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City Comparison · 2026

Belfast vs York 2026

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%
VS
North Yorkshire
York
Median Salary £31,000
Cost of Living 70/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £900/mo
Real Take-Home £23,400/yr
Job Growth ↑ 3.8%
Unemployment 3.5%
Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary
Belfast
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
Belfast
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
Belfast
When salary, cost of living and rent are all considered together.

Top Salaries: Belfast vs York

Belfast

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

Full Belfast Guide →

York

York is a historic city with a strong professional services and financial sector alongside significant tourism and chocolate manufacturing heritage.

Full York Guide →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Belfast

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Live Jobs

Jobs in York

Browse live York vacancies on Reed right now.

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