, I have an application in for a much smaller apartment.

You want a nicer place then get yourself some roommates or move somewhere where the cost-of-living is less.

That would not get you a shoe box in New York City, Los Angeles, or San Francisco or a bedsit in London. In a small Midwest city in the US it could get you a 3 bedroom house with a 2 car attached garage.

Warwickshire: I rent out one of my houses, a smart 16 yrs old gas central heated, double glazed 3 bed semi, downstairs loo, lounge/dining room, kitchen, 3 beds one en-suite and family bathroom, garden front and rear and charge my tenants the same as you pay.

Location often matters, especially relating to how much demand in your current location's rental market for living quarters. Smaller cities will often have much lower rental prices for a flat than larger cities. Location is often the reason for the prices. You might get a door in Paris for that price, but no frame to hang it, nor any room connected to it.

You won't get anything in Central FL, unless you rent a room in someone's house. Even the ghetto areas are more expensive than that.

heck with that kind of money for a 1 bedroom you need to move to the u.s and get a 2 bedroom for that price

You'd easily pay that per week in London.