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City Comparison · 2026

Aberdeen vs Belfast 2026

Scotland
Aberdeen
Median Salary £40,000
Cost of Living 76/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £900/mo
Real Take-Home £28,200/yr
Job Growth ↑ 3.2%
Unemployment 3.5%
VS
Northern Ireland
Belfast
Median Salary £31,000
Cost of Living 65/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £750/mo
Real Take-Home £24,200/yr
Job Growth ↑ 4.8%
Unemployment 3.5%
Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary
Aberdeen
Best take-home pay after accounting for rent and cost of living.
Best for Affordability
Belfast
Lower cost of living index means your money goes further every day.
Highest Headline Salary
Aberdeen
Higher median salary before cost of living is taken into account.
Lowest Rent
Belfast
More affordable average rents leave more of your salary in your pocket.
Best for Career Growth
Belfast
Higher job growth rate and more active job market for ambitious professionals.
Best Overall Value
Aberdeen
When salary, cost of living and rent are all considered together.

Top Salaries: Aberdeen vs Belfast

Aberdeen

Aberdeen is the oil capital of Europe with above-average salaries driven by the energy sector despite a challenging transition period.

Full Aberdeen Guide →

Belfast

Belfast has emerged as a major technology hub with significant investment from US tech companies attracted by competitive costs.

Full Belfast Guide →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Aberdeen

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Belfast

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