The seriously cheap UK coastal city that's a few miles from one of world's best beaches

With many property buyers buckling under the pressure of the high cost of living and soaring mortgage rates, tracking down an affordable home in a desirable location is increasingly challenging. And that can be even harder if you dream of combining vibrant city life with coastal living and want beautiful beaches on your doorstep. But it is still possible to combine city leaving with a stunning coastal location for under £150,000...without living in a bedsit or a beach hut.

Buyers seeking a bargain should head to Swansea in south Wales, which has made it into the top 10 affordable hotspot list. In Swansea, Wales, over a third of its affordable listings are three-bedroom houses. It joins north cities and towns like Aberdeen, Sunderland, Darlington, Lincoln, and Blackpool as having plenty of homes for sale under £150,000. Better still, Swansea, while a vibrant and thriving busy city, is close to some of the best and most beautiful beaches in the world on the nearby Gower Peninsula.

Rhossili Bay has been recognised among the top 10 beaches in the world by TripAdvisor and Lonely Planet, and has been named the best in Europe.

The world-famous Rhossili Bay is located at the furthest point of the Gower Peninsula. This award-winning beach offers miles of golden sand and stunning views, with access to Worm's Head. Managed by the National Trust, it offers panoramic clifftop views and excellent walking opportunities.

Other eaches close to Swansea include the family-friendly Caswell Bay beach, just six miles away from the city centre. It holds the Blue Flag and Seaside Awards and is known for its clean, calm water, rock pools, and breathtaking coastal walks.

Next to it is Langland Bay with its promenade and pleasant shrubbery. Then there is the expansive Oxwich Bay. Other great options are the more urban Swansea Bay itself, and the smaller Rotherslade Bay, all stunning and easily accessible from the city. The city's main stretch of beach, great for cycling and walking along the promenade, leads to Mumbles Pier. The Mumbles itself is a charming seaside area of Swansea where the Mumbles Pier has a small beach at its steps, perfect for rockpooling at low tide.

Elsewhere in the UK, if you are looking for a bargain coastal city or town, then head to the North East, where 41% of all homes for sale are listed for £150,000 or less. Across Scotland, the figure, while still high, drops to 30%. In London, just 2% of properties listed are on sale for £150,000 or under, rising to 7% across the South East, Zoopla said.

Daniel Copley, consumer expert at Zoopla, said: "In these areas, like Swansea, affordability doesn't just mean a low price tag; it also means more choice."

Nathan Emerson, chief executive of Propertymark, added: "Buyers who are able to approach their next home move with a greater level of flexibility can reap the rewards of relocation to more popularly priced areas of the country.

"With improved transport links being introduced across the country and flexible working arrangements in place from many employers, more people should hopefully find themselves in a position to enhance their quality of life and relocate to suit their social and professional needs. Areas such as Swansea can also be popular due to its combination of coastal living with vibrant city life."

Earlier this month Government ministers met with mortgage lenders to discuss plans to make it easier for first-time buyers including letting people take out bigger mortgages.

Reforms to loosen restrictions so that mortgage lenders could offer loans of between five and six times someone's annual salary to a greater number of customers are being considered, as borrowing is usually limited to 4.5 times salary. The Financial Conduct Authority is also simplifying mortgage lending rules such as affordability checks, This is Money reports.