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City Comparison · 2026

Aberdeen vs Dundee 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
Scotland
Dundee
Median Salary £32,000
Cost of Living 66/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £750/mo
Real Take-Home £24,800/yr
Job Growth ↑ 4.5%
Unemployment 4.8%
Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary
Aberdeen
Best take-home pay after accounting for rent and cost of living.
Best for Affordability
Dundee
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
Dundee
More affordable average rents leave more of your salary in your pocket.
Best for Career Growth
Dundee
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 Dundee

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 →

Dundee

Dundee is Scotland's digital games capital and has one of the UK's fastest growing life sciences sectors anchored by the University of Dundee.

Full Dundee Guide →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Aberdeen

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Dundee

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